The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-30
MINISTER D||PUY De LONE.
HE EXPRESSES STRONG DIsAp-
PRoVAL OF CERTAIN RUMoRs
NOW AFLOAT.
ROAS|S Intervention FL|MFLAMS
A"eir purpose to Embitter Spain md
the United States-sensibIe
Talk by the Him Anent
Relief to Sufferers,

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Mr. Dummy de
LONE, the Spanish minister, expresses
strong disapproval of reports that the re-
lief measures adopted by the United
states and co-operated in by Spain are
steps toward intervention by this govern
meht In the affairs of Cuba. The min
lister criticises such reports as enough to
mix politics with charity, and as calcu-
lated to exicte ill feeling which will em-
barrass the charitable movement and i'm
pede its execution in Havana and through
out the island. Referring to the subject
he said:
This talk of intervention in certain
quarters has no other purpose than to
embitter both countries and to divert the
original essential purpose of alms-giying.
The extension of aid to the sufferers in
Cuba is no more intervention than was
the action of all the nations of the world.
including Spain, to send help to Chicago
after the big fire, or that of the United
States in sending shin load of grain to
Russia, and last year to India, and to the
city OF London in sending food and mon
ey to Paris when the siege by the Ger
mans was on"
Turning to dispatch just received from
Dr. Congosta, secretary general at Ha-
Vaha, the minister proceeded, quoting in
part from the dispatch:
1T is not true that the Spanish author
ltles in Cuba are not equal to the situa-
tion. Succor is being given abundantly.
and relief committees are in regular op-
GRAFTON. In two of the prOvinces-Puerto
Prlncipe and Santiago de Cuba-there has
been no concentration. Forty sugar
plantations are now grinding sugar, and
there is ample work for those who want
1t. Many of the recOncentradoes who
were reported to be suffering are in such
condition through an, unwllingness to
work. The regularity with which relief
has been conducted in Havana is shown
by glance at the Havana papers every
day where there are long lists of charit-
I able donations from private parties. of
condensed milk, cornmeal and like arti-
cles specially serviceable for the relief
of children. 1t should be borne in mind,
also, that Spain has remitted all duties
on relief supplies sent to Cuba, so that
every dollar of supplies for Cuba Spain
"uuo u NploiutluDIt peICeHtuSe, CHc re-
mitted duties running from 40 per cent
down. >r
"It is perfectly we'll understood that
the American help will be received with
the spirit in which it is given, and the
American government, as Secretary Sher-
man expressed it in his recent letter, of
fers the well known generosity of Ameri-
can people in the same spirit that they
have accepted foreign help in cases of
public calamity. 1t seems that some per-
sons who make statements as to the the
condition in Cuba forget that the evils
of war can not be mitigated in a short
time. They fail to compare the actual
situation of today with that of the past,
and they totally disregard the efforts
made to improve the situation. After ALL,
It is probably unnecessary to answer
those who will go to such an extreme as to
mix intervention and intrusion with the
acts of mercy of nation well known for
its generosity and charity"