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ARTICLE XV.

The Government of each country will, for the term of ten years, accord to the merchant vessels of the other country the same treatment in respect of all port charges, including entrance and clearance dues, light dues, and tonnage duties, as it accords to its own merchant vessels, not engaged in the coastwise trade.

This article may at any time be terminated on six months' notice given by either Government to the other.

ARTICLE XVI,

It is understood that any obligations assumed in this treaty by the United States with respect to Cuba are limited to the time of its occupancy thereof; but it will upon the termination of such occupancy, advise any Government established in the island to assume the same obligations.

ARTICLE XVII.

The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain; and the ratification shall be exchanged at Washington within six months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible.

In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty and have hereunto affixed our seals,

Done in duplicate at Paris, the tenth day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight.

[SEAL] WILLIAM R. Day.

[SEAL] CUSHMAN K. DAVIS.
[SEAL] WILLIAM P. FRYE.

[SEAL] GEO. GRAY.

[SEAL] WHITELaw Reid.

[SEAL] EUGENIO MONTERO Ríos.

[SEAL] B. DE AbaRZuza.

[SEAL] J. DE Garnica.

[SEAL] W. R. De Villa Urrutia.

[SEAL] RAFAEL Cerero,

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

1898.

23.

U. S. Fleet assembled at Key West.

24. The battleship Maine ordered to Havana.

25. The battleship Maine arrived at Havana.
26. Spain ordered the battleship Vizcaya to visit America.
Spain ordered a squadron to sail for Havana.

29.

FEB.

8.

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9.

Translation of a letter written by the Spanish minister at Washington, speaking disparagingly of President McKinley, published by the Cuban Junta in New York.

The Spanish Minister at Washington recalled.

14. Spain appointed Señor Louis Polo de Bernabe to succeed Señor Dupuy de Lôme as Minister at Washington.

15. At 9:40 P. M., while moored to the buoy assigned her by the
Government pilot in the harbor of Havana, the battleship
Maine was destroyed by an explosion.

17. A Court of Inquiry on the Maine disaster appointed.
The Spanish Government disavowed the reflections on Presi-
dent McKinley by its late Minister at Washington, Señor
Dupuy de Lôme.

18. The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya reached New York.
The remains of 135 of the crew of the Maine were given a
public funeral in Havana, and buried in a local cemetery
at the expense of the Spanish authorities.

19. The United States Government declined a request by Spanish
officials for a joint examination of the Maine wreck.

20. Spanish officers made an examination of the Maine wreck.

21.

The Maine's Court of Inquiry held its first session.
The Senate directed its Naval Committee to investigate the
Maine disaster; voted $200,000 for the investigation.

25. The Vizcaya left New York for Havana.

27. Premier Sagasta declared that no Spanish Government would arbitrate the Cuban trouble.

United States Senator Proctor arranged an investigating trip from Havana to the Cuban provinces.

The Navy Department decided to send two war ships to Cuba with supplies for the reconcentrados.

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6.

7.

8.

Spain began assembling a naval fleet at Cadiz for Cuba.
Spain asked the recall of Consul-General Lee from Havana,
and the substitution of merchant for war-vessels for the
transport of relief supplies.

Both requests were refused.

Spain withdrew her request for the recall of Consul-General Lee.
In Congress, the House passed the $50,000,000 National De-
fense Bill unanimously.

9. Senator Proctor completed his tour of the Cuban provinces.
In Congress, the Senate adopted the $50,000,000 National De-
fense Bill unanimously.

II.

In Congress, the House Naval Committee provided for three new battleships to cost $5,000,000 each.

13. A special Board was appointed to examine all vessels the U. S. Government might wish to buy or lease.

16. Spain remonstrated to the United States against the presence of the White Squadron at Key West.

Speech of Senator Proctor in United States Senate on the condition of Cuba.

17. The Navy Department divided Admiral Sicard's fleet and ordered a formidable squadron to Hampton Roads.

19. The United States battleship Oregon left San Francisco for the Atlantic Station.

21.

In Congress, the House adopted a bill to admit war supplies free. The Court of Inquiry on the Maine disaster completed its investigation and reported its inability to fix the responsibility. 23. The Navy Department increased the fleet at Key West. 25. The light-house tender Mangrove was ordered to Havana to convey to Key West all American officials excepting Consul-General Lee.

A flying squadron was organized at Hampton Roads.

26. President McKinley announced his intention to ask Congress to appropriate $500,000 for the relief of Cuban reconcentrados.

29. American ultimatum on Cuban situation presented to Spain. APRIL 1. Spain replied to American ultimatum in unsatisfactory terms. Spanish torpedo flotilla arrived at Cape Verde Islands.

5. Consul-General Lee directed to return home.

7. Representatives of the Powers at Washington presented a joint expression of a hope for peace, to the President.

8. Premier Sagasta announced a termination of negotiations.

II.

President McKinley sent message on Cuba to Congress.

APRIL 12.

In Congress, the Foreign Committees of the two Houses practically agreed to authorize the President to intervene in Cuba, and favored a recognition of independence.

13. Spanish Cabinet delared the United States policy incompatible with Spanish sovereignty and voted a large war credit.

14. The Spanish Minister at Washington arranged to turn the Legation over to the French Ambassador.

15. The Navy Department chartered the steamships St. Paul, St. Louis, City of Paris and City of New York.

The British Government notified its officials at Jamaica that
coal would be contraband of war.

16. In Congress, the Senate adopted the intervention resolution.
19. A conference committee's report on the Senate resolution for
intervention, with the recognition clause stricken out, was
adopted by each House of Congress.

20.

21.

22.

President McKinley signed the intervention resolution and sent
an ultimatum to Spain.

Spanish Minister at Washington demanded his passports.
The Spanish Government sent the United States Minister at
Madrid his passports before he delivered the ultimatum.
Sampson's fleet at Key West ordered to blockade Havana.
President McKinley proclaimed a blockade of Havana and
other Cuban ports, and the United States cruiser Nashville
captured the first prize of war off Key West.

The United States squadron at Hong Kong, under Commodore
Geo. Dewey, sailed for Manila, Philippine Islands.

23. President McKinley issued a call for 125,000 volunteers.
In Congress, the Army Reorganization Bill was adopted and a
War Revenue Bill introduced, both in the House.

25. President McKinley recommended to Congress the recognition
of a state of war with Spain, and a resolution declaring
that war had existed since April 21, was adopted in both
Houses.

John Sherman, Secretary of State, resigned and Wm. R. Day,
Assistant Secretary, was appointed his successor.

27. The United States warships, New York, Puritan and Cincin-
nati shelled the batteries of Matanzas, Cuba.

29. Portugal issued a neutrality proclamation, thus forcing the Spanish squadron, under Admiral Cervera, to leave the Cape Verde Islands.

The Senate adopted conference report on Naval Appropriation

Bill.

The House passed the War Revenue Bill.