Evening star., 1897-05-13
CONFERENCE At FHE WHITE HOUSE
Secretary Long Declares That There
is Nothing Unusual.
Q QUESTION OF WARSHIPS

"A StiSAs has SOfHe III tue SuDdn matter.
A determination has been reached by The
administration to put an end to the ,ondi-
tion Of affairs in Cuba by means warrant
| ed by the usage of nations under circum-
| stances such surround this case In
| formation obtainable in dispatches in pa
pers this morning showed a grave situa-
ton; but none of the publications this
morning fully stated the case. The con-
clusions Of the conference between mem
bers of the Senate foreign relations com
mittee and the President were more def
mite than indicated. There is a perfect ac-
cord between the President and those In the
Senate who have long been clamorous for
action by the United States. The deter
mination reached is satisfactory 20 The
Cuban sympathizers in the Senate.
The subcommittee who conferred with
the President and Secretary of state last
evertng made report to the full commit
tee today. which put a most serious aspect
upon the matter. The desperate condition
OF American citizens in Cuba reported by
our representatives there excited horror.
and left no room for doubt to the duty
of the administration.
Among other things, 1t was stated that
American citizens were actually starving
in the streets, and that to be in prison was
preferable to their present condition.
Too had to Print.
The fact that the reports are withheld
from publication lest they should lead to
open violence to our representatives in
Cuba indicates how serious the situation
is.
The committee took no action, for the
reason that the talk with the Presidelt
rendered it unnecessary that they should
act at this time.
Mr.. Morgan asked today that his resolu-
tion be made the special order for o'clock
Tuesday. and 1t is not believed that. in the
face of the facts known to senators, any
objection will be made to this.
In fact. this resolution will not appear
in the nature of an effort to force the Pres
ident. but In that of sustaining him.
Message Probable.
1t is reported that the President will send
a message to Congress either today or Mon
day asking that an appropriation be made
to provide food for starving American citi-
zens in Cuba.
The statement comes from persons who
have seen the official reports from Cuba
that il the reports were made public it
woul1 probably lead to massacre of Amer
lean citizens in Cuba and to war with
Spain. The popular Indignation in this
country would be beyond control
This country viii demand of Spain that
this state Of things be no longer continued.
Vigorous Policy.
There Is every reason to believe, from
rather interesting developments at the
White House today, that President Nc
Kinley is planning a vigorous Cuban pcl-
icy for the administration, and that 1t
will be made public by the time Special
Commissioner Calhoun returns from Cuba.
1t may be that 1t will develop itself be-
fore that time. In his quiet. cautious way
the President is ascertaining every atom
Of information ABOUT the Cuban situation.
All that information SO far is leading him
to a certain position. and that position is
not unfriendly to the cause of the Cuban
insurgents. This statement can be made
on what is regarded rs good authority,
and is felt to be beyond contradiction.
II the Presidents present feelings undergo
a change within the next month then the
policy which is now being shaped may
change. but that policy differs materially
from that of the last administration.
Following the important conference be-
tween the President and members OF tae
foreign Affairs committee of the Senate
yesterday, 1t is not to be wondered that
there was somewhat Of a commotion
around the White House today when Sec
retary OF The Navy Long and Judge Day,
assistant secretary Of state. appeared and
went Immediately to the Presidents ROOM
Then the announcement was made that
the President could not see any callers.
This showed the importance of the confer
ence. as there were dozen senators and
twice as many representatives waiting to
see President Mckinley. Senator Platt OF
New York, Senator Thurston. Senator De-
Doe and Senator Elkins were among the
men turned away, all Of them men who
are admitted to the President at almost
any time.
The conference lasted some time, ana
when It was concluded there were some
lively visits to the telegraph room, ana
an exchange Of messages over the wires
The natural presumption from the VISIT
Of the Secretary OF the Navy. after II had
been definitely learned that he was talking
about Cuba. was that the matter OF war
ships was under contemplation.
Retfeenee Observed.
Secretary Long politely declined to an
swcr pointed questiors tending to bring
out this feature. Judge Day was equally
rsticsnt. About nsoa Judge Day ieft the