Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-23
Star Correspondent Reiterates State
ment Regarding Reconcentradoes.
OUTSIDE HELP Is BADLY NEEDED
Captain Generals Order of Decem-
Der 4 Works Hardships.
D UTIES NOT RENTED

Fla, December 23.--Regarding the Spanish
claim controverting my statement that Gus
toms duties on food sent from the United
States for the reconcentradoes are not re-
mitted, l reply that the statement was
made after inquiry and on the authority of
Consul General Lee.
No notice of remission had been received
then, ard none has been to this date. On
the contrary, inquiries from the United
States about remission of the duties, which
have been referred to the palace, have not
been answered. Consul General Lee has
not been able to advise the people in the
United States that If they send food, duties
would be remitted.
The main point however, does not relate
to customs duties. Ny statement. based on
personal observations, was that the people
of Cuba needed relief from without, and
that Captain-Gen Blanco was respon-
sible for hampering that relief, by the dec
laration that no foreign help was needed.
L reitcrate the assertion, and refer to Gen.
Blanco's official dispatch of December 4.
This dispatch was sent to Madrid and to
Minister de LONE, in Washington. De
Lone received it. CHAS. NJ. PEPPER.
What Mr.. Pepper Said.
In his letter, which appeared in The Star,
December I, Mr.. Pepper wrote:
Regarding what has been done to relieve
the reconcentradoes and the starving peo-
pie generally since General Blanco took
command, a fair statement will give credit
for Il sincere desire to better the conditions
and a regretful failure to do much. The
gain under the new policy comes through
the freedom of private charity to put forth
its efforts. UnGer Weyler private charity
was frowned upon. Now, crippled though
they may be through lack of means, indl-
viduals and societies are encouraged to do
all in their power. And they are accom-
plishing something. But as Il government
policy the results are disappointing. Ofh-
cial orders revoking Weyler's ''bandas' or
starvation DEGREES. credits OF money to aid
the suffering schemes of relief, all read
well III the United States. They do not test
SO well in Cuba. The 100000 credit was
in silver which brought 1t down to $4,000.
And the cash is still lacking. A govern
ment in debt up to it's armpits does not so
readily lay its hands on SSOooO.
The real trouble is that the facilities
which should carry out an emergency policy
to stop starvation and disease are para
lyzed. The government Is impotent to
cause the execution of its own commands,
though the revocation orders can hardly
be called commands. Local commandments
contrue them to suit their own whilns.
and their construction is often against do
ing anything for the pacificoes.
Tobacco Merchants Testimony.
Again, on December 8, he said: A Spanish
horn tobacco merchant, who Is naturaliz-
ed American citizen, gave me today his
cwn experience in parts of Pinar del Rio.
He found the concentradoes dying in worse
surroundings, If that could he possible
than during the last few months The au-
thorities had done nothing to carry out
the humane intention of General Blanco's
how h1d M nc
with which to do anything, they said
Within his own observation had come an
instance of bloated and diseased cattle
killed and the meat eaten to satisfy the
ravennous hunger of the paciticos. In the
villages, where the water supply is from
the running streams, it has been polluted
by the soldiers washing their wounds and
through similar causes. Nothing was done
to warn the people or to give them protec-
ton against disease. In Consolation and
neighboring places smallpox has broken
out for the third time within year. Il
would not pass another week in Pnar del
Rio for s10.0a0' said this tobacco merchant
in telling his experiences.
The same man told me how his own eff
fort to take advantage Of, the revocation
order and help some of the pacificos had
been foiled. This was at Alequisa, in the
province of Havana. He had proposed to
take few families. put them tobacco
farm near the village where the insurgents
have not interfered with the crop, build
huts and provide food until they could earn
something. The local commandante re-
fused permission for the paciticos to leave
Unless the tobacco merchant would put up
little forts for the soldiers, who, he insist
ed, would have to be detailed to protect the
pacifcos. This meant that it would cost
more to get the crop in than it would
bring In the market. and this merchant
was thwarted in his effort to help the starv-
ing people. l have heard of other instances
in which the commentaries defeat the exc
i'm of pl.n tt@,, IT,
cree They do not openly defy it. but they
have no trouble In keeping 1t from being
carried out.
Succor From United States.
In his letter published December II. Mr..
Pepper writes: Without impugning the
sincerity of the authorities at Havana, or
questioning their desire to afford relief, the
conditions in Quines and the surrounding
country are a sufficient commentary on
what will not be done through that means
in nourshing the survivors back to the life
that is capable Of sustaining physical labor
Particular instances and details which
would be narrowing to the sensbilities need
not be heaped one upon the other to es.
tablish the fact. though this could be
done II 1T were necessary. The plain
truth is that resources. chiefly food. are
needed The local agencies for distribut-
ing relief are as ample and systematic
as could be asked. Those who have been
foremost in this work tell the same tale.
Tho illness from which the reconcentrados
are sckening and dying is Just hunger
l have asked whether succor from the
United States would be of avail. Invari-
ably the answer is Yes" But 1t might be
months in coming. That will not be too
late. The population that remains will
need succor for months to come. This is
the actual state Of the people In this, the
garden spot of the island today. Capt.
Gen. Blanco may continue to telegraph
Minister de Lone that Spain is able to
relieve all the suffering that exists. These
assurances will not keep people from dying
whose lives might be saved If the re-
sources Of relief were sufficient. Spain Is
not able to succor the starving remnant.
Question of Responsibility.
A question may be asked as to the re-
sponsibility for the failure to accept the
succor that might have been had, not from
the United States government. but from the
people there. The explanation stares me as
write. 1t is the official telegram nearly
fortnight old, OF Capt. Gen. Blanco, say
ing there was no need Of foreign help to
provide for the wants OF the island or it's
Inhabitants. When the final reckoning
comes for the blunters and worse, which
may be given as the cause of Spain's loss
Of Cuba, Minister de LONE will be free