The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-23
CLAIMS UPON SPAIN.
Gresham Proposed to Refer
Them TO Arbitration.
HE SUGGESTED A TREATY.
The Cuban Rebels Appear TO BE Max
ing steady Progress. In spite OF
Captain General Campos.

n
standing that Spain would regard with
favo~ an international commission 10 adj
5,,sr penaing claims brings out the fact
thar on February IA. 1894, Secretary
Gresham submitted to Spain the draft OF
a treaty providing for such a commits
sion. This offer OF treaty was never
Withdrawn, and il Is now before the
Spanish authorities, so that If they re-
gard such a plan with favor there APP
pears to be nothing in the way OF an
agreement. Article / of the draft sub
ruitted hy Mr. Gresham is as follows:
There shall be appointed commits
sion. consisting of three members. one
OF whom shall 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, conjoint-
".
TO said commissioners shall be re-
ferred all claims yet remaining unset
tied which, prior to the date of ex-
change of Publications of this conven-
ton shall have been automatically pre-
scented TO each government by its corpo-
rations companies. or individual ciI-
gems or subjects, arising out OF rights
denied or wrongs committed since the
18th day of February, 1884, TO the person
or property of citizens or subjects of the
persons were not in the service of the
enemies of the other government or vol
UNFAIRLY giving them aid or comfort; pro-
vided that no claim shall be within the
competence of the commission which is
based upon the refusal of the United
States 10 pay intereSt-either by way of
damages for loss of use of property or
delay in payment-on the claims known
as the East Florida chims, belonging TO
o- dartva3 from nerSnOS who were never
Spanish subjects. or who, subsequent 10
the occurrences out of which the East
Florida claims arose, ceased TO be Span
ish subjects.
And provided further. that no claim
against the United States based upon
the emancipation or loss OF slaves since
the 18Th day of April. 1861, shall be with
in the competence of the commission
THE claim OF Antonio Maxine Mora
against Spain in having been already set
tied. shall not be within the competence
Of the commission
The subsequent articles provide that the
commission shall meet in Washington
City. complete its work within six months,
etc.
a clause is added that Spain shall pay
$326, 3d. which was agreed on in writing
In Madrid in 1857. This sum represents
allowance made by Spain in 1887 to six
L nlted states cit1ZenS.
In offering this treaty Secretary Ores
ham wrote:
81 herewith enclose a draft of a con-
vention which the president is willing to
have executed on his behalf for submits
sion to the senate, whose consent as the
Spanish government, of course under
stands is necessary. II contemplates a
commission TO which shall be referred all
unsettled claims on the part OF citizens
of either country against the government
OF the other which arise and have been
automatically presented since the date or
the last claims convention between the
two countries, to wit: February II. 1884.
This covers the case OF claims based upon
the failure or refusal of this government
TO pay interest to Spain and her subjects
on account of the East Florida awards.
Spain. of course, is not concerned In the
failure or refusal OF this government TO
pay interests 10 its own citizens on such
awards. 1t also covers the claims of Span
ish subjects against this government
growing out of our civil war. 1t likewise
includes all claims. except that OF Mora,
growing out of the embargo OF the estates
OF American citizens in Cuba, which were
not disposed OF by the arbitrator and UNI
plre appointed under the agreement con-
cluded at Madrid February u-12, 1871 be-
tween the spanish minister or state, senior
Cristino Martos and the minister pleni-
potentiary of the United States. Gen. DAN
iel T.. Sickles."
As TO the excepted Mora claim, Mr..
Gresham said:
while IL must be distinctly understood,
as so aften heretofore declared, that pay
ment of Morals claim can I'm no way be
made dependent on the conclusion OF the
proposed convention, yet II is sincerely
hoped that all embarrassment with the
cortes I'm regard 10 the said payment may
now be removed"
Senior Moret. the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs in acknowledging the draft
OF the treaty. said IL would receive due
consideration. He also pointed out that
Mr.. Gresham provided In his treaty that
10 should be ratified by the United States
senate, although he denied 10 the Spanish
cortes the right OF passing on the Mora
claim as agreed to by the Spanish execu-
tive authorities. The negotiations on the
treaty never proceeded further, and are
now pndng.