The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-15
MKINLEYS CUBAN MESSAGE.
ONE ALMOST CERTAIN TO BE SENT
IN NEXT WEEK.


COnsuIs in Cuba to he Received
TO-day-Spain to Aid Any Move
mentIntended to Relieve the Dis
tress of Americans on the Island.
Washington, May 14.-President McKin-
| ley has under earnest consideration the
| advisability of sending a message to con-
gress next week on the Cuban question,
but has not yet come to a decision in the
| matter, though he is at present inclined to
send to the legislative branch a communi-
| cation suggesting that measures be adopt
| ed to relieve the distress among Ameri-
| cans resident in Cuba. The message, if it
| goes in, will be entirely pacific in tone, and
it can be stated on good authority, will
not be of a warlike or sensational tenor.
In order to have the facts on which to
base a message, Mr.. Mckinley has had
| cablegrams sent to every consular officer
in Cuba asking each of them to give exact
information as to the state of affairs in
his district and to telegraph replies at once.
1t was understood to-day by some men,
bers of the Senate committee on foreign
relations that this information, no doubt,
would be communicated to the Senate, but
| that whether it would be accompanied by
a message recommending action was yet
matter of doubt.
! The meeting of the cabinet to-day was
| devoted almost entirely to consideration
Of the Cuban situation. The meeting oc-
Cured an hour earlier than usual, owing
to the importance of the question to be
discussed and the fact that the President
and the cabinet were leaving for Phila-
delphia at 12:45. The cabinet discussion
| of the Cuban situation to-day was upon
the advisability of asking congress to pro-
| vide immediate relief to the Americans,
who are, according to the reports re-
ceived from Consul General Lee,
penned up in the cities and
in actual danger of starvation.
It had no bearing upon the policy of the
administration toward Spain or the Gu
ban insurgents, except incidentally, but
| dealt with the direct and immediate ques-
| ton of relieving destitute Americans on
the island. Secretary Sherman laid be-
fore the cabinet some of the most impor-
tant documents in the state department
about the situation, and before the meet
/ iii6 was QRCA JuuSG lay the ASS1HNdHl
Secretary of State. personally took to the
white house some additional papers for
which the secretary had sent. Every
phase of the matter was discussed, the
advisability of asking congress for an ap-
preparation, Span's attitude, the method
for distributing relief if it should be decid-
ed to enter upon it, and the necessity or
advisabiity Of having a warship accom-
pany food supplies.
But the final decision of the question was
postponed until Consul General Lee and
other American consuls in Cuba, and
probably Mr.. Calhoun, make their reports
by cable to the department. They have
been requested to cable the latest facts
as to the existing situation. These reports
will be here probably when the President
and the cabinet return tomorrow night.
1t seems extremely probable now that
a message will be sent to congress, but
hardly before Tuesday, as there would be
no time to prepare it before that day un-
less Mr.. Mckinley devoted Sunday to the
| task.
The Spanish minister Dupuy de LONE
called at the state department shortly be-
fore noon to-day, and conferred for some
| time with Assistant Secretary Day. rela-
tive to the reported intention of this gov
eminent to send relief to Americans suf-
fering In Cuba. The minister gave as
surance that the Spanish government
would be in entire sympathy with any
| benevolent movement and would lend
every assistance to it, The Spanish min
lister does not question the existence of
misery and suffering in the island. but
declares that It is such as accompanies
insurrection and war, heightened In this
case by the diseases peculiar to low trop-
ical countries. It is stated that these con-
ditions have existed for months, and have
been well known. As to the severity OF
| the suffering It is said that IL consists
mainly In the lack Of adequate food, med
icine and nursing for the sick and desu-
tute.
The conference lasted for over an hour
and was confined entirely to a discussion
of the extension Of the relief masures.
No. objection was made IN behalf OF the
Spanish government to the supply OF food.
medicine and clothing 10 the distressed
| Americans In Cuba, but II was clearly un.
derstood that the relief is to be extended
only to American citizens through agen-
cies not yet decided upon. The Spanish
authorities have not recorded any obiec-
| ton on their part to a general dlstrlbu-
tlon provided this Is not carried to the
extent OF provisioning the insurgent fore
es In their resistance to Spain. On this
point II can be stated positively that Il IL
the present idea Of the administration
that Il will have fulfilled
all OF It's proper functions
when It has cared for its own citizens.
Attention was called by the Spanish min
lister 10 the fact that the Red Cross had
been given fun permission to operate in
Cuba, and that in the distribution OF It's
charitable Offices the society makes no dis
tinctlon In nationalities. 20 that the dis
tressed spanlords Cuban or American
might with equal right claim Its bounty.
The fact that the Senate was not in