The record-union., 1897-05-22
The Principal Subject Of Discussion at a
Meeting Of the Cabinet.
President Mckinley to Take Another
Forward Step.
Has Come to the Determination, it Is
Said, to Use His Power to Stop
BlOodshed in the Island, So Far as
This Can be Done Without InvOlv.
ing the United States in War.

WASHINGTON, May 21.-The Cabi-
net meeting to-day was interesting be-
cause the principal object of discussion
was our relations toward Cuba.
The action of the Senate yesterday in
passing the Morgan joint resolution de-
claring that state of war existed in
Cuba was regarded as movement that
threatened, if carried out to the end,
to interfere seriously with the efforts
of the executive branch of the Govern
ment to accomplish something substan-
tial fer the Cubans.
The details of the plan President
Mckinley has in mind have not yet
been disclosed. In fact, it may be said
that they are subject to arrangement
upon the basis of the latest official in
formation received from Cuba, proba-
bly, from Mr.. Calhoun.
But it was clearly manifested III the
Cabinet meeting to-day that the Pres-
dent had made UP his mind to another
forward STEP and, while up to this time
he has, as he promised in the beginning
! of his Administration. confined his eff
forts largely to securing absolute pro-
lection for American citizens in Cuba,
to use his power to stop bloodshed in
the island SO far as this can be done
without involving the United States in
war.
There was some talk respecting the
application of relief measures in favor
of American citizens in Cuba. 1t was
decided that the delay in the formal
signatures to the resolution would not
necessarily prevent the immediate ap
plication of some money to feeding the
people who are represented to be in
great distress, as the drafts cannot be
received before the formalities are COM
pleted and the resolution becomes law.
Among other matters briefly discuss
ed was a full report of the Forestry
Commission upon the reservation ques-
ton, which caused so much debate in
Congress. No action was taken on this
subject.
RESOLUTION NOT SIGNED.
WASHINGTON May 21-The reso-
luton appropriating $4,000 for the re-
lief of suffering Americans in Cuba was
signed yesterday by Speaker Reed, but
owing to the absence of the Pres
ident and President pro tenn Frye of
the Senate, could not receive the sig
nature of either Of them.
AS the Senate has adjourned until
Monday it cannot be signed before that
day.
The Secretary of State has directed
Consul General Lee at Havana to draw
for the immediate purchase of supplies
and medicines for the relief of American
citizens and the transportation of such
nc wit nd 10
turn to the United States, not to exceed
$4,000 He has also been instructed to
furnish United States Consuls in Cuba,
IN his discretion, with funds for this
purpose.
Consul Brice at Matanzas has been in
structed by the Secretary of State to ap-
ply to Consul Lee for funds to
relieve American citizens there.
DE LOME'S REPLY TO OLNEY.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The reply
of Dupoy De LONE, the Spanish Minis
ter. to the offer made by Secretary Oiney
of mediation made on behalf of this
Government contains the following Ian
guage:
THE Government of his majesty ap-
preciates to its full value the noble
frarkness with which that of the United
States has informed IL of the very de-
finite opinion it has formed in regard to
the legal impossibility of granting re-
cognition of belligerency to the Cuban
insurgents. Indeed those who are now
fighting in Cuba against the integrity of
the Spanish fatherland possess no quail
fications emitting them to the respect
or even the consideration of other coun-
I tries; they do ont. as your excellency
expresses it,. possess any civil Govern
ment organized with known seat and
administration of defined territory, and
they have not succeeded in permanently
occupying any town, much less any city,
large or small.
Your excellency declares in the note
to which / am now replying. with great
legal acumen and spontaneity that it is
impossible for the Cuban insurgents to
perform the functions of regular Gov
ernment within its own frontiers, and
much less to exercise the rights and
fulfill the obligations that are incumbent
on all the members of the family of ma
tions. Moreover. the systematic cam
paign of destruction against all the i'm
dustries of the island, and the means
by which they are worked, would of it
self be sufficient to keep them without
the pale of the universally recognized
rules of international law
His majesty's Government has no
less qualification in regard to the spon-
taneous offer on the part of the Govern
ment of the United States, but sees no
advantage in regard to the Cuban ques-
ton, its wish being that the lawful SOW
ereignty of Spain be maintained and
even strengthened through the submis-
sion of the rebels, which, as your ex-
cellency states in yplr note. is of para
mount necessity to the Spanish Govern
ment for ihe maintenance of its honor.
while expressing the high gratifica-
tion with which his majestys Govern
ment took note of the emphatic state-
ments which your excellency was
pleased to make in your note of the 4th
of April, with regard to the sovereignty
of Spain, and the determination of the
United States not to do anything de-
rogatory to 1t. and acknowledging with
Measure all the weight they carry, the
Duke of Tetuan says that nothing else
was to be expected of the lofty sense of
the right cherished by the Government
iof the United States.