The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-21
WARSHIPS TO SEIZE HAVANA.
SPAIN FAILED TO PAY THE LONG
FOUGHT MORA CLAIM.

our Government Disguised with the
DupIieity, Humbuggery and Lies
OF the Spanish OmciaIs, so Plans
Were Laid and ships Made Ready
TO Seize the Cuban POrt-This
Might Have Caused War-But Prob
ably NOt-The Money VIII BE Paid.
Washington. Aug. 2O.-After many years
Of controversy the claim of Maxima Mo-
ra, a naturalized American citizen, against
the government of Spain for the value Of
his sugar plantation in Cuba. has been
amicably settled, or, rather, practically
so, for Spain has until Sept. 10 to make
the payment. Spain's final and positive
agreement to pay at an early date was
made some time ago. but since the cabi-
net council at Madrid committed the
government to that promise, a difficulty
arose through a further decision of the
council not to pay the interest on the
claim, amounting to about $4,000.
It was believed at the time that this
attitude of the cabinet would result in
serious difficulty between the United
States and Spain. The patience Of the
Washington government has been worn
out through spain's consistent policy of
making promises and then failing to keep
them. So seriously did this government
view the refusal to pay the interest that
a plan that might have involved the
United States in war with Spain, but
probably would not, was decided on by
the President, Secretary Olney and Sec
retary Herbert. This was no less than
an intention to seize Havana and hold
that port until the Spanish government
laid down the amount of the interest or
until customs revenues amounting to the
full interest had been collected at the
Havana custom house by the United
states officers. who would be placed in
charge.
The statement that this plan was prac-
tically arranged is made on the best au-
thority. In coming to such a serious
conclusion, the administration found
precedent in the recent action of Great
Britain in seizing the port of Corinto,
Nicaragua, for the purpose OF collecting
indemnity claimed for subjects who had
suffered at the hands of the Nicaraguan
government during the Mosquito troubles.
Rear Admiral Bunce, commanding the
North Atlantic squadron, now cruising
in New England waters was selected as
the officer to command the expedition to
Havana, and his fleet was to consist of
the New York, Minneapolis, Montgomery,
Raleigh, the Cincinnati, now at Key
West, and such other vessels az could be
prepared for service. 1t is stated that
the evolutions which the strategetic
squadron Is supposed to be practicing
along the Atlantic coast are merely de-
signed to satisfy curiosity as the assem-
blage of such a large number Of vessels.
There was little doubts in the minds of
those who arranged the plan for the seiz-
ure of Havana that Spain would pay the
indemnity very quickly when she learned
of the character of the persuasion to be
employed by this government. The waiver
of Mora, however, with regard to the in
terest obviates the necessity of carrying
out the plan which Spain, by prompt
payment, would probably not have allow
ed to proceed further than the receipt of
ultimatum that the interest must be
paid or Havana would be seized.
The agreement between Spain, the Uni
ted States and Mora was arranged after
repeated conferences between Secretary
Olney, Senior Depuy de LONE, the Span
ish minister, and Morals attorney. Sec
retary olney is at Falmouth, and de
LONE at Wampscott, and Mora and his
attorney were summoned to Massachu-
setts to sign the agreement. Mora
valves all claim for interest and Spain,
represented by Senor de LONE, agrees
to make the payment on Sept. Is. The
principal of the claim is $1,5OO,OOO, and it
Is to be paid in Spanish gold. When the
agreement was made Mora asked that
the money be paid to representative of
the United States or his attorney, either
IN Washington or Madrid, but Senor de
LONE insists that it should be paid to
Mora's attorney by Martinez Campos,
the Capt. Gen. of Cuba in Havana This
fn
not appear in the articles of agreement.