The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-08
LET GOVERN MENT ACT
"BUSINESS INTERESTS HAVE
RETARDED ACTION.
THE PEOPLE ARE PATRIOTIC.
The Committee on Foreign Relations at Last
Voices the Sentiments of Their
Constituents,

Washington, ID. c., July THE Sen
ate committee on Foreign Relations to-
day through Senator Lodge reported a
resolution authorizing the President to
take such measures as he may deem
necessary to obtain indemnity from the
Spanish government for the wrongs and
injuries suffered by August Bolten and
GuStave Richelieu, two naturanZed
American citizens, by reason of their
wrongful arrest by Spanish authorities
at Santiago de Cuba in the year 1S9o.'
The resolution further authorizes the
President ito employ such means or eX-
ercise such power as may be necessary"
The resolution is based upon the dis
closures made in correspondence for
warded to the Senate by the President
last April in which it was made to ap-
pear according to the preamble of the
resolution reported to-day by Senator
Lodge, that ''all the diplomatic efforts
of the government of the United States
exerted for an amicable adjustment and
payment of a just indemnity have prov
ed entirely unavailing."
The resolution reported to-day is con-
sidered by members of the committee an
important step and is construed as an
force should, if necessary, be used in
protecting Americans in Cuba. In pre-
senting the resolution Mr.. Lodge sub
mitted a written report from which it
appears that Bolten is a native of
Sweden and Richelieu of France, though
both are naturaliZed Americans. They
were sailors and had drifted to Port Au
Prince, Hayti, from New York. Arm
ed with pass ports as Americans ON Feb
ruary. 1895, they set out in a small
open boat belonging to Boten to fish for
green turtle, intending to drift TO Cape
Haiten. Iney were driven by stress OF
weather to the Cuban coast. From this
point the report proceeds:
Temporary landings were affected at
one or two points and finally, almost des-
titute of food and water, and after drift
I ing for several days, they reached San
tiago de Cuba. The testimony discl0ses
that they at once produced their papers
for inspection to the captain of the
port, explained their distress and asked
| to be directed to the u. S. Consul. Not
withstanding these admitted facts, they
were seized by the military authorities
on February %, and thrown into a
prison from which they were not releas-
ed until May 3rd, following. During this
imprisonment both men were kept in
| close confinement, much of the time, and
both suffered great injury to health
Bolten contracted yellow fever"
The committee expresses the opinion
that the seizure of the men is violation
Of Article of the Spanish-American
treaty of 1896, and that the military
proceedings against them violated the
protocol Of 1877, in view Of the fact that
upon their apprehension most rigid
evidence failed to disclose upon them
either arms or papers or other evidence
of unlawful intent.
"Bolten and Richeleu," the report con-
| cludes, ''have each asked for an indemni-
| ty of $4,000 from the Spanish govern
ment A settlement of the claim has
been urged upon Spain through the prop
er diplomatic channels of our govern
ment This effort has been practically
unavailing, and the Spanish government
has distinctly declined to discuss any
further the present claims, considering
the incident to be definitely ended In
view of the above, the committee is OF
the oninion that it is the manifest duty
of the United States to take such prompt
measures as shall be adequate to obtain
an indemnity for all wrongs and inju-
ries suffered by the two American sail
ors"