New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-25
SPANISH INJUSTICE.


SPANISH INJUSTICE.
DIPLOMACY TuwARTING THE ENDS OF JUSTICE
AMERICAN CLAIMS POSTPONED FOREVER
PLENTY OF PROMISES BUT NO RESTITUTION
TIME FOR VIGOROUS ACTION.
tTROM THB REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24-The President, III
his annual ssage year ago. announced the orCanza-
ton Of the American aud Spanish Joint Claims Com
mission" and expressed tine hope that citizens Of the
United States who had claims against Spain might oh
tain ample satisfaction from its awards The majority
Of American clalus before the Commission based on
abe seizure Of sugar estates in Cuba belonging to nat
uralised American citizens which have been mort
gagged to Eew-YOTk merchants. Diplomatic CORE
sp0nence looking the rest Grafton OF these estates
began between Secretary Fish and the Representatives
OF the Spanish Government before the appointment OF
te Commission and had proceeded far that the home
Government Madrid consented 10 the release OF
B. OF them. Various excuses were made by the
authorities IN Cuba for not obeyng the docon flor it
was hardly strong as perenptOTy order. The most
important of these that II they released, Spain
would be unable longer TO hold the island and Scene
try Fish il reported 10 have informed of the
Of these estates that it not then the policy OF the
United states TO deal severely with Span there
help for it, though the unfortunate claimants could
the Justice OF having to suffer in order that the
United States might be successful its negotiations
with England touching the Alabama claims.
AS far he Spain is restoring the
estates of American citizens Illegally seized aud de
tained, than she year ago About the time these
eases went % the Commission, introduced 10
wealthy Cuhdn-Amercan, whose estate embargOed,
and repeated in a letter TO The TRIBUNE Of our
conversation regard TO Cuban matters. Since the
meeting OF Congress met him again, day two ago,
aud he cannot he said 10 be in very happy state Of
mind Speaking Of the progress OF his before
Commission, he said:
'Oh don't expect much from that source Commits
efor r11ap
as q favorable judgment. shall have about much
trouble collect il from Spain the judgment will he
worth Ny estate was seized soon after the breaking
out Of the Cuban war four years ago. lis value about
C0OoO and the annual crops pay fair rate OF inter
est the investment The property placed under
tAe control OF the Commission OF Embargoed Estates
and they rented it to gentlemen belonging in New
York"
had forgotten the excuse FOR selling It, n my friend
had told me, ana in reply questions he said;
"We. they accused me nrst Of being member OF the
Cuban Junta in Eew-York. Inever connected with
that organization; and If had been, that would have
been no ground for confscatng my property. II had
violated international law while in New-York, should
DC held responsible IN the United States having
Jurisdiction After satisfied the Spanish Government
that point they denied that was an American
citizen To prove this and to convey the proof through
the State Department 10 the spanish authorities
kumed several mouths Finally, the Home Government
COuscDtf0 10 release Oh ana leug
time / daily expecting TO receive notice Of its
restoration, nut il DID not Mr.. Fish advised us
present claim 20 the Commission. We did not think
this the wset course 10 pursue. We thought we ought
yet property back into possession and then
present claim for damages during the time that it
held by the Spanish GOvernment-the net value Of
the crops which had been sold But Mr. Fish said that
placing the claim before the Commission would not
weaken in the least; and 20 We did So"
Aud what happened then 2" asked
"The rext got was that the Captain General
Cuba had replied 10 the request for release that he
and hold Cuba and you know the ground
Mr. Fish TOOK He would not take any measures 70 press
the matter. Meanwhile the new Spanish Minister, Ad-
mira Polo, arrived in Washington, and after several
State Department that Secretary Fish letter 10
the Spanish Minister calling his attention TO the jus-
tce OF making us wait any lehger Admiral POo, after
taking several days 20 consider the matter, replied in
regard 10 each claim; Mine, he had gone 10 the
Commission, and he had DO doubt that II would be sats
faetoIily settled in due time Mr. Fish then wrote 20
him tbat the United states understood the jurisdiction
OF that pnnsiOD TO extend only TO damages that mad
taken place before ito foundation and not Ia those which
arose aftorward Further, IL was acknowledged that
these held contrary TO law What the own
wanted wac speedy release; the Commission could
ages that during the time that Illegally held
OF course don't ave you the words OF these hters
them seye1a months ago, but they file ~ the
Commission rooms and you can see them by calling
What was Admiral Polo's answer 70 thatp
" He wrote ODg letter III which he allowed from the
text Of the Treaty under which the Commission was
time We claims orig mated, and that by laying our case
before that tribunal, we were obliged TO abide Its
decision That letter written last May, believe;
and - have never heard that Secretary Fish haseVer
had anything 10 say in answer, suppose he acknOWl
edges himself beaten by the spanards in diplomacy.
Just where II leaves usI The Spanish Governments
retains our property which II has acknowledged II had
right 10 seize IN the rst place and pockets the yearly
income wnIle we wait the slow movements Of the
Commission, with the prospect OF having just much
trouble % collect damages Of SPAN after the
mission has done ts WORK a. before"
"NAat would you have the United States do :"
"kecogulze the CUBAN Republic. Bur don't suppose |
we shall do tAat. TIE next Ihingand don't now
our Government avoid it's 70 make a peremptory
demand that the property OF American citizens &C
knowledged 10 be illegally held shall at be restored
70 ne owners TINS would make stir in Spain and
CUBA, and 1ght result IL breaking the Spanish power
in the island, Tut that ~ OF our business"
Has no new move occurred since last 6pringf" / |
&sked
no" was hs reply and then he added: 1--WE have |
very recently made new discovery, which, by tho
way have not seen referred 10 in any Of news
papers. You know that property Cuba can DO en-
bzfgoed but the tile cannot be e0Dhscated. But 10 |
seems that the COnmi1aon of EDargOed Estates has
found way 10 get around that provision, even. They
hays moFgaged them ~ the Bank OF Havana and that
baSs has Issued assikst these SOStssEss sixI uiioas