The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-27
CUBA IN
THE CABINET.
Nothing Will be Done Until Mr..
CaIhoun's Return.

oOD UEN EhAII LEE CALLED
ON FORA LIST OF DESIRABLE
FOOD SUPPLIES.
Washington, May 26-The meeting of
the Cabinet yesterday was devoted almost
entirely to the discussion of Cuban mat
ters. Nor was it confined to the methods
OF distribution to distressed Americans
ON the island of the relief authorized by
Congress- Tie whole subject of the res.
direction and of the best policy for this
country to pursue, was discussed freely
ana for the mosU part informally. No at
tempt was made TO outline any definite
plan OF procedure. IL is thoroughly Nun.
derstood that the conclusions which NAV
be reached by Mr. Calhoun. the snecinl
commissioner, and by him verbally trans
mitted to the President will have every.
thing to do with shaping the policy of
TINS administration. He will report the
actual condition of things in Cuba Mt
the present time, and pending this report
members of the Cabinet are extremely
reticent.
The delay will not ne long us the Pres.
luent expects Mr.. Calhoun will have COM
pleted his mission in Cuba and he on his
way bnck to Washington in the course of
W 'NNfN VI eOh udJ ALLOWING IOr The
time he way require to reduce to form and
embody perhaps in an official report the
conclusions he has formed as to the con-
dltlons In Cuba: the President should be
In full possession of all the important
facts Mir. Calhoun has collected in the
course of two weeks from this date, I'M
less events in Havana unexpectedly nro.
long his stay.
John j. McCook and r. A. c. Smith,
OF New York, who are representing a
large syndicate of American and English
capitalists, were at the White House YES
terday urging the President to accent
their plan of setting the Cuban question.
which contemplates absolute intlepend-
ence oil the island, blt the payment to
Spain OF indemnity for her loss
MIR. Smith is many times IL millionaire
and has large sums invested in Cuba al
ready. He is the owner of the electric
ilght plant In Havana, and is also largely
Interested in the Ward Line OF steamers
lie has connections with influential can.
italists, both in this country and in Eng.
land, and, it is claimed, can readily COM
nanu all the money needed to carry out
his plans. These people propose to take
the bonds of the Cuban republic, to an
amount necessary to reimburse Spain for
the loss of the island, and enable the
new government to get a start, provided
the United States will take control of
the customs houses and see that the rev
enueS are collected and the financial
affairs properly conducted.
MIR. McCook and Mr.. Smith told the
President they were confident that Spain
would agree to this, and Equally conf.
dent That 1T will be satisfactory to the
Cuoans. A new minister to Spain is TO
he appointed soon, and it is believed by
"a If xptn l,a
sioner Calhoun.
Assistant Secretary Day, who is
charged with the execution OF the Presi-
dents wishes respecting the relief meas.
nres, hada long interview with President
Mckinley at the White House Yesterday
afternoon just after the Cabinet meeting.
The conclusio was reached that, having
advanced Consul General Lee funds to
meet all probable immediate necessities
there was no opportunity for the adop-
tlon OF further steps until he had been
heard from. The consul general in turn
Is advising with his subordinate consuls
III Cupa preparatory to commenting the
state Department. n definite plan of ac-
ton in the distribution of relief. He has
called meeting at Havana tomorrow
OF all United States consuls in Cuba who
can reach that capital conveniently for
the purpose of consultation. These Off
GERS are expected to come with all the
facts and figures as to the extent of the
re!let demanded in their respective local.
itles, and upon that basis IL pro rata dis
trlbntion of supplies and money can be
made.
The question Ct sending food Supplies
being again under consideration here.
Gen. Sullivan, the commissary general of
the army, has been called upon to give
the benefit of his experience TO the State
department officials in that line. Real.
izing that, owing to different climatic
conditions, the same ration that is sutii-
Gent in the United States would not do
mt all in Cuba, it was found prudent to
call upon Gen. Lee for statement of the
kind of food supplies that would be most
Observation-Disclosures for the distressed
Americans on the island. When his
answer is returned the State Department
will probably ask Gen. Sullivan to make
the necessary purchases through the we'll.
equipped depots of the commissarv de-
partment. 1t is felt that I'LL the supplies
necessary can he procured in New York
ut short notice. If the money Mt hand,
about $40 900, does not suffice. rs it is
feared 1t may not, then Congress will be
called upon once more