Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-08
ANOTHER CUBAN RESOLUTION.
An Important Step-Demand on
Spain for Indemnity.

WASHINGTON, d. c., July THE
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
to-day. through Senator Lodge, reported
a resolution authorizing the President 10
take such measures as he may deem
necessary to obtain indemnity from the
Spanish Government for the wrongs ana
injuries suffered by August Bolten ana
American citizens, by reason OF their
wrongful arrest by the Spanish authorl-
ties at Santiago de Cuba in the year
1885"
The resolution further authorizes the
President "to employ such means, or eN,,
ercise such power as may be necessary.
The resolution is based upon the on. 9ls-
closures made in correspondence ioI -
Warded 10 the Senate by the PRESIDENT
last April. in which IL is made TO appear
according to the preamble or the Ieso-
luton reported to-day by senator b01se'
that "all diplomatic efforts OF the rON-
eminent of the United States, exerted tor
an amicabe adjustment and payment oil
a lust indemnity, have proved ehtlrey
The resolution reported to-day is con-
sidered by members OF the coihHlittee
an important step, and is construed as as
another intimation from the coihiHlt.es
that force. If necessary, should be useu
i'm protecting Americans In Cupa.
Mr. Lodge also submitted a written re-
port. from which il appears tnat bolteH
is a native of Sweden, and Klchene,ui oi
France. though both are naturalized
Americans. They were sailors 81 az ana ernr,i nsru
drifted to Port au Prince, Haltl, from
New York Armed with passports as
Americans, on February .. 1873. they SCI
out i'm a small open boat 70 fsh cr ior
green turtle, INTENDING 10 ur1it a tbe 70 cDbap
coast. From this point the report pro-
ceeds as follows:
Temporary landings were effected at
one or two points and hnally, ailToss mos.
drifting for several days, they reached
Santiago de Cuba. The testimony dis
closes that they at once produced thelr
passports for inspection 10 the captain OF
the port explained their distress, ana
asked TO be directed TO the united states
Consul. Notwithstanding these submitted
facts. they were seized by the military
authorities on February 23d, and thrown
into a prison. from which they were not
released until May Sd following. During
this Imprisonment, poth men were . kep'
in close confinement much of the time,
and both suffered great injury 10 their
health. Boten contracted yellow-fever
The committee expresses the opinion
that the seizure Of the men Is in VIOLA
tion of article of the Spanish-American
treaty of 1895. and that the military pro-
ceedings against them violated the proto-
col OF 1871 in view of the fact that upon
their apprehension a most rigid search
failed to disclose upon them either arms
or papers or other evidence OF uniaWIui
intent.
"Bolton and Richelieu." the report con-
cludes 'haye each asked for an in
demnity of $4,000 from the Spanish Gov
eminent. A settlement of the claim has
been urged upon Spain through the proper
Diplomatic channels Of our government.
This effort has been practically unavail-
ing. and the Spanish Government has dis
tinctly declined to discuss any further
the present claims, considering the Incl
dent to be definitely ended In view OF
the above. the committee is of the opin-
ION that il is the manifest duty OF the
United States to take such prompt mea-
sures as shall be adequate 10 obtain an
Indemnity for all the wrongs and injuries
suffered by the two American sailors"