The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-15
DOES NOT FAVOR CUBAN
BELLIGERENCY RESOLUTIONS.
His Sole Object in Interesting Himself
in Affairs ON the Island Is to Sue
cor Starving Americans.
WHITING ON FRESH HDVICES
BEFORE SENDING MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS ON THE SITUATION.

spaniards Ready to Assist in Distrib-
uting Relief Providing No Aid Is
Furnished Insurgents.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON May 14.-The President,
through numerous agencies, sought to-day
to correct the erroneous impression that he
had any intention of giving aid and com
fort to the Senate Cuban beligerency prop
ositions 1t is asserted that the sole aim
and purpose of the administration is to fur
nish relief to Americans who are in distress
on the island. The administration mouth
pieces say further that the purpose of the
State Department in turning oyer it's Cuban
correspondence to the Senate committee
foreign relations was to give discussion in
that body turn in different direction
and prevent action looking to our interfer-
ence with Cuban insurrection matters until
after Special Envoy Calhoun can look into
the actual insuiar situation and make
report on which a policy can be safely pre-
dicted
The President has been careful in au~
thorzed statements that have gone out
to refrain from saying anything or per-
mitting anything to be said which could
be construed even remotely as unfriendly
to Spain. The right of Spain to herd the
inhabitants of the island in the cities in
pursuance of fixed policy for the suppress
sion of the rebellion is not denied. That
suffering should result from such a course
is inevitable and that Americans living in
Cuba should be in distress in consequence
is recognized as one of the msfortunes of
war, but not necessarily as a legitimate ex-
cuse for Intervention by this country. Later
on, as the dreadful facts develop about the
starvation of thousands and tens of thou
sands of peaceful men, women and chill
dren in the pens into which they have been
driven by Butcher" Weyler without pro-
vision being made for their maintenance.
the higher laws of common humanity may
compel the United States to interfere but.
as before stated, that is not the purpose of
present administration activity
SPAIN WILL ASSIST.
The beginning and the ending of the
pending agitation so far as it has White
House cooperation, is to furnish succor
to the subjects of the United States who
have been made victims of the unfortunate
conditions as they now exist in Cuba. In
this move our government will not be an
tagonized by Spain. On the contrary, as
surances have been given by Minister De
! LONE, speaking on behalf of the Madrid
/ government. that such kind Offices would be
welcome and that our representatives would
| be given every assistance for the proper dis
| tribution of supplies sent from these shores
| the only reservation being that aid and
| comfort must not be afforded insurgents
under cover of a distribution of charity to
| suffering Americans. The matter is fully
| understood between the representatives of
| the two governments, and ii does not follow
| that because the American administration
| is moving in the premises that it is indors-
| ing or giving countenance to belligerency
| or independence resolutions by Congress-
/ On the contrary, quite different construc-
| ton must be placed on the executive ac-
| ton which has resulted in hanging UP the
! Morgan declaration. The passage of Mr.
| Morgan's resolutions, which seemed immi-
nent several days ago, might, it was
| thought at the White House, embarrass the
| efforts that had been already started for
! the relief of Americans in Cuba. The SEN
| ate foreign relations committee was there
| fore taken into executive confidence and
action was stopped until the question could
| be considered in all it's bearings.
| 1t is not certain that the Morgan reso-
| lutions will be urged for an immediate vote
| in view of the starvation situation, and it
| will not be unreasonable to expect to see
| the complexion of Senate agitation on Gu
| ban matters change when the issue is again
| brought to the front on Monday next. The
urgency for relief measures may be pre-
| sented so powerfully as to force into tenn
porary retirement propositions likely to pro-
woke irritation between Spain and the
| United States
1t can be said on the best of authority
! that the administration will await the re-
| turn of Special Envoy Calhoun before de-
| termining ON it's Cuban policy. In the light
! of that authoritative statement it would
not be jumping 10 wild conclusion to as
! sumo that the administration would be glad
| to have aggressive congressional action
| postponed, even though the starvation
! phase of the case had not been introduced
| The meeting of the Cabinet to-day was de-
| voted almost entirely to the advisability Of
| asking Congress to provide immediate relief
| to the Americans who are, according to the
reports received from Consul General Lee,
| penned up in the cities and in actual dan
ger of starvation. 1t had no bearing, says
an Associated Press dispatch, on the policy
| of the administration towards Spain or the
| Cuban insurgents, except incidentally, but
! dealt with the direct immediate question of
relieving. destitute Americans on the
| island
| WHAT THE CABINET DISCUSSED.
Secretary Sherman laid before the Cab
met some of the most important documents
in the State Department about the situation
/ and before the meeting was over Judge
Day. the assistant secretary of state, per-
sonally took to the White House some addi-
tional papers for which the secretary had
sent Every phase of the matter was dis
| cussed-the advisability of asking Congress
for an appropriation; Spain's attitude the
methods for distributing relief, if it should
| be decided to enter upon it, and the neces-
sity or advisability Of having a war ship
accompany the 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 reports by cable to the depart
| ment They have been requested to cable
/ the latest fact as to the existing situation
! These reports will be here probably when
| Philadelphia tomorrow night and if IL is
| decided to send a special message to Con-
gress early next week they with the other
| facts in the possession Of the State Depart
| ment Will be made the basis for the request
/ TO Congress- 1t seems extremely probable
now that such a message will be sent 10