Spain and the United States Sign the Treaty of Paris

A new Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule began in 1895. American intervention in 1898 turned that conflict into war between the United States and Spain, with fighting extending beyond the Caribbean to the Philippines. [3]

Spanish and American commissioners signed the Treaty of Paris on 10 December 1898 to end the war between their countries. Eugenio Montero Ríos and William R. Day headed the delegations. Spain relinquished sovereignty over Cuba, which the United States would occupy, and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine archipelago to the United States. [5]

The United States undertook to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippine settlement. Other provisions covered the return of prisoners, evacuation of Spanish troops, public property, archives, and unresolved claims. Spanish ships and merchandise received equal access to Philippine ports for ten years. The agreement treated the territories differently: its obligations concerning Cuba were tied to occupation, while the other islands passed under American sovereignty. [6] [5]

For the inhabitants of the ceded islands, the treaty assigned decisions about civil rights and political status to the U.S. Congress. Ratifications were exchanged in Washington on 11 April 1899. Diplomatic relations resumed that year, with the Duke of Arcos representing Spain after the wartime rupture. [5] [7]

In the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo's movement sought independence and opposed the replacement of Spanish authority by American rule. Fighting with American forces began in February 1899, before the treaty's ratifications were exchanged. [4]

Related Diplomats

1. John Bassett Moore [1] [2]
2. Juan Riaño y Gayangos [8]

Related Reading

• Spain and the United States