II
1783, 1815, 1951—these are just some defining moments in world history where a “Treaty of Paris” was signed. These three particular treaties marked the end of the American Revolutionary War, denoted the defeat of Napoléon at Waterloo, and created the European Coal and Steel Community which eventually became part of the European Union. All these treaties marked major turning points in world history. But for the Philippines, it was the Treaty of Paris of 1898 that has held immense significance in its own history.
TREATY OF PARIS AND THE FILIPINO DIPLOMATS IN PARIS P
France and the Treaty of Paris of 1898
aris has historically been the site of negotiations settling wars between nations. And it was Paris, at the Quai d’Orsay, that both Spain and United States selected to be the venue for their peace negotiations held from 01 October to 10 December 1898 which led to the cessation of the war with the former ceding the Philippine Islands to the United States for twenty million dollars. However, France’s role was not just to provide a venue for the negotiations. It was, in fact, France’s Ambassador to the United States, Jules Cambon, who was deputized by Queen Regent of Spain Maria Christina of Austria to represent her in Washington following the outbreak of the American-Spanish War in April 1898. 151
DISCOV _INT PP 050719.indd 163
5/7/19 8:50:15 PM
