The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-09-25
HUBRTA PREPARES
TO SETTLE CLAIMS
Calls Foreign Diplomats Into
Conference to Discuss In.
vestigatiOn Plan.
TOTAL NEAR $25O,0OO,O00
u. s. Will Insist on Commission
Including Representatives, Of
Powers Interested.
TOTAL NEAR $25O,0O0,O00

WASHINGTON. Sept. -. - Provisional
President Huerta has begun to discuss
with members Of the diplomatic corps In
Mexico city plans for arranging q settle
ment OF the foreign cisams against the
Mexican 0ovsrnmeut growing out Of the
disorders Of the lsst thrvs ysssss' -
President Huerta proposes to have APP
pointed . commission which shall pass on
the claims OF all foreigners against the
Federal Government in Mexico. Pressure
Is being exerted in many quarters In favor
Of having this commission international In
character instead Of purely a Mexican
body, and II II understood that Huerta
himself 10 inclined to follow this sugges-
ton IL he finds 1t can be worked out
Satisfactorily.
While the United States Government has
not rendered any formal opinion on the
subject, It is known that an international
claims commission. including In its men,
bership representatives OF the most I'M
portant Governments with interests In
Mexico. is the only kind Of commission
which will be satisfactory to this Gov
eminent.
1t Is the view here that II will be quite
impossible for the foreign Governments
whose citizens have suffered heavy losses
in Mexico to be content with a commission
composed solely OF Mexicans 1t IL felt
that in view Of the enormous amount OF
the foreign claims In the aggregate no
body Of Mexicans could be expected to DO
absolute Justice to the claimants
It Is thought that "A commission OF hve
or seven members would be the most sat.
isfactory. Besides the United States.
Great Britain and France. Germany ana
Spain would be certain to demand ade-
quate representation upon such body,
Mexico would of course demand larger
representation than any other one country,
II not in fact majority representation.
Americas Claims SIIO.OOO.OOO.
SO widespread have been the disorders
and so demoralixed the state of Mexico
even up 10 this moment that only guesses
can be made as to the amount OF claims
for damages which viii be presented on
| behalf OF foreigners. one estimate by an
American In Mexico city who is as COM
petent as any one in the country to give
the figures puts the total Of American
! losses In actual damage as a result OF the
, revolutions at 100000 900. This is con.
servatve figure. many other estimates
having been made On apparently good
| evidence more than double this amount.
A'he same man Is authority for the
state ment that the claims for damages OF
all the European nations will aggregate
| more than the American claims alone. so
| that Mexico faces. in all probability. "a
, demand for the payment of quarter of
! a billion dollars. In view OF the state OF
Mexican finances at present and the pros.
poets for the immediate future. II Is pre-
, dited here that more than one general tion
will pass before Mexico will be able to
settle the claims when finally adjusted.
May Cat In Half.
| This prediction Is made after allow.
! ing for the likelihood that amounts finally
adjudged due to foreign claimants prob
ably will be about One-half OF what was
asked for. The first step OF whatever
| claims commission Ia created will be to
| throw out at the start vast number OF
| claims. 1t Is expected that Mexico will
invoke the same principle Of interna tional
law as was laid down by the Spanish
claims commission Of the United States,
which vas to the effect that the parent
Government II not to be held responslb BILE
for losses suffered by foreigners because
Of . revolution which has gone beyond
the control Of the Government. In other
words. 1t 10 likely that American and
other claimants will have to show tina,
the Mexican Government could have pre-
vsntsd the loss suffered by them II they
had taken sufaciently energetic and pre-.
cautionary measures
l