The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-15

Washington, May 1.-THE meeting of
the cabinet today was devoted almost
entirely to 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. 12:45
The cabinet discussion was upon the
advisa bility of asking congress to pro-
vide immediate relief to the Americans
who are, according to the reports received
from Consul-General Lee, penned UP in
the cities of Cuba, and in actual danger
of Starva ton. 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 island.
Secretary Sherman laid before the
ca binet 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 advisab;iity of asking con-
gress for an appropriation; SPANS at
titude, the methods for distributing re-
lief II it should be decided 10 enter upon
it; the necessity or ACCESSIBILITY of hay
ing a warshio accompany 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 re-
ports By cable to the department. They
have been requested to cable the latest
facts as to the existing situation. These
reports viii be here probably when the
president and cabinet meet tomorrow
night, and if it is decided to send a
special message to congress early next
week these reports. with other facts in
the possession of the state department,
VIII be made the basis of the request to
congress. 1t seems extremely probable,
now. that such message will be sent to
congress. but hardly before Tuesday as
there would be no time TO prepare a mes
sage before that day. unless Mr.. McKin-
ley devoted Sunday TO the task.
The Spanish minister, Dupuy 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
ernnent to send relief to American Slf-
ferers in Cuba. The minister gave as
suranceS that the Spanish government
would be in sympathy with any benevo-
lent movement and would lend every as
sistance to it. 1t was recalled by the
minister that four months ago he had
writer the officers of the Red Cross So
ciety giving. in behalf of his government
sufferers in Cuba Since then. however
no steps toward relief have been taken
The Spanish minister does not question
the existence of misery and suffering in
the -SldlUs Out declares mat IL Is SuSn
only as accompanies insurrection and war
heightened in this case by the diseases
peculiar to low tropical countries
1t IS stated that these conditions have
existed for months and have been well
known. AS 70 the severity of the suffer
ing. it is said that it consists mainly in
the lack of adequate food medicine and
nursing for the sick ard
The statements that people are dying in
the streets are not admitted at the lega-
tion. but are discredited. and it is said
that there are a number of well-to-do
Americans in Cuba who would relieve
any distress on the part of their fellow
cOuntrymen.
The manner of sending relief to Cuba,
# it shall be decided upon by the ores'-
don't and congress, has been discussed
among officials. and in some quarters II Is
felt that the dispatch of vessels would be
inadvisable. 1t is believed that he sur
ordinary freight routes, which have facii-
tiles 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
point would encounter many delays and
difficulties in giving speedy relief TO the
people needing it.
The conference between Assistant Secre-
tary Day and Senior Dupuy de LONE
lasted fo~ over an hour and Was con-
fined entirely to a discussion OF the ex-
tension of relief measures No objection
was made in behalf of the Spanish gov
eminent TO the supply of food. medicine
and clothing to the distressed Americans
in Cuba. but 1t was clearly understood
that the relief is to be extended only TO
American citizens through agencies not
vet decided upon. The Spanish authori-
ties have not recorded any objection on
their part 10 a general distribution, pro-
vided il is not carried to the extent of !
the insurgent forces in their
resistance to Spain.
On this point it can be stated positively
that il is the present idea of the admins
ha have followed
its fu-ctions when it cares for its own
Attention was called by the
Spanish minister to the fact that the Red
Cross had been given full permission to
operate in Cuba. and that in the distribu-
ton of it's charitable offices. the society !
makes no distinction in nationalities, be