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 When the National League met in annual session in New York, in December of that year, its members were startled by the announcement that not only had grounds been secured, but that an "all star" team had been signed to play upon these grounds.

It did not take the managers of the older league long to realize that the time had come for peace with its rival, if peace was possible. Mr. Brush alone of all the club magnates was opposed to treating with the ambitious young league. Mr. Brush, however, was overruled, and a committee was appointed to call upon representatives of the American League, then present in the city, with overtures of peace. As the American League representatives were at New York upon another mission, they asked for time to lay the plans for a treaty before their League at a special session to be called for that purpose. The meeting referred to was held early in January, 1903, and a committee with power to act was appointed. The National League committee was retained, but no powers were given it except to confer and report. This resulted in further delay; but finally, after considerable sparring, a treaty of peace was agreed to which was subsequently ratified, and the two major leagues were now in a position to adopt mutual protective rules, which they did, under the title of a New National Agreement, in 1903.

This agreement was entered into between the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs and the American League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, known as Major Leagues, as parties of the first part, and the National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues