The End of the Spanish-American War, Captured in a Signed Photograph

The U.S. declared war on Spain in April, 1898, two months after the USS Maine exploded in Havana’s harbor. The war went well from the start. Opening the battle with the famous quote, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley,” on May 1, U.S. Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay, thus taking the Philippine Islands. Guam soon followed. Closer to home, U.S. and Cuban troops took El Viso Fort and the town of El Caney. San Juan Hill was taken with the help of the Rough Riders under Teddy Roosevelt and Santiago de Cuba fell as well. By mid-July, Spanish control of Cuba was at an end.??On July 18, the Spanish government, through the French Ambassador to the U.S., Jules Cambon, initiated a message to President McKinley to suspend the hostilities and to start the negotiations to end the war. McKinley called for a preliminary protocol from Spain before suspension of hostilities, and on August 9 Spain accepted the U.S. conditions. Three days later the protocol was signed that ended the hostilities.

This “Protocol of Peace” provided in part:  “Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title of Cuba.  Spain will cede to the United States the Island of Puerto Rico… The United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila…Spain will immediately evacuate Cuba, Puerto Rico…Upon the conclusion and signing of this Protocol, hostilities between the two countries shall be suspended, and notice to that effect shall be given as soon as possible by each government to the commanders of its military and naval forces…”

An oversized signed photograph of all the major participants in the signing of the Protocol of Peace, showing the Cabinet Room (today the Treaty Room) of the White House, where McKinley stands beside seated French Ambassador Jules Cambon and Secretary of State William R Day, both of whom have signed.  Also portrayed and signing are Assistant Secretary of State and later Secretary of the Treasury  George B. Cortelyou, Asst. Secretary of State Alvey A. Adee, General Henry C. Corbin, Asst. Secretary to the President Oscar L. Pruden, John Bassett Moore, noted jurist and author of essays on international law, Charles Loeffler, Union officer and head doorkeeper of the White House, and Asst. Sec. of State Thomas W. Cridler, White House aide Benjamin Montgomery, and French diplomat Eugene Thiebaut. Frances B. Johnston, the earliest major female photographer and photojournalist, took the photograph.

It is approximately 12.5 x 15.5 inches, with the entire piece measuring 16.5 x 20.5 inches overall.

In the Treaty of Peace in Paris, Spain renounced all rights to Cuba and allowed an independent Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and the island of Guam to the Americans, gave up its possessions in the West Indies, and sold the Philippine Islands to the victor for $20 million. The U.S. was now a world power.

Just the second such piece we have seen.