The New York herald., 1872-12-24

think, inevitable conflict is not yet.
Cuban ARairs-Claims OF American
Citizens-A Little Joint High Conn
mission.
The United States and Spanish governments
have just entered into Engagement for jointly
taking testimony in Cuba to be used by the
commission holding its sessions in Washing
ton for the adjudication of the claims of
American citizens, growing out of the present
insurrection of the island. These claims are
mostly based on the confscation or destruction
by the Spanish authorities of property in Cuba
belonging to American citizens treated as in
surgents by said authorities. Others of our
citizens, fleeing from the island in consequence
of threats or fears of personal outrages as
traitors to Spain or sympathzers with the in
surgents, and, leaving their property unpro-
tected, have suffered losses for which they seek
indemnifcation. Others, in being expelled
from the island, claim reparation for their re-
sulting losses, and so on through all the
notifications Of outrages to which citizens Of
this country lately or still residing in Cuba
have been subjected during the four years Of
this tenacious Cuban insurrection. Some
claims, we understand, have been put in for
the losses of slaves; but as 'neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude" is recognized as within
the pale Of law in the United States we pre-
sumo that all such claims will be thrown out
of Court The Preside 1T in his late annual
Message suggests the propriety Of some legis-
LA. al -
citizens Of the United States residing in Cuba
from dabbling in slavery or the slave trade.
This Joint High Commission to take testi-
mony iaoS in Cuba 81 all these American claims MS
will have tedious task before it, though
we suppose the claimants themselves will
cheerfully assist in the work. In any event.
while we have little fear that any just claims
will be overlooked, we think it quite likely
that some spurious cases will be worked up
unless proper precautions are taken against
them. 1t will be remembered that the Mexi-
can Claims Commission at Washington (on
claims of our citizens growing out of our war
with Mexico) passed the notorious Gardner
claim for losses in silver mine near San
Luis Potosi to the extent of over half million
OF dollars, and the equally notorious Metres
claim for losses in a quicksilver mine to the
figure of one hundred and fifty three thousand
dollars, and that after these awards had been
paid by the Treasury in gold it was discovered.
by commission sent out for the examination,
that there were no such mines in
Mexico as those Of Gardner and
Metres, and that all their official ledgers,
daybooks and vouchers of all sorts were
forgeries. The suicide of Gardner in the
Washington City Hall on his conviction Of
the fraud was the end of his case. Metres, a
shrewder rogue, from his secure retreat in
Mexico, impudently informed ''Uncle Sam"
that having discovered that that aforesaid
quicksilver mine was fraud, he had better
pocket his loss, as there was no help for it.
Now this joint commission of inquiry in
Cuba, in visiting the plantations upon which
some of these American Cuban claims ore
located, will act judiciously, for otherwise
there may be some serious mistakes COM
mitted.
But if Spain and the United States hand in
hand, ore going on this Cuban tour Of ex-
animation OF American claims, what becomes
of Secretary Robeson's appreheNions Of
quarrel and formidable preparations for war?
We can only answer that the ways of Mr.
Fish in reference to our relations with Spain
are SO very mysterious as to be past find
ing out.
FRANCE-M. GAMBETTA AND THE REPUB-
IIc.-In late issue of the RSDuJlioue Fran