The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14
New Gossip FizZes Up Over
the Consuls' Reports.
THE PRESIDENT is QUIET
CONDITIONS THERE MORE SERI-
Gus THAN WAS THOUGHT.
WILL AWAIT CALHOUN'S REPORT
Spanish Legation ConciI atory--Sher
man Conference Develops DepIor-
able and Starving Condition of
Americans on the Island.

Americans on the island.
Washington, ID. c., May 13.-There
was sudden and violent outbreak of
Cuban sentiment to-day at the capitol
and during the early hours the drift of
opinion was strongly toward speedy and
radical action by both Congress and the
Executive, but later there was somewhat
of a reaction upon its becoming known
that the President, while keenly alive to
the situation and anxious to learn every
thing possible that could guide his conduct
of our Cuban and Spanish relations, felt
that further information was necessary
and for the mediate present, the
question was not one of recognition of
the belligerency or independence of the
Cuban insurgents but of relief of Amerl-
can citizens destitute and helpless III the
towns of the Queen of the The Antilles
The Senate foreign relations committee,
it should be stated, while agreeing with
the necessity for the relief of the suffer
ing Americans, is favorable to more radi-
cal measures and a number of its men,
bers are earnestly desirous of instant
action by the executive in aid of the in
surgents. but have not succeeded in con-
verting the administration to their views
that present action is appropriate and
imperative. The event of the day was a
report to their colleagues by the sub COM
mittee of the Foreign Relations Commit
/ tee which yesterday examined the State
department. Cuban reports. This state
ment, though not given to the public, was
so far disclosed in character as to give
rise to a good deal of excited comment
among Senators and members. The re-
port. based upon facts presented by the
| United States Consuls in Cuba, it is
said, bring out in strong relief the desti-
| tuition which exists not alone among the
Cubans but among the Americans and
pacificos now on the island, who were
| driven from their farms and into the
| towns by Weyler's order and thereby pre-
vented from supporting themselves.
For several days past the subject mat
| ter of this report has been under discus
| sion quietly among a few of the friends
| of Cuba in Congress and they have lost
no opportunity of impressing upon the
President their convictions that it is his
duty, as the Chief Executive, to delay no
longer in taking active steps to terminate
| the present condition of affairs in Cuba.
These representations. however. have not
been sufficient to induce hasty action.
| The President is moving steadily and
with all speed that safety and sound
4 judgment warrant in the collection of
facts touching the conditions that exist
| upon the island to-day. To this end,
/ Mr.. Calhoun is now in Cuba, officially
l on another mission, but also charged
| with the observation of the conditions
/ that prevail When he has reported to
| the President and the latter has gathered
what he regards as a sufficient store OF
| information. based on facts, that can
not be questioned he will be ready either
to take himself or to suggest to Congress
| such action as those facts warrant
Meanwhile he has under earnest consid
Grafton the best means of affording reliet
| to Americans suffering as a result of the
conditions on the island.
To-day the President saw by appoint
ment, Mr.. Edwin r. Atkyns, of Bos
ton, who is largely interested in Cuban
sugar plantations. Mr.. Atkyns, was il
Washington on personal business which
brought him in contact with Secretary
Long, an old friend. To further Mr.. At
kyns's business the Secretary took hin
to the White House and presented hin
to the President. The latter, learning
that Mr.. Atkyns had just returned from
Cuba, began to chat with his visitor al
to the state of affairs as they revealed
themselves to a business man, and Mr.
Atkyns gave him a faithful picture OF
the economic conditions that prevailed il
Havana and in other portions of the is
land when he left. His story was so in
teresting that the President summoned
Judge Day, Assistant Secretary of State
across to the White House to hear It
Mr.. Atkyns had very little to say abou
the military situation in Cuba and wha
he did utter in that connection did no
indicate any leaning on his part TOWARD
either the Spanish or the insurgent side
At the Spanish legation the news of tn,
developments at the capitol to-day wa
received with compOsure. Or course
the action of the committee could not b'
openly discussed without violation of th
strict etiquette which governs the diplo
matte body in it's relations to Congress
but it was suggested that the fact tha
the entire attention Of the Senate TO
months to come would be engrossed b.
the tariff bill might have determined tn
friends Of the Cubans to endeavor to sc
cure some sort of action by Congress be
fore the tariff debate begins.
1t is not denied at the legation tina
suffering exists in Cuba but such suffer
ing, it was said, is almost always inciden
to war. 1t is contended that the Spanisl
government has done all that it coul,
with the means at hand to alleviate thi
distress. 1t was pointed out that SpaiI
has granted permission to the Red Cros
Society through Miss Barton, to extent
its good offices to the destitute in Cuba
and moreover. will not place any OBJ