Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-22

1t appears that the reports from
Washington that Secretary Olncy had
made Il demand upon the Spanish gov
crnmcnt for the immediate settlement
of the Mora claim, which has been
pending for some nine years cXagger-
atCd the facts. The impression con
vcycd by these reports was that our
government had determined not to wait
any longer for the adjustment of this
claim, which amounts to S1,5OO,OOO, and
which Spain promised in December,
1856. to pay. 1t was given out that If
Spain did not at once make settle
mCnt our government would take steps
to collect the claim by occupying the
port of Havana, Cuba, and taking the
customs receipts there The claim
grows out of the seizure and ConiiSca-
ton by the Spanish authorities in
Cuba, during an inSurrcCtiOn there, of
II valuable sugar property owned by
Antonio MaXimo Mora, an American
citizen. The wrong thus done was ad-
mittcd by the Spanish government,
which agreed to pay an indemnity of
$500, 900, but thus far no indication
Of purpose to carry out the agree.
mcnt has been shown. The matter was
called to the attention of Spain by the
late Secretary Gresham, whose course
in the matter was approved by con
gress. 1t seems that all Secretary Oh
ney has done is to repeat the action of
his predecessor, which amounted sim
ply to informing the Spanish govern
ment that the government of the United
States thought it was time the claim
were settled. 1t does not appear that
there was any intimation of urgency
and certainly no threat of extreme
measures in the event of the claim not
being settled at once.
That our government would be fully
justified in urging the prompt payment
Of this claim is unquestionable. Spain
having acknowledged its justice and
agreed to pay it, nine years in which to
make good the agreement must be re-
garded as ample time. But interna-
tional amity perhaps requires that our
government consider the present stua-
ton of Spain, engaged in II costly eff
fort to suppress II formidable insurrcc-
tion in Cuba, with her treasury bank
rupt and her credit almost ruined, and
not attempt to force immediate pay
mcnt. OF course If our government
should insist upon the settlement of
this claim at once and Spain failing
to settle the United States should un-
dertake to collect the amount by TAX
ing the customs duties at Havana. the
result would very likely be the loss
of Cuba to Spain. With our war YES
sells occupying the harbor of Havana
and dcpriving the Spanish government
Of the revenues there, it is not to be
doubted that the effect would be to
give Il great impetus to the insurrec-
| tion and in an equal degree to dis
| hearten and disorganize the Spanish
| forces, as they are by no means enthusi-
| aStic in the war against the insurgents.
Such Il course on the part of the United
States would very likely be interpreted
by other countries as designed to pro-
duce this result, whatever we might
| say in justification of it. While it
would be approved, undoubtedly, by
the lingo element it is question
! whether the United States could afford
to put itself in position before the
world of taking such advantage of Il
friendly nation in its time Of trouble.
A Washington dispatch says that in
the event of the United States pressing
this claim to immediate settlement
Spain will bring forward counter
claims, based on damages to Spanish
vessels during the civil war and on
the occupancy of Florida by General
Jackson when it was Spanish territory.
This would be Il most foolish proceed
ing, the effect of which could only be
to intensity popular feeling in this
country against Spain. If that country
cannot now pay the Mora claim it
should simply say so and ask more
time and undoubtedly such a request
would be granted