Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16
WILL ASSIST AMERICANS
Action Based on the Reports of Consular
officers on the Island.
GIVE THEM SAFE CONDUCT OUT OF CUBA
Plan which the Administration Is
Discussing In Case Action is Au-
thorizcd by Congrcss-Island's
Resources Exhausted.

WASHINGTON, May 15.-In considering
the ways and means OF affording relief to
such American citizens in Cuba as are in
real distress owing to the war, the admins
tration has hit upon plan which may be
put In operation II it is sanctioned by the
united judgment of the United States consuls
and 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 Ameri-
can citizens in Cuba that the government
viii undertake to remove them from the
island to the United States IL they so desire.
To do this will require action by congress,
not necessarily a specific authorization of the
removal, but merely the Limitation of the
appropriation to the general terms of one
for the relief of American citizens in Cuba.
n course similar to this was adopted with
more or less benefit in China during the riot
ing incident to the Chinese-Japanese war,
and during the Armenian troubles. Mr. Ter
rell, the United States minister, was author
lied to undertake the conveyance of Ameri-
can citizens to he coast cities, where they
might have suitpoie protection.
The proposition as to Cuba goes a little
| further than tie measures adopted in the
| plates the removal of the Americans from the
island entirely. Probably the reason for this
is the belief, founded on reports from United
States Consul General Lee and other
United States consular officers, that
| the war has so thoroughly ex-
I hausted the agricultural resources of
| the island that it will be a long time be-
! fore it will be again in condition to main
| tain its population, and meanwhile the Amer
leans who are dependent upon the soil for
| their livelihood will suffer
| LEAVING NOT COMPULSORY.
The consequent suffering can be relieved by
| the governments furnishing the unfortunates
supplies and medicines, but General Lee
| takes the view that this relief must be con-
tinued probably for a long time. The pro-
| posed American exodus from Cuba must be
| purely voluntary, and 1t is not even pro-
| posed to present the alternative of denying
supplies II destitute Americans use to leave
! the island 1t is simply purposed to give
them an opportunity to leave the island if
| they believe they can better their condition
in the United States. 1t is the belief of Gen
| eral Lee that many persons will avail them
| selves of such an opportunity and it is possi-
| BILE that his view will be adopted by the
| president.
| Figures are not obtainable as to the num-
| Der of American citizens in Cuba who are
| in actual distress and in need of food or
clothing the result of Weylers order
| bringing them into the towns. The State
department is now in correspondence with
the Consuls by telegraph seeking to get this
information as 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 re-
| ports of the consuls made up to this time,
the number of Americans in this condition is
| between $50 and 200. In explanation Of this
small number, it is said that most of the
Americans, natives living in Cuba, are en-
! ployed in the higher branches of trade or
professions and are not in actual want.
| Most of the sufferers are citizens holding
small parcels Of ground upon which they
have depended heretofore for a livelihood
1t is not doubted that there are more of this
class in need that are not yet known to the
department, but 1t is hoped in the course OF
a few days to have fairly accurate census
of them The agencies to be used to relieve
these people are the United States consuls in
Cuba, and it can be stated that the Spanish
government, through it's minister here, sc
far from opposing the exercise of such chart
table offices by the consus, has professed itf
readiness to assist in every proper way In
the distribution of relief, which is taken tC
mean that It will guarantee safe conduct for
the transporting of parties over the island.