The Washington bee., 1895-08-24
BUNCE Was TOSEIZBHAYANA
SPANS QUICK PROMISE TO PAY THE
MORA CLAIMEXPLAINED.
Our Governments Plan to Get Mora's In
terests From Spain-Squadron Would
Have Been Sent to Take and Hold the
Interest-The Claim is Now Settled, and
81 100000 in Gold VIII Be Paid Over by


tonic Maxine Mora, a naturalized
American citizen, against the Govern
ment of Spain for the value of his sugar
plantations in Cuba, has been amica bly,
settled, or practically so, for Spain has
until September 15 to make the pay
ment. Spain's final and positive agree
ment to pay at an early date was made
some time ago, but since the Cabinet
council at Madrid committed the Gov
ernment to that promise a difficulty
arose through further decision of the
council not to pay the interest on the
claim, amounting to about $sOOO00. 1t
vas believed at the time that this atti-
tude Of the Cabinet would result in SER
ious difficulty between the United States
and Spain. The patience of the Wash
ington Government had been worn out
through Spain's persistent 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
he Havana custom house by the United
States officers who would be placed in
| charge. The statement that this
plan was practically arranged is made
on the best authority. In coming to
such a serious conclusion the Admins
| tration found a precedent in the recent
action of Great Britain in seizing the
port of Corinto, Nicaragua, for the pur
pose 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 cruis-
ing in New England waters, was Sc
lected as the officer to command the ex
pedition to Havana. and his fleet was to
conSit of the New York, the Montgom-
-1y, the Raleigh and the Minneapolis,
at present composing the squadron of
evolution; the Cincinnati now at Key
West and such other vessels as could
De prepared for service in time 1t is
stated in this connection that the evo-
.utions which the strategic squadron is
supposed to be practising along the At
.antic coast are merely designed to sat
;sfy curiosity as to the assemblage Of
such a large number of vessels. There
was little doubt in the minds of those
Who arranged the plan for the seizure
Of Havana that Spain would pay the
indemnity 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 interest obviates the nee
essity of carrying out the plan which
Spain, by prompt payment, would prob
ably not have allowed to proceed farth-
sr than the receipt of an ultimatum that
the interest must be paid or Havana
would be seized.
The agreement between Spain, the
United States and Mora was arranged
after repeated conferences between Sec
tetary Olney, Senor Dupuy de LONE,
ne Spanish Minister, and Mora's at
;orney. Secretary Olney Is at Fal-
mouth. and Senor de Lone at Swamp
scott, and Mora and his attorney were
summoned to Massachusetts, to sign the
agreement Mora valves all claim for
interest. and Spain. represented by
Senior de LONE, agrees to make the
payment on September Is. The princi-
pal of the claim is 81, 500. 900, and 1t is to
De paid in Spanish gold. When the
,greement was made Mora asked that
the money be paid to a representative
Of the United States or his sttorney,
sithar in Washington or Madrid, but
Sci de Lone insisted that it should
ce paid to Mora's attorney by Mar rtinez
Campos. the Captain-Genera of Cuba.
in Havana. This dispute could not be
arranged, and does not appear in the
articles Of agreement