Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-29
ONLY PEACE CAN END DISTRESS.
Palma's View of the Proposed Relief
of Cubans.

/. NEW YORK, December Ex-Governor
General Blanco's acceptance Of President
Mckiniey's request that the American peo-
pie be permitted to relieve the sunerings
of the concentrates in Cuba is tanta-
mount to acceptance of the offer of inter-
vention by the United States in the con-
flict SO long in progress between the peo-
pie of Cuba and the Spanish government"
said Tomas Estrada Palma chief of the
Cuban junta in this city, to an Associated
Press reporter today.
LAS the administration believes that
peace in Cuba can be restored only by po-
litical Intervention it cannot reject the
favorable opportunity that thus presents
itself to intervene for the purpose of end
ma. THE deplorable condition Of the con-
centradoS has been caused by the cruel
warfare waged by Spain. and the govern
ment, finding itself unable to relieve the
situation, has applied to the United States
for aid. President Mckinley must see by
now that there is no chance for peace to
be established in Cuba without interven-
tion, and living up to his word, as given
in his previous messages, must intervene
and Spain cannot nationally and consist
emily reject such intervention"
Send Food, but No Money.
Coming down to the relief plan itself, DR..
Palma said IF the American people are
should send no money. That would go to
feed the greedy maws of the Spanish mer-
chants and help Spain to continue its war
fare. Food, clothing and the like, but no
money-that would be the best plan to
follow out. Money will benefit the Spanish
only.
"Blanco has accepted the American
proposition as a way out of difficult
position. He knows that it would require
millions of dollar to permanently relieve
the concentrates, under the present con-
ditions. Suppose that it takes but ten
cents day to aid a man, how long could
one continue giving ten cents if the man
Is given no opportunity to help himself.
Immufed in the big cities, the concentra-
dos are helpless and will continue to be
helpless until they can get out of the
cities.
"The Spanish government is incapable of
showing to the United States that these
defenseless people will have their condi-
tion in any way improved by the relief
plan. The United States can accomplish
very little during the progress of the war.
Peace and Independence.
1.-The only way to relieve the concentra-
dos, and, in fact, all Cubans, is to stop
this distress by the Introduction of peace
and independence. With peace restored
the concentrates will be able to return to
their farms and their residences We have
the money, the tools and the materials that
will set these people right at work again.
To keep them In the cities cripples them
and makes 1t necessary to feed them like
SO many invalids.
Let the American people know that the
best plan is to intervene for peace. They
should intervene Immediately.
Spain is willing that Americans should
aid the concentrados by the present plan
because 1t will relieve Spain Of response
bility for a calamity that it has brought
about. Spain Is trying to shake off the
ignominy of Weylerism in Cuba, but it
cannot succeed. It Is necessary that the
world should know the results Of that
work in Cuba, and the world Is learning
fast
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