Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-27
THE MORA CLAIM
This May Complicate the Pending
Controversy With Spain.
LONG DELAY In SETTLEMENT
Continued lnsistence of This Gov
eminent Upon Its Payment.
THE NEW ORLEANS INCIDENT

THE NEW ORLEANS INCIDENT
The unsatisfactory status of the cele-
brated Mora claim against Spain is calcu-
lated to aggravate the pending controversy
between the United States and Spain over
the Alliance incident. At any rate. 1t will
compHcate the situation and probably pro-
long the settlement of either controversy.
Maxine Mora was a naturalized citizen
of the United States living in Havana. In
1870 the Spanish government condemned
him to death and confiscated his estates.
This government interviewed and secured
the admission that his sentence by court
martial. in his absence, was unjust and
that the conf1scation of his property was
in violation of the constitution Of Spain,
and also of its treaty with the United
States Consequently. in 1873. the Spanish
government ordered the restoration of
Mora's estates. The order Of restoration,
however, was not executed by the Cuban
authorities. Finally, Spain compromised
with an offer to pay ar indemnity of $1,5O,-
States in September, 1885, Then another
delay occurred The Spanish government
proposed to offset the Mora claim by other
claims against the United States. Secre-
sition. In his letter to the American min
lister at Madrid, dated September IL. 1888,
Mr.. Bayard said: TT cannot be admitted
that the payment of the acknowledged
of Mora can. as the minister Of state init
mates. be Indefinitely postponed until a
disposition or a method of disposition shall
have been reached of all the demands OF
Spain against this government"
Mr.. Gresham's Attempt.
The case has ever since continued to be
the subject of diplomatic correspondence.
About a year ago Secretary Gresham un-
dertook to bring matters to focus. He
made formal offer to provide for the
arbitration Of all outstanding and IN
liquidated claims between the two coun-
tries. He specified. however, that the Mora
claim should not be dependent on the max
ing of such an arrangement Time rolled
on without any conclusion In the matter
About two months ago the Spanish min
lister Of state wrote to Secretary Gresham
or the subject. He expressed the opinion
that when the occasion arrives the cortes
will de disposed to vote the necessary
such vote comedies with the decision of
the United States to pay the pending
Spanish Claims
This was far from satisfactory to the
administration, and the matter was re-
ferIed to the consideration of Congress.
A House Report.
The House foreign affairs committee con-
sidered it. and made a report, in which 1t
said:
at appears from the petitions of the
Spanish syndfcs, Sainz and Aranguren, to
the director general Of the treasury In
Havana, that they had deposited in the
royal treasury, to the credit OF Mora's
estates. up to December 8. 1877. the sum
Of $2.317.0O0. and that the estates were
allowed to go to ruin because the treasurer
refused to furnish the syndics with the
necessary funds for repairs, taxes. or oven
plantations. AS Morals debts amounted to
less than 100000, the Spanish treasury
had received more than enough to bay
those debts, and the stipulated indemnity
besides! The advantages Of such settle
ment to the Spanish government were ex-
planned to the cortes by Senior Moret, the
n.nister Of state. shortly after the agree
nent OF December. 1886. was made be-
tween the two governments. The Spanish
authorities themselves being judges it
would scarcely be possible for the United
States to suffer more grievous wrong or
more evident denial of justice than this
In the person of one of its citizens.
Insisting ON the Payment.
Before the adjournment Of the Fifty
third Congress joint resolution was
adopted calling on the President to insist
upon the payment of the sum of 81 500, 600
settlement Of the claim of Nora The res
olution was reported unanimously by the
Senate committee on foreign affairs, passed
unanimously by the Senate, and was pass
ed by the House without even a call for
the ayes and nays.
1t would therefore appear that the posi-
ton OF our government on this case is per-
fectly clear, and that further delay in its
settlement would afford good ground for
remonstrance.
The New Orleans Incident.
On the other hand, 1t is contended that
the United States cannot consistently de-
mand prompt action on the part of Spain
in the Alliance matter, because of its own
dilatoriness in similar offenses against
other foreign countries. A case mentioned
as an Illustration is the affair at New Or
leans in March. 1891. in which a number of
Italian subjects were killed. Four days
after that lamentable occurrence the Ital-
ian government called for appropriate
reparation and indemnity and Baron Fava
the Italian minister, acting under orders
from Rome, undertook to press upon Sec
rotary Blaine, then Secretary Of State the
Importance Of prompt compliance with the
demands Of his government Ten days
after the assassination of the Italians Mar
quis Rudini. the Italian premier, telegraph
ed Baron Fava to again demand proper in
pliance, he said he would find himself ''in
the painful necessity of showing openly our
dissatisfaction by recalling the minister of
his majesty from a country where he is
unable to obtain Justice"
Baron Fava's Recall.
Two days later Baron Fava informed
Secretary Blaine that Marquis Rudini
would not admit any further delay con-
corning the answer expected from the
United States, ''in view of his mild and le-
Ultimate demands that the murderers of
the Italian subjects at New Orleans be
brought to justice without further delay,
and that an indemnity be granted the fam
lilies Of the Victims
On the 31st of March, 1891, seventeen days
after the New Orleans affair, Baron Fava
notified Mr.. Blaine that, as the United
States had not acceded to the demands of
the Italian government, he had been in
structed to take his departure from Wash
irgton on leave, his government having
concluded that "the legitimate action of its
minister at Washington had become in