The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-23
PROPOSED COMMISSION.
Treaty Submitted to Spain Providing
for Settlcmcnt of CInims.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-The understand
ing that Spain would regard with favor an
international commission to adjust pend
ing claims brings out the fact that on Feb.
II. 1884, Secretary Gresham submitted TO
Spain the draft of a treaty providing for
such a commission This offer of a treaty
was never withdrawn, and it is now before
the Spanish authorities, so that If they
regard such plan with favor there appears
to be nothing in the way of agreement.
Article l of the draft submitted by Mr..
Gresham is as follows:
There shall be appointed a commission,
consisting OF three members, one OF whom
Snail be named by the President of the
United States, one by her Majesty, the
queen Regent of Spain, and the third by
the President of the United States and her
Majesty, the Queen Regent, conjointly, and
IN case the third commissioner snail not
nave been so named within a period of
three months from the date OF exchange
Oh ratlflcations of this convention, then the
third commissioner shall be named.
10 said commission shall be referred all
claims yet remaining unsettled which prior
TO the date of exchange of ratifications Of
this convention, shall have been displomat-
ically presented by either government on
Dehalf OF its corporations, companies in
divldual citizens or subjects TO the other
government arising out of rights denied
or wrongs committed since the 18th day of
February, 1884, 10 the person or property
presenting the claims not in the service of
the enemies of the other government or VOL
unfairly giving them aid and comfort. Pro-
vided, that no claim shall be within the
competence of the commission which is
based on the refusal of the United States
to pay interest on claims known as the
east Florida claims, belonging to de-
rived from persons who were never Span
ish subjects, or who subsequently TO the
claims arose ceased 10 be Spanish subjects.
And provided. further. that no claim
against the United States based on the
18th day of April, 1861, shall be within the
competence of the commission. The claim
of Antonio Maxima Mora against Spain.
having been already settled, shall not be
within the competence of the commission" :"
The subsequent articles provide that the
commission shall meet in Washington and
complete its work within six months, etc.
A clause is added that Spain shall pay
S32S,392 which was agreed on in writing
at Madrid in 1887. The 1928 ,392 represents
United States citizens. viz: Messrs. Mar
tinez. Roios. Isquierdo, Delgardo, Dattle
and TopeZ.
In offering this treaty Mr.. Gresham
wrote: Il herewith inciose a draft of con-
vention which the President is willing 10
TO the Senate, whose consent. as the Span
ish government, Of course, understands, is
necessary It coptemplates commission o !,
claims on the parts Of citizens of either
country against the government of the 9TH
er WHICH nave arisen ana nave Deen QlD-
lomatically presented since the date of the
last general claims convention between the
two countries, to wit, that of Feb. II, 1894
This covers the case of claims based on
the failure or refusal of this government
to pay interest to Spanish subjects on ac-
count OF the east Florida awards Spain.
of course, is not concerned in the failure or
refusal OF this government to pay interest
10 it's own citizens on such awards 1t also
against this government growing out of our
civil war. 1t likewise includes all claims,
except that of Nora growing out of the
embargo of the estates of American citi-
Zens in Cuba which were not disposed of
by the arbitrator and umpire appointed
under the agreement concluded al Madrid
Feb. Ill., 1S11 between the Spanish Min
lister of State, Senor Christine Martos, and
the minister plenipotentiary of the United
States, Gen. Daniel +. Sckels."
As 10 the excepted Mora claim, Mr.
understood often heretofore declared.
that payment OF Moras claim can in no
way be made dependent on the conclusion
of the proposed convention, yet it is sim
cerely hoped that all embarrassment with
the Cortes in regard TO said payment may
now be removed.
Senor Moret, the Spanish Minister of
Foreign Affairs, in acknowledging the dec
laration of the treaty, said il would re-
ceive due consideration. He also pointed
out that Mr.. Gresham provided in his
United States Senate, although he denied
TO the Spanish Cortes the right of passing
on the Mora claim agreed 10 by the Span
ish executive authorities. The negotiations
on the treaty never proceeded further, and
are now pending.