Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/102

74 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS This was commuted by the president on February 7 to suspension for six years. The commission made its report on February 8, and on February 9 an army court of inquiry was appointed by the president to investigate the charges of Gen. Miles in relation to the beef-supply. The court found that the allegations were not sustained. On August 26 President McKinley appointed William R. Day, Cushman K. Davis, William P. Frye, Whitelaw Reid, and George Gray as peace commissioners. John Bassett Moore was appointed secretary and counsel. The commissioners met the Spanish commissioners in Paris on October 1. Ne gotiations continued until December 10, when the treaty was signed. It provided for the relinquish- ment by Spain of all claims of sovereignty over and title to Cuba ; the cession of all other Spanish West India islands, and of Guam in the Ladrone group ; the cession of the Philippines to the United States, and the payment to Spain by the United States of $20,000,000 within three months after the exchange of ratifications of the treaty ; Spanish soldiers were to be repatriated at the expense of the United States. Other details settling property rights were also included; ratifications were to be exchanged at Washington within six months, or earlier, if pos sible. The commissioners returned to the United States late in December, and submitted the official text of the treaty to the president, who retained it