The New York herald., 1871-07-31
WASHING on.
Status of the Cuban Question OF the
American Offer OF Intervention.
Decisions by the Mexican Claims
Commission.
Death of the American Consul
at Dundee, Scotland.

WASHINGTON, July 80 1871.
The Cuban observation-disclosures Of the United
states-spain Unwilling to sell the Ever
Faithful Isle.
During recent debate in the Spanish Cortes on
the provincial policy of the government Sehor
Tellantes denounced the Cabinet for having enter
tanned the proposition said to have emanated from
Minister Sickles for the sale OF Cuba. 1t Is known
here that there are parties in Spain who are anxious
to sell Cuba to the United States, and who occasion
ally mention with earnestness the subject to per-
sons connected with the government OF that coun-
try, but without the authority Of that OF the United
States. It will be recOected that two years ago
General Sickles was instructed by the President TO
offer to the Cabinet at Madrid the good offices OF the
United States for the purpose of bringing to close
the civil war in the island OF Cuba on the following
bases:-
Ffyst--The independence OF Cuba to be acknow.
lenged by Spain.
SScO,.d-Cuba to pay Spain O sum. as an equiva-
lent for the entire and definite relinquishment by
Spain Of all her rights in that isand including the
puoic properly % % OF every descfp1on TO De secured
Yh'rd-The abolition OF slavery IN the island; and
Fourth An armisttce pending the negotiations.
should Congress assent the United States were to
guarantee the payment OF the sum proposed to he
paid by Cuba TO Spain.
The good Offices Of the United States were ac-
cepted, but accompanied by such bases proposed by
Spain as were considered by the President incOn-
slstent with any practicable negotiation. Accord
ingly the tender Of good Offices was withdrawn,
but will again be received whenever they
can tend to a settlement Of the contest which
was at that time and is now devastating Cuba.
Nothing has since been done by our government In
that direction, no new formal proposition has been
made for the alienation OF Cuba from Spain while
the government OF Spain has repeatedly shown a
o,;V;o,
desire to accommodate or settle ali our differences
It has met Win mucn esnharTassueQt (Which
Spain freely admits" from the volunteers
In Cuba, who are not In accord on this
subject with the home government There
is prospect, however, OF obtaining satisfaction at
least to some extent through the United States and
Spanish Commission now organized in Wash ington,
but which has not yet actively commenced the ad.
Indication OF claims arising out of the insurrectiOn
in Cuba. While our government is not now
gagged IN any effort TO acquire the Island Of Cuba it
adheres to Its policy heretofore declared-namely
"not to permit Cuba to pass from Spain into the
hands OF any Power other than the United States"
Cases Decided by the Mexican Claims Com
mission.
number OF cases have recently been decided by
the United Stctes and Mexican Claims Commission
not coming under any principle Of general interest;
but among the more important are the fOllowing:-
No. 4l5-Chrstian II. Schultz vs. MexlcO.-Ths
was claim for the destruction OF property IN the
the he, command Of zcpe Blanco on Aprli !. 1853 It
was held by the Commissioners that BancO, being
an officer 81 the so,calleq government OF MiTamon,
acts. The claim was, therefore. rejected. This case
reiterates tho decision that the Zoloaga and Mira
mon pretentions in Mexico never constituted the
government de TdctO.
No. 44-Joseph W. zacharie curator Of the estate Of
HixOn.-Thls was q claim founded on the decision
of the Supreme Court OF Mexico reversing decree
Of Circuit Court. No denial OF justice being
alleged or proved the Claim was rejected.
Death Of the Americas Consul 1t Dundee.
The Department Of State has been onlciay ad-
vsed of the death OF Consul Of the United States
at Dundee Scotland, J. Smith, who was buried there
on the 10th OF July. The utmost respect was paid
by the authorities TO his remains The funeral pro-
cession included the naval and military officers, the
town officers and the council, the Chamber Of CON-
merce ana public bodies.
Tho Russian Eusbnssy-The Perkins Claim.
No onicial information has been received from any
quarter showing that Minister Catacazy is to be
called by the Russian government. Outside OF
Official circles, however the belief is entertained
that such recall is not improbable. william
8. Huntington, OF this city, now on his
way to ST. Petersburg on business con-
nected with the Perkins claim, amounting to
nearly half million dollars, and which
MIR. CatacaZy repudiates, will, on the private ac-
count OF the claimants represent 10 the Russian
government the justice Of the claim, which has been
decided by the Solicitor Of the State Department. E.
Peshine Smith, to be due. Mr.. Huntingdon, how
ever, Is not officially delegated In the premises
The subject has for some years been In diplomatic
channel, and not long ago was presented to the
Russian government on the report OF Mr. Smith.
No Information has yet been received whether it has
been or will be paid.
The New French Minister.
There seems to be no doubt that the appointment
of Jules Ferry has been considered by the French
government but there hos been no formal appoint
ment.
Refuuding . Portion of the Cotton Tax.
The Commissioner Of internal Revenue Is having
refunded the cotton tax collected on rope and bag.
ging known as the "taren which amounts to from
fifteen to twenty pounds on each bale. The amount
OF cotton tax collected by The government was
about eighty millions, and of this amount
about three millions is the rope and bagging or
"tare tax" which s now being refunded under the
fortyfOurth section OF the act OF Congress of June
80, 1894 In all claims OF this kind the certificate OF
the Collector OF Internal Revenue is required.
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