Mr. Hay to Mr. Storer.
Washington, June 10, 1901.
Sir: I shall be pleased to have you sound the Spanish Government, with the utmost discretion possible, in order to ascertain whether it would be willing to afford this Government such assistance as may seem to the Royal Government right and appropriate in the defense of the claims which are now being presented by United States citizens to the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, recently organized by the President to carry into effect the provisions of Article VII of the treaty of peace.
I have unofficially conversed with the Spanish minister at this capital in regard to this matter and he has promised to bring it himself to the attention of his Government.
The Department suggests the following method of arranging for the communication of the claims:
The United States Government should submit to the Spanish Government in some form previously arranged a copy of the petition of each claimant, together with a memorandum of any additional information obtained from the papers in the Department of State or otherwise; and should request the Spanish Government to investigate all the facts connected with the claim which may tend to throw light on its merits, and submit a confidential memorandum thereon showing any defense which Spain would have been able to make thereto, if all such claims had not been assumed by the United States in virtue of the treaty of peace, and also submitting such suggestions as the Spanish officials may deem pertinent to a proper defense by the United States against the claim.
I am, etc.,