The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-18
FROM MEXICAN
POINT OF VIEW
History of the Plus Claim Now
Being Arbitrated.
PRESIDENT DAYS MESSAGE
REPUBLIC WILL ABIDE BY THE
DECISION AT THE HAGUE.

IHEXICO CITY. Sept. T.-President
MI Diaz, in his message TO congress.
says of the Plus claim, now being
ar5itrated at The Hague:
The case in question grows out OF a
claim presented by the Catholic church
of upper California against the Next
can republic and upheld by the gov
eminent of the United States. looking
to the payment of interest on a fund
which was created in colonial epochs
for the benefit of missions in that for
mer portion OF our territory. Originally
the fund in question was entrusted 10
the Jesuits for their California mis-
sions, but as a consequence of a royal
order which expelled the Jesuits from
Spanish territory in 176S. the fund
passed to the crown Of Spain. which
entrusted its administration to royal
commission. in whose hands 1t was az
the time when our independence was
consummated. The national govern
ment continued 10 administer the fund.
which was destined for the reduction Of
the barbarous Indians and their con-
version to Christianity; and though in
1886 IL caused the fund TO be placed at
the disposal of the bishop of Califor-
mia TO be administered by him, that
arrangement was cancelled by a decree
of Feb. S. 1912. and the administration
of the fund reverted to the Mexican
government TO be employed by that
government in such form and manner
as II might determine compatible with
the original intention of the founders
Thought Matter Ended.
when, in 1913. upper California was
segregated from the Mexican fedora
ton, the Mexican government, taking
its stand principally on Article I of the
peace treaty with the United States.
concluded in that same year, which
pronounced as ended and cancelled all
debts and claims which citizens OF the
United States might allege against
Mexico. considered itself released from
all liabilities toward representatives of
the church of California, who, If they
believed they had any claim 10 urge.
ought to have urged il against the gov
eminent TO which the sovereignty OF
Upper California, with all its co-rela-
tive rights and obligations. had passed.
Not convinced by considerations to
which ] have alluded, the church in
question, Notwithstanding It's lack OF
competency, went before the Joint
Washington under the convention of
July 4. 1868. demanding the payment of
interest up TO date of the claim. Ow-
ing to lack of agreement between the
commissioners the case was submitted
to an arbitrator or referee, who, be-
lieving he had found grounds for such
action, sentenced US TO pay a certain
sum.
Considered Sentence Unjust.
THE Mexican government, notwith-
standing that il considered the SEN
tence unjust, paid the interest assessed
against il on the strength of that deci-
sion. The California church has since
claimed that the republic ought to
continue paying interest on the fund,
and its claims were presented through
the diplomatic channel After an ex-
change OF notes between the represent
alive of the United States and the min
lister of foreign relations, and seeing
that no agreement was reached 1--WE on
our side maintaining that the arbi-
trary decision of 1895 did not include
subsequent interest and that there Is
no ground for claiming that interest
or for regarding the principal itself,
it was decided to submit the case to
The Hague court for adjudication.
Il have TO add that both governments
in due course appointed their respect
i've arbitrators. who met on the LIST
inst. at The Hague. and these arbi-
traitors in turn appointed fifth arbi-
traitor. or referee. TO decide in case of
The Mexican govern
ment confides in the acknowledged in
tegrity and high character of the jur-
lists who constitute the respected tri-
bunal, and once more engages itself
TO comply with the definite sentence
uttered in this matter"