The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-25
RELIEF FOR THE CUBANs
The President Issues an Appeal
to the People.
WILL BE ADMITTED FREE
Spain Will Cooperate in Distributing
the Needed Supplies to the Recon-
centradoes-Th Old System
Was Criticized.

Washington, Dec. 24.-The following
appeal to the American people has been
issued from the department of state at
Washington
by direction of the president. the
public is informed that in Difference to
the earnest desire OF the government 70
contribute by effective action toward
the relief of the suffering people in the
island Of Cuba. arrangements have been
perfected by which charitable contrlbu-
tons lii money or in kind can be sent to
the island by benevolently disposed
people Of the United States. Money. pro-
visions, clothing, medicines. and like
articles of prime necessity can be for
warded to General Fltzhugh Lee, con-
sui general Of the United States at Ha-
yana, and all articles now dutiable by
law 50 consigned will be admitted into
Cuba free of duty. The consul general
has been instructed to receive the same
I and T. cooperate with local authorities
/ and charitable boards for the distribu-
| ton Of such relief among the destitute
aad needy people Of Cuba.
| The president Is confident that the
/ people OF the United States. who have
t on many occasions N the past respond
/ I'd most generously To the cry for bread
/ from people stricken by famine or dire
/ calamity. and who have beheId no less
/ generous action on the part CT foreign
/ communities when their own country
/ men have suffered from disastrous
/ floods, Will heed the appeal for aid that
comes from those at their own thresh-
j Odds. And especially at this season or
/ good viii and rejoicing give of their
| abundance to this humane end.
| ! '(SiEredl. JOHN SHERMAN"
The appeal was issued after consulta-
/ ton with Minister Dupuy de LONE. The
Spanish minister called at the state de-
| partment about noon to-day and con-
| ferred with Judge Day concerning the
/ relief Of the reconcentrados on tha
/ island. He made 1t clear that the Span
j ish government would cooperate in any
relief measures and that there was en-
! tire willingness that the supplies go to
| Consul General Lee, instead of through
| the Spanish relief channels.
/ The negotiations have been proceed
| ing for some time. The first active step
/ was taken by the president on Dec. ].
/ and this was in the form of a request
| 10 the minister to learn from his gov
I eminent whether or not the regular
/ tariff duties would be RENTED on relief
/ supplies sent to Cuba. Minister de
/ LONE soon afterward answered that
I Spain had consented to grant even more
/ than had been requested and that the
i duties would be remtted not only on
i articles which the president had referred
| TO, but on all medicines. soap. salt and
| similar articles of prime necessity which
/ might enter into the plan of relief. The
/ only G0ndlIl9u dIIdGne1 was I1aL the
| supplies should go through the regular
| relief committee established at Havana.
| OF which the bishop of Havana II the
/ chairman. IT was arranged also that
| the supplies sent to the Spanish minister
| here would be forwarded TO the authors
ties at Havana. Since then. there have
been criticisms of the system. and re-
| ports have come from Havana that the
| reconcentrados We're starving as a re-
| suit of obstacles in the way OF trans
| hitting relief.
The Spanish authorities state. how
| ever. that there has been no delay on
their part and that since the arrange
| meRt was made no offer of supplies had
been made. There has been a general
desire. however. to adopt a system by
which the supplies will go 20 General
Lee. and as a result Of the Spanish
minister's call to-day this will be the
plan 10 be adopted in executing the
| relief measures under the cali now is
/ sued.