Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-25
FOR THE DESTITUTE IN CUBA.
appeal to the People by the United
States Government.


WASHINGTON, D. c., December "a
The following appeal to the American
people has been issued:
Department of state,
washington, December "a, 1897.
"By direction Of the President, the pub
lie is informed that, in Difference to the
earnest desire of the government to con-
tribute by effective action toward the
relief Of the suffering people in the Island
Of Cuba, arrangements have been per-
fected by which charitable contributions,
in money or in kind can be sent to the
island by the benevolently disposed peo-
Die of the United States.
Money. provisions clothing, medicine.
and the like articles of prime necessity
can be forwarded to General FitZhugh
Lee. the Consul-General of the United
States at Habana, and all articles now
dutiabe by law, so consigned, will be
admitted into Cuba free of duty. The
Consul General has been instructed to re-
ceive the same, and to cooperate with
the local authorities and the charitable
boards for the distribution of such relief
among the destitute and needy people of
Cuba.
THE President is confident that the
people of the United States who have on
many occasions in the past responded
most generously to the cry for bread
from people stricken by famine or sore
calamity. and who have beheld no less
generous action or the part of other
communities when their own countrymen
have suffered from fire and blood. Will
heed the appeal for aid that comes from
the destitute at their own threshold. es-
pecially at this season Of good VIII ana
rejoicing. and give oe their abundance TO
this humane end. JOHN SHERMAN
| AGREEMENT WITH DE LONE.
The appeal was issued after consulta-
| ton with Minister de LONE. The Spanish
Minister called at the State Department
about noon to-day, and conferred with
! Judge Day concerning the relief OF the
"reconcentrados" on the island. He made
II clear that the Spanish Government
! would cooperate in any relief measure
and that there was entire willingness
that the supplies should go direct to
| Consul General Lee, instead Of through
! the Spanish relief channels.
! The negotiations have been proceeding
for some time. The first active step In
! this direction was taken by the President
ON December I'd. and was on the form OF
request that the Minister learn from his
government whether the regular tariff
duties would be remitted on relief sup
plies sent to Cuba.
| Minister De LONE soon Afterwards an
svvered that Spain had consented to grant
even more than had been requested. ana
! that duties would be RENTED not only
ON articles which the President had re-
| rerred to. but also on all medicines, soap
salt and similar articles of prime neces-
sitv which might enter into the plan OF
! relief.
The only condition attached was tha'
the supplies should go through the regu-
lar Relief Committee established at Ha-
hama of which the Bishop Of Habana Is
| the chairman.
GENERAL LEE NOTIFIED.
uABANA. December 2L-Consul-General
100 has been cabled from Washington
| that supplies will be sent for the recon
| centradoes." and he will confer with the
| charitable organizations as TO their dis
| tribution.