Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-13
CLAIM AGAINST SPAIN.


W AsEtSGTOS. sept IL 2-Ihereis Is another
side 10 the Mora case against the Spanish
government, bill in regard to which is
now pending Before congress. On.rhe face
Of the papers no claim could make q
stronger showing
Congress has passed repeated resolutions
urging its payment Some Of the most
eminen, counsel Of the United States have
been engaged 10 ask action upon it by the
committee on foreign affairs and foreign
relations Of the house and senate. The
state department has mora than ono. been
induced to instruct our minister in Spain
to press for n settlement from the Spanish
government
An agreement was once actually entered
into by Spain for its settlement on a basis
Of 81, so, 00. 10 be charged against the
Cuban budget, when Edward Fl. Strobel,
now third assistant secretary of state, was
secretary of legation at Madrid. Yet there
are said to be circumstances of a most Pc
culiar nature back Of the claim which
justify the statement tina, Spain will re-
sst to the utmost any compliance with
demand for its settlement.
Concerning the Claimant.
Maimo Mora. In whose name the claim
is filed. is a venerable Cuban gentleman,
over ~ years Of age, unable to speak more
than few words Of English. Il is as
serted that be took out papers as an Amer
ican citizen chiefly for the purpose Of saw
ing his large property in Cuba, valued at
several millions Of dollars, from confisca-
tion by the Spanish government on the
ground Of his alleged sympathy with the
Cuban revolutionists In this he was IN
successful. His property was forfeited,
and this claim was br ought against Spain
in his name as an American citizen. 1t is
also asserted that Mora now retains
only few thousand dollars of personal
interest in the claim. He has parted with
the rest OF it to those who have been so en-
ergetically pressing the case on bis behalf
Rightly or wrongly, the Spanish gov
ernment Is firmly imbued with the i'm
preston that the question between Senior
Mora and itself is one between a govern
ment and one Of its own subjects, in which
the United States has no proper interest
that Mora's American citizenship.
in f5ct, was little more than simulated
allegiance Mr. Moret, the Spanish
minister. who made a provisional agree
ment for settlement of the claim, sub
ject to the approval OF the cortes, was
compelled to retire from Office on this ae
count. *
Hints of Corruption.
In public debate in the Spanish cortes
the harshest things were said about the
claim and the severesr possible criticism
was passed upon the United States le-ya-
ton for, as was implied, permitting itself
to be used 4 claim agent 10 enforce an un-
Just demand against a friendly govern
meut 1t was stated that the Morel
agreement WAS procured by representa-
tions made to the Spanish government by
persons representing the Mora claim; that
senators Of the United States were
much Interested in this matter that they
were willing 10 approve liberal recipro-
city treaty with spain provided the Mora
claim was paid in other words. the inn
preston was conveyed to Spanish officials
that United States senators were cor
ruptIy interes ted in the Mora claim.
These accusations were SO openly made
that Perry belmont, when minister to
Madrid. perenptnrly refused. 1t is said, to
follow the Instructions OF the state de
partment by further pressing the claim
upon the Spanish government, and in this
course he was followed. so the story goes.
BIZ his successor, ex-senator Palmer of
Michigan. Mr. Belmont forwarded
translation Of the debate in the Spanish
cortes to the state department in explana-
tion of his action
.+~ Needs Probing. *t
In the last congress. in response to a
resolution offered by Mr.. Dolph, all the
recent paper In the case were forwarded
to the senate committee on foreign rela-
tious, including this debate in the Spanish
cortes. The papers were voluminous. and
the singular assertion is made that their
arrangement for publication was left in
the hands Of some Of the numerous at
torneys interested in the claim, aud that
the debate in the cortes was withheld
from publication. 1t certainly does not
appear in the official senate document
Altogether the Mora claim has appar
entity much more in it than appears on the
surface, and some interesting develop
ments are expected. 1t Is not questioned
that most of those who have urged its
settlement have been actuated by firm be-
lief in the justice Of the claim. but II the
statements row made are substantiated,
they have been misled as to the facts.