New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-31
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
THE EMBARGOED ESTATES.

Jeans.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHR rRiBUNr.'
HAVANA, Jan. 20-Just now there is a great deal
of correspondence official and private touching the
release Of the estates Of foreigners embargoed by
the Spanish Government for the alleged connection
of their owners with the ,nsurrection. The his
tory of the embargo dates from the declaration of
hostities at Yara and forms an interesting feature
in the annals of the Instruction 1t is well known
that the Cubans meditated the overthrow OF Spain
| on the island long before hOstlites actually be-
| gan For years the principal Creole planters and
their commercial associates had been discussing the
best method Of wrestling the island from the control
of Spain; but, owing to the peculiar circumstances
of their surroundings, and the desire which each
and all Of the leaders Of the nsurrectl0nary move
ment had to DO the central figure in the struggle,
they had not been able to agree upon satisfactory
| plan. In 1851 matters had been thoroughly dis
cussed and in 1853 it resolved to declare Cuban
| Independence. The details Of the impending
| demonstration had not been fully arranged, but
there was general understanding that the outbreak
should be systematic and extend throughout the
| island.
| Owing to lack Of harmony, and the personal and
selfish ambition which has done TO injure the
cause Of the Cubans than oil the efforts of the Span
| ards the rebellion was prematurely begun at YaTa
by Cespedes, who the leader of one wing OF the
revolutionary party. The other revolutionists,
conscious respecting the fate which was in store for
Them joined the party of Cespedes, or fled from the
| country when they could. Among the people who
were 10 have taken an active part in the
| instruction were ALBANIA, Aguilera, CastilI,
! Mestre, and both the Quesadas. Others were
assisting. or opposing the several cliques in the
United States. Many of the persons involved. fore
seeing what the result would be if they unsuc-
IN Oft no
erty into money as they could and sent it from the
| island. The hasty declaration of rebellion, how
| ever, prevented the bulk of the Cubans from doing
| anything, and such Of them were not IN armed
rebellion fed from their property, without anything
but their jewels and whatever money was in their
| possession.
The Spanish Government issued an order embar-
going the estates Of all who had thus fed declaring
that they should be worked for the exclusive ben
| eft OF the Government. Some 10000 estates were
eonfscated in this manner, comprising sugar. Coffee
and tobacco plantations with the slaves. situated In
| the wealthest portions of the island and large
amounts of personal property were also cOnfscated
The estates placed under the administration OF
Government officers who were known M Inspectors
of Plantations. These in turn had others to admin
lister and look after the details of the estates Under
proper administration of these estates, the Govern
| been able to pay off almost all the debt
Of about Sll5,0O0,0O0, which threatens the island
with bankruptcy but also to crush out everything
| which looked like armed Instruction The money,
| however, never reached the treasury. 1t went
| through so many hands that the Treasury found 1t
| a tax instead of q resource. Despairng of accom-
| phshng anything, the principal Government OIL
cials determined that instead of working the panta-
tons themselves they would lease them for term
of years to the highest bidder. This worked
| very little better. man who had been major
domo for the Government, suddenly found that IN
stead of being positively poor he was affiuent and
able to buy an estate for $50000O. Others did like
WISE and thus the foundation of new set OF for
tunes was laid. The lease system insured one good
result The plantations were worked to their ut
most capacity the essees usually expecting to double
their money. One plantation which was leased for
$4,000 produced according to the lessee $4,000
profit Another and larger rented for $4,000 and
did much better.
What makes the embargo of special interest to the
United States is the fact that large number of the
estates belonged to persons claiming to be American
citizens who have invoked the intercession OF the
limited States for the return and protection OF their
nroperty and indemnity for all damages accruing
from the seizure The estates of the alleged American
citizens are estimated high as no. The claims have
been referred to the Spanish Mixed Commission and
in many instances have been rejected by that body,
the Spar lards claiming that the citizenship was
incomplete. In some instances the NATURALIZATION
was purely constructive. Some men, who mad
ANTICIPATED that they would like to have the protec-
ton of the United States twenty years before,
declared their intentions to become citizens, but
never applied for their second papers. But
there were enough citizens interested to
warrant the Government in taxing the
subiect into consideration, and after much
elaboration and correspondence with the Spanish
Government the following estates Of persons claim
ing 70 be American citizens were ordered to be re.
leased joaquin Garcia de Augarrica, Manuel Gar
cia de Augarrlca jose Garcia de Augarrca Fernando
Dominguez, Manuel Felipe Lopez jose Manuel Ma
cias. Felix Jovin Pinto, Ramon Rivas de Lamar
Eusebio Giuteras jose GOWN Pinto, Martin Nue.
ses. Santiago C. Bello Thomas j. Mora. Gonzale
Poey, Ramon Martinez Hernandez, Antonio Bachil-
Ter. Cristobal Madam, Senora Dugan, Pedro Leon
Alfonso
There were also several other claims presented.
among which were those of Ramon Fernandez
Criado Gomez, Joaquin Delgado, Antonio NJ
Mora senora Mora Martin Castillo, Manuel Rajos,
Perfecto Rajos, Leonard Delmonte, and Casanova
Brothers Some Of these latter claims were rejected
by the Spanish Government on the ground that the
claimants had been guilty of treason and were con-
demned TO death but the United States refused to
ackno wledge the decree, and demanded the delivery
of the property great many Cubans who have
never been entitled 70 the protection Of the United
States have also made claims but they will probably
be unsuccessful.
With respect to the estates ordered to be released,
it was not until after q heavy pressure had been
brought to bear upon the Spanish Government that
any results were accomplished. In order to avoid
1o,ovs ;nc;dantal IN such an iuyeatiQatiOn n