The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-21
THE MORA CLAIM.
Spain Has Not Been Urged to Pay 1t,
md May Not he.

md May Not he.
WASHINGTON, June 2O.-The first re-
ports as to the urgency of the demand made
by the United States on Spain for the pay
ment Of what is known as the Mora claim
appear to have been overstated The atti-
tude Of the United States was stated with
out any expression Of demand or threat,
in a communication from the State Depart
ment to Minister Taylor. sent some weeks
ago. before Senior Muruaga. the then Span
ish minister, had left Washington. 1t is
said to have made clear that the depart
ments note was due to instructions from
Congress, and that it was desirable to have
such response as would permit a communi-
cation to Congress when it reconvenei in
December. The note was couched In the
courteous terms usual in dealings between
friendly powers, and was such as to give
full execution to the instructions of Con-
gress and yet leave Spain to take such
action as seemed to her consistent. The
fact that Spain still has a minister in
Washington indicates that there has been
no threats of possible consequences such
as have been suggested. Such expressions,
either in the original note or in any SUBJ
sequent communications to the Spanish gov
eminent would have given a cause which
by withdrawal of their minister. So far
the action of the Spanish government is
concerned. 1t is not known here what, IL
any, action has been taken by the Cortes,
but ii is doubted whether anything has
been will be done in the brief time before
the Cortes adjourns, two weeks hence.
popular in Spain. and the Spanish Minister
OF Foreign Affairs who agreed on a set
Element Of it was compelled to leave the
Cortes was in 1886, when a committee re-
ported that If the claim was paid the
United States should settle at the same
against the United States. The report Of
the committee was never acted ON. In view
or the report that any settlement by Spain
should be accompanied by settlement by
tae United States, it is believed that If the
United States insists on the settlement of
the Mora claims Spain will urge two large
One of these covers the damage done to
SPANS shipping during the civil war; 1t
is said that the United States has reim-
bursed other foreign countries, but thus
far has failed to respond to Spain. An
other claim is based on the occupancy Of
Florida by General Jackson at time when
it was Spanish territory.
1t is said tonight that it is not improb-
able that an international commission be-
tween the United States and Spain will re-
against Spain. 1t is said that the British
claims commission gives precedent on this
subject. The treaty for that commission
come before it. The Alabama case was
only one Of these and the award was made
in Geneva. Then the same commission sat
at Washington and Newport and consid-
cred Great Britain's claim against the
United States for damage to British ships
during the civil war. This resulted I'm an
ually all pending questions between the
United States and Great Britain were set
tied. Officials who took prominent part
in those memorable commissions say that
the claims between the United States and
Spain can be settled in the same way, and
that such an arrangement Is not unlikely
Nlxs&s~ 80 onrltN nVr0 rCV
over the Mora claim. 1t cannot be learned
that negotiations for a commission have
as yet been opened. although they are re-
garded as likely to be the natural outcome
of the preSeut circumstances.