[Inclosure 1 in No.
320—Translation.]
Señor Moret to Mr.
Curry.
Ministry of
State, Palace, May 12,
1888.
Excellency: In reply to the dispatch which yon
were good enough to address to me on April 24, I have the honor to
inform you that the Government did not introduce into the budget of the
island of Cuba the article inserted in the budget of last year for the
execution of what was agreed upon with your Government, in reference to
the indemnities of American subjects (citizens), nor has it introduced
any new clause; for that purpose lor the reasons which I hope your
excellency will appreciate at their full value.
The Government has been obliged before everything to pay attention to the
result of the discussion in the Congress of Deputies during the months
of December and January. The result of this long and minute debate was
the conviction that the Chamber (House) was not disposed to sanction
what had been done by the Government, unless the totality of the
American claims was settled and liquidated, so that there might be a
definite disposal both of the claims held by the United States against
Spain which have been the subject of our negotiations, and of those held
by Spain against I the United States which are being negotiated in
Washington.
Given this situation (state of the case), and the opinion expressed by
the different groups of the House, the reproduction of that measure,
with the completeness (of detail) required by the Parliament, would have
assuredly provoked a negative vote of the House, prejudicial to the very
purposes which inspired the note of your excellency which I have the
honor of answering.
On the other hand, as the proposition made to me by your excellency on
the 15th of December last is in the way of discussion (is well on
towards discussion) proposition in which the Government of the United
States as a consequence of our negotiations formulated the basis of a
general arrangement which should terminate all the claims existing
between the two Governments, and, as authorized by your excellency for
the purpose, I have reported it to the Congress, it would not be prudent
to ask for the appropriation necessary for paying the claim of Antonio
Maximo Mora, without accompanying it by some analogous find reciprocal
resolution in reference to the totality of the claims, sufficient to
terminate the question entirely.
The urgency of the parliamentary business with which I have had to occupy
myself has prevented my replying to the note referred to. I shall
have-the honor off doing so within a very few days.
It is likewise my duty to add that for the purposes indicated it is of no
importance nor is there any obstruction in the fact that the clause
referred to by your excellency has not been entered in the budget of
Cuba, because the Government can at anytime present a project of law
(bill) to the Chambers and ask for the means necessary for the
purpose.
On terminating in this manner the reply to your note of April 24, I
desire in everyway to make it evident that the Government neither
proposes nor assumes to alter in anything what has been agreed upon with
the Government of the United States, but for the very reason that it
respects scrupulously its engagements, it must appreciate the manner and
the moment in which, considering the parliamentary antecedents
[Page 373]
of the question, it may be
most opportune to propose a resolution to the Congress with probability
of success. Being assured that in any other way any resolution which has
not the generic and total character which I have indicated would be
rejected in the Congress, the Government could not expose itself to a
refusal, which would complicate and prolong the question, instead, of
terminating it for the good of both countries and in the manner desired
by both.
I trust that these considerations will completely satisfy your excellency
and will give to your Government the assurance that the Government of
the Queen Regent does not modify nor alter the attitude adopted on this
subject.
I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate to your excellency
the assurances of my highest consideration.
To the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States.
[Inclosure 21 in No. 320.]
Mr. Curry to Señor
Moret.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, May 14,
1888.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of the 12th instant, in which with
much kindness you explain why the Government of Spain did not introduce
into the Cuban budget an article for “the execution of what was agreed
upon” with the Government of the United States in reference to the
indemnity of Antonio Maximo Mora.
My notes of December 15, 1887, of March 5, 1888, and of April 24, 1888,
make it unnecessary to enter into any review of the agreement, about
which there seems to be no difference of opinion between the two
Governments. What your excellency is pleased to say in reference to
“some analogous and reciprocal resolution in reference to the totality
of the claims,” held respectively by Spanish and American citizens, is a
matter of parliamentary procedure, of administrative policy with which
the Government of the United States has no right to interfere, nor any
disposition to make a suggestion. The Government of the United States
will observe with peculiar satisfaction that there is no “obstruction”
to the execution of the agreement between the two Governments “in the
fact that the clause referred to” in my note has not; been entered in
the budget of Cuba because the Government can at any time present a
project of law to the Chambers and ask for the means necessary for the
same.”
That the Government “neither proposes nor assumes to alter in anything
what has been agreed upon with the United States” is what any one
familiar with the exalted character of the Spanish Government would have
readily foreseen. The conscientiousness of your excellency, the
consistency of all your utterances in connection with this agreement,
the fidelity of the Government to its engagements, enable me, with much
cheerfulness to comply with your excellency’s request to give to my
Government “the assurance that the Government of the Queen Regent does
not modify nor alter the attitude adopted, on this subject.”
Your excellency’s note will be communicated promptly to the Government at
Wash ington, and I gladly seize this new opportunity of renewing to your
excellency the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Excmo. Señor D. S. Moret, etc.
