Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-15
PROMPT ACTION
To Be Taken by President
to Relieve Americans
Who May Be Suffering or in Need
on Island of Cuba.
Inquiries Sent to All Cuban Consuls-Mes
sage Expected Next Week.

Washington, May 14.-President Nc
Kinley has under earnest consideration
the ACCESSIBILITY of sending a message
to Congress, next week, on the Cuban
question. He has not yet come to
decision in the matter, though he is at
present inclined to send to the legis
lative branch a communication sug-
costing that measures be adopted to re-
lieve the distress among Americans
resident i'm cuba.
The message, if it goes in, will not be
of warlike or sensational tenor In
order TO have the facts on which to
predict as message. Mr. Mckinley has
had cablegrams sent to every consular
office in Cuba asking each to give exact
information as to the status of affairs
in his district and to telegraph replies
at once.
1t was said, today. by some members
of the Senate committee on foreign re-
lations, that this communication would
be communicated to the Senate. but
whether il would be accompanied by
message recommending action, was yet
a matter Of doubt. The prospects are,
however, that considerable opposition
may develop in the Senate to a single
proposition to relieve.
Senator Burrows of Michigan. today.
pointed out the objections To such
procedure Are we going to feed the
Spanish army and assist Weyler in his
campaign" he asked. THE distribu-
ton of relief is almost impossible and
the scheme thoroughly impracticable.
How is the citizenship of the people
asking relief to be determined. and
must there be am investigation OF the
citizenship of every starving woman
and child who asks relief?
we will be prevented from taking
care of the Americans in the insurgent
lines, and cannot relieve distress even
i'm the insUgent hospitals.
we shall simply be helping Spain to
feed her hungry people
The conference between assistant
Secretary Day and Senior Dupuy De
LONE lasted for over an hour and was
confined entirely to a discussion of the
extension of relief measures. No OBJ
lection was made in behalf of the
Spanish government to the supply OF
food medicine and clothing to the dis
tressed Americans in Cuba, but 1t was
clearly understood that the relief is to
be extended only to American citizens
through agencies not yet decided upon.
The Spanish authorities have not re-
corded any objection on their part to
a general distribution, provided this is
not carried to the extent of provision
ing the insurgent forces in their re-
sistance to Spain. On this point if can
be stated positively that il is the pres
ent idea of the administration that it
will have fulfilled all of its proper func-
lions when it has cared for its own
citizens.
Attention was called by the Spanish
minister to the fact that the Red Cross
had been given full permission to oper-
ate in Cuba and that in the distribu
ton of its charitable offices, the society
made no distinction in nationalities, SO
that the distressed Spaniard. Cuban or
American might with equal right claim
its bounty.
Senator Morgan said that the mes
sage of the President if it should apply
only to relief measure in the way of
fCod and clothing, would not cause him
to devate from his purpose of pressing
his resolution for the recognition of a
state Of war, as he had given notice he
the President would send in such a
message.
The friends of the Morgan resolution
will net antagoniZe the measures con-
templating temporary relief, but they
are not disposed to accept such meas
ures in place of a more general and
farreaching declaration. The opposl-
ton also probably will acquiesce in a.
resolution appropriating money to re-
lieve immediate wants.
Senator Hale. who is generally rec
oeniZed as the leader of the opposition
measure looking to n general declara
ton in the Cuban interest is absent
from the city, but Senator White, who
also opposes such measures as a rule.
said that while there We're objections
to extending our charity to such an
extent he would be disposed to offer no
opposition to such a measure. Some
of the o-Cubans take the position
that any supplies sent to Cuba would
merely aid the Spanish cause as they
would practically amount as a contri-
button to Spain. Hence there is a
possibility of opposing even the pro-
posed charity.
The first vote will be taken on Sena-
tor HaIe's motion to refer the resolu
ton to the committee on foreign rela-
lions and Senator White who takes
issue with Mr.. Morgan on the Cuban
question, expressed the opinion that
this motion would prevail