The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-15
CABINET DISCUSSES CUBA.



WASHINGTON. May 1.-THE meeting
of the cabinet today was devoted almost
entirely 10 the consideration of the Cuban
question The meeting occurred an hour
earlier than usual owing to the import
ance of the question TO be discussed and
the fact that the president and cabinet
were TO leave for Philadelphia at 1915
o'clock.
The cabinet discussion was upon the
advfsability of asking congress TO pro-
vide immediate relief 10 the Americans
who are. according TO the reports receiv-
ed from Consul General Lee, penned up in
the cities Of Cuba and in actual danger of
starvation.
1t had no bearing upon the policy of the
administration toward Spain or the Cuban
insurgents, except incidentally. but dealt
with the direct and immediate question of
relieving destitute Americans on the ISL
and Secretary Sherman laid before the
cabinet some of the most important docu-
ments in the state department about the
situation, and before the meeting was
over Judge Day, the assistant secretary OF
state. personally took TO the White House
some additional papers for which the
secretary had sent.
Every phase of the matter was dis
cussed, the advisability OF asking congress
for an appropriation. SPANS attitude. the
methods for distributing relief. If IL should
be decided 10 enter upon it, and the neces-
sity or adyisabiiity of having warship
accompany the food supplies. But the
final decision of the question was post
poned until Consul Gen. Lee and other
American consuls in Cuba. and probably
Mr. Calhoun, make their reports by ca ole
to the department. They have been re-
quested 10 cable the latest facts as to the
existing situation. These reports will be
here probably when the president and cab
met return tomorrow night. and IL Ii is
decided TO send special message to con-
gress early next week. these reports, with
other facts in the possession of the state
department. will be made the basis of the
request to congress. Ii seems extremely
probable now that such q message Will
be sent to congress, but hardly before
Wednesday, as there would be no time
10 prepare a message before that day nn-
less Mr.. Mckinley devoted Sunday to the
task.
The Spanish minister, Depuy de LONE.
called at the state department shortly be-
fore noon today and conferred for some
time with Assistant Secretary Day rela-
tive TO the reported intention of this gov
ernment to send relief to American Euf-
ferers in Cuba The minister rave assur-
ance that the Spanish government would
be In sympathy with any benevolent
movement. and would lend every assist
ance TO IL. IT was recaAed by the minister
that four months ago he had written the
officers of the Red Cross Society, giving
in behalf of his government full authority
for extending aid to the sufferers in Cuba.
Since then. however. no steps toward re-
lief have been taken.
The Spanish minister does not question
the existence of misery and suffering in
the island. but declares that IL is such
only as accompanies insurrection and
war, heightened in this case by the dis
eases peculiar to low tropical countries.
1t is stated that these conditions have
existed for months. and have been we'll
known. As TO the severity OF the suffer
ing, II is said that IL consists mainly in
the lack of adequate food, medicine and
nursing for the sick and destitute. The
statements that people are dying in the
streets are not admitted at the legation
but are discredited. and II is said that
there are a number of well-to-do Ameri-
cans in Cuba who would relieve any dis
tress on the part of their fellow country
men.
The manner Of sending relief TO Cuba
II IL shall be decided upon by the presi-
dent and congress. has been discussed
among officials, and in some quarters IT
is felt that the dispatch OF a vessel would
be inadvisable IT is believed that the
surest way would be TO send relief by
the ordinary freight routes. which have
facilities for reaching the various ports
and interior points In cuba. The centers
Of suffering are so widely separated that
a relief vessel TO any one port would en-
counter many delays and difficulties In
giving speedy relief 10 the people needing