File No. 411.21 R85/11.

The American Minister to the Secretary of State .

No. 37.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Department despatch No. 7 dated December 29, 1911,2 relating to the claim of Señor Ramos Ruiz for damages said to have been sustained by his house and furniture while occupied as the American Legation by Minister Charles Burdett Hart about ten years ago.

Immediately on receiving the despatch I obtained an interview with Mr. Ruiz in the Legation, and he said his claim was for over seven hundred dollars. Shortly after this interview his wife died and I refrained from further communication with him owing to his [Page 226] complete prostration. A few days since he called at the Legation and said that he was very feeble, and the claim had been so long under consideration he would give a receipt in full upon payment of $400, which according to Mr. Hibbin’s No. 219, dated January 1, 1909, the Foreign Minister had mentioned as the basis of settlement.

Mr. Ruiz is feeble and desires an early settlement, and has requested that if possible the amount $400 should be paid through this Legation. As the claim is from all I can learn a just one and the amount demanded reasonable, and as the existence of this claim militates against the prestige of this Legation, I earnestly recommend the payment of the $400 which Mr. Ruiz now offers to accept in full liquidation of his claim.

I have [etc.]

James T. DuBois.
  1. Not printed.