The age-herald., 1897-12-29
Are Calculated to Excite Ill-FeGlinS Be-
 tween the Two Countries.
EMBARRESS CHARITABLE MOVEMENT
And Will Impede Its Execution Throughout the lSland--Cites Instances Where Progis-
 ions Have Been Sent by Foreign Countries to Starving People.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Mr. DuPuy De- Lome, the Spanish minister, expresses strong disapproval of reports that the relief measures adopted by the United States and co-operated in by Spain, are a step toward intervention by this government in the af- fairs of Cuba. The minister characterizes such reports as an effort to mix politics with charity and as calculated to excite ill-feeing which will embarrass the char itable movement and impede it's execution in Havana and throughout the island. Re- ferring to the subject, he said
 "This talk of intervention in certain quar- ters has no other purpose than to embitter both countries and to divert the original essential purpose of alms-giving. The ex- tension of aid to the sufferers in Cuba is no more intervention than was the action of all the nations of the notwithstanding Spain-to send help to Chicago after the big fire, or that of the United States in sending a ship load of grain to Russia and last year to India and to the city of Lon don, and in sending money and food to Paris when the siege by the Germans was raised"
 Dispatch Frosa, s'opgCsfe.
 Turning to a dispatch just received from Dr. Congosto, secretary-general at Havana, the minister proceeded, quoting in part the dispatch:
 Tt is not true that the Spanish authori- ties in Cuba are not equal to the siuaton Succor is being given abundantly and relief committees are in regular operation. In two of the provinces-Puerto Principe and Santiago-there has been no concentration Forty plantations are grinding sugar and there is ample work for those who want it. Many of the reconcentrados who are re- ported to be suffering are in such condi- ton through an unwilingness to work The energy with which relief measures are being conducted in Havana is shown by glance at the Havana papers every day, where there are long lists of charitable donations from private parties of con densed milk corn meal and like articles especially serviceable for the relief of children. It should be borne in mind also that the Spanish government has remitted all duties on relief supplies sent to Cuba, so that for every dollar of supplies enter ing Cuba, Spain adds a considerable per- centage, the remitted duties running from 40 per cent down.
 The Proper Spirit.
 Tt is perfectly understood that the Americans help will be received with the spirit that it is given, and the American government-as Secretary Sherman ex- pressed it in his recent letter-offers the well known generosity of American people in the same spirit that they have accepted foreign help in cases of public calamity. It seems that some persons who make state ments as to the conditions in Cuba forget that the evils of war cannot be mitigated in a short time. They fail to compare the actual situation of today with that of the past, and they totally disregard the efforts made to improve the situation After all, 1t is probably unnecessary to answer those who will go to such an extreme as to mix intervention and intrusion with the acts of mercy of a nation well known for its generosity and charity"