The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-20
PLAN 70 RELIEVE DISTRESS
THE ADMINISTRATIONS SCHEME
TO sUCCOR DESTITUTE AMERI-
CANS IN CUBA.
.TOREA0VE THEM FROM The island
II the Plan Is Adopted They VIII be
Given an Opportunity to En-
bark for the United States.
Spain Is willing.

Washington, May 15.-In considering
ways and means of affording substantial
relief to such American citizens in Cuba
as are in real distress owing to the war,
the administration has hit upon Il scheme
which may be put in operation if it is
sanctioned by the united judgment OF the
United States consul officers in CUBA,
who, being on the ground, are supposed
to be best qualified to judge OF the
efficiency of proposed relief measures.
This plan is to give notice through the
American consus to all Americans in
Cuba that the government will under
take TO remove them from the island to
the United States if they desire. TO do
this will require action by congress; not
nj ceSSarily specific authorization of
their removal, but merely limitation to
the appropriation to the general terms of
relief for the American citizens in Cuba
A course similar to this was adopted with
more or less benefit in China during the
rioting incident to the Japanese-Chnese
war, and during the Armenian troubles
Turkey, was authorized to undertake the
cOnveyances of American citizens TO the
coast cities, where they might have suit
able protection. The proposition as to
Cuba goes little further than the meas
ures adopted in the case of China or Iur-
key, i'm that it contemplates the removal
Of the Americans from the island. Prob
ably the reason for this is the belief,
founded on reports from United States
Consul General Lee, or other United
States consular officers, that the war has
so thoroughly exhausted the agricultural
resources of the island that it will be a
long time before it will be again in condi-
ton to maintain its population, and mean
while the Americans who are dependent
upon the soil for their livelihood will suf-
fer. The consequent suffering can be
relieved by the government furnishing
the unfortunates supplies and medicines
but Gen. Lee takes the view that this re-
lief must be continued probably for Il
long time. The proposed exodus from
Cuba must be purely voluntary, and it is
not even proposed to present the aterna-
tive of denying supplies if destitute
Americans refuse to leave the island. 1t
is simply proposed to give them an oppor-
tunity to leave the island if they believe
they can better their condition in the
United States. 1t is the belief of Gen.
Lee that many persons will avail them
selves of such an opportunity, and it is
possible that his view will be adopted by
the president. Figures are not obtain
able as to the number of American citi-
zens in Cuba who are in actual distress
and in need of food or clothing as the re-
suit of Weyler's order bringing them
into the towns. The state department
is now in correspondence with its cOnsuls
by telegraph, seeking to get their nfOr
nation as to the basis for any message
the president may send to congress on
the subject of relief. But, so far as
officially known to the department
through the reports of consuls made up
to this time, the number of Americans in