The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-25
Brief Address to the American People
Direction of the President.
MONEY AND FOOD is NEEDED
AND THEY MAY BE SENT TO CONSUL
GENERAL LEE DUTY FREE.
Correspondent ScOveII Permitted to
Visit the Camp of General Gomez,
the Ihsurgent Commander.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-rhe following

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The following
appeal to the American people has been
issued by the secretary of state:
by direction of the President, the public
is informed that. in Difference to the earn
est desire of the government to contribute
by effective action toward the relief of the
suffering people in the Island of Cuba ar
rangements have been perfected by which
charitable contributions in money or in
kind, can be sent to the island by the
Denevoiently disposed people of the United
States.
Money, provisions, clothing medicines
and like articles of prime necessity can be
forwarded to General Fitzhugh Lee, the
consul general of the United States at
Havana, and all articles now dutiable by
law, so consigned, will be admitted into
Cuba free of duty. The consul general has
been instructed to receive 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 peo-
pie OF the United States, who have on
many occasions in the past responded most
generously to the cry for bread for peo-
pies stricken by famine or sore calamity.
and who have beheld no less generous ac-
ton on the part of foreign communities
rnn fire ap OT aood VIII bae da46 5
for ala that comes from the destitute at
their own threshold and especially at this
season of good will and rejoicing, give of
their abundance to this humane end.
JOHN SHERMAN"
The appeal was issued after consultation
with Minister Dupuy De LONE. The Spanish
minister called at the State Department
about noon to-day and conferred with Judge
Day concerning the relief of the reconcen-
trados on the island. He made it clear that
the Spanish government would cooperate in
any relief measures and that there was en-
tire willingness that the supplies go direct
to Consul General Lee, instead of through
the Spanish relief channels. The negotia-
tons have been proceeding for some time
| The first active step in this direction was
taken by the President on Dec. and was in
the form of request that the minister learn
from his government whether the regular
tariff duties would be RENTED on relief sup
plies sent to Cuba. Minister De LONE soon
afterward answered that Spain had con-
sented to grant even more than had been
requested, and that the duties would be re-
mitted not only on articles which the Presi-
dent had referred to, but also on all medi-
cines, soaps, salt and similar articles OF
prime necessity which might enter into the
plan of relief. The only condition attached
was that the supplies should go through
the regular relief committees established al
Havana, of which the bishop of Havana is
the chairman. 1t was arranged, also, that
supplies sent to the Spanish minister here
would be forwarded to the authorities at
Havana Since then there have been criti-
cisms of the system adopted, and reports
have come from Havana that the reconcen-
tradoS were starving as a result of obstacles
in the way of transmitting relief The Span
ish authorities state, however, that there
has been no delay on their part, and that
since the arrangement was made no offer OF
supplies, medicines. etc., has been made
There has been general desire, however. to
adopt system by which the supplies would
go direct to General Lee, and, as a result OF
the Spanish minister's call to-day, this will
be the plan to be adopted in executing the
relief measures under the call now issued.