The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-16
Will be Sent to Congress by the
President Monday.
ABOUT AMERICAN CITIZENS
WILL RECOMMEND APPROPRIA-
TION FOR THEIR RELIEF.
NOTICE GIVEN BY CONSULS
This Special Message is to be Founded
on Reports Sent by Gen. Lee
and Other Consular
Officers.

w hldy lO.-4ue Ueullkt All
nOuncement was made at the capitol to-
day that message on the Cuban situa-
ton will be sent to Congress by the Pres
ident next Monday. 1t will deal specifi-
cally with the question of the deprivations
to which American citizens are subjected
in Cuba and it will recommend an appro-
priation for their relief.
In considering ways and means of af-
fOrding substantial relief to American
citizens in Cuba who are in distress
owing to the war, the administration
has plan which may be put in operation
if it is sanctioned by the judgment Of the
United States Consular officers in Cuba,
who, being on the ground, are supposed to
be best qualified to judge of the efticien-
cy Of proposed relief measures. This plan
is to give notice through the American
Consuls to all American citizens in Cuba
that the government will undertake to
remove them from the island to the Uni
ted States if they so desire. To do this
will require action by Congress not nee
essarily in specific authorization Of the
removal but merely the limitation Of the
appropriation to the general terms of one
for the relief of American citizens in
Cuba. A similar plan was adopted with
benefit in China during the rioting Incl
dent to the Chinese-Japanese war and
during the Armenian troubles in Turkey.
The reason for this is the belief, found
ed ON reports from United States Consul
General Lee and other United States
consular officers that the war has SO
thoroughly exhausted the agricultural re-
sources of the island that it will be long
time before it will be again in condition
to maintain its population. The proposed
American exodus from Cuba must be
purely voluntary and it is not even pro-
posed to present the alternative of deny
ing supplies if destitute Americans refuse
to leave the island. 1t is the belief OF
General Lee that many persons will avail
themselves of such an opportunity.
So far as officially known to the depart
ment through the reports Of the C0nsuls
made up to this time, the number of Am
ericans in this condition is between $50
and 200. An explanation of this small
number, it is said, that most of the AM
orleans, natives, living in Cuba are en-
ployed in the higher branches of indus
trise or professions and are not actual
workers OF the SOIL The sufferers are
mostly naturalized citizens, holding small
parcels Of ground upon which they have
depended heretofore for livelihood. 1t is
not doubted that there are more of this
class in need than are yet known to the
department, but it is hoped in the course
of few days to have a census of them.
The agencies to be used to relieve these
people are the United States consuls in
Cuba, and the Spanish government
| through it's Minister here, has professed
readiness to assist in the distribution of
relief.
All the information which the State
| department is receiving from official and
unofficial sources confirms the published
reports Of the destitution existing in
Cuba among those who are penned up in
| the towns. Absolute starvation is threat
| ened owing to the lack of food supplies.
The reports also confirm the statements
| that many Of the sufferers are American
citizens, most of them of course natural
| lied, but there are also native born Am
| ericans. 1t is learned that the admins
| tration, when the facts as to the existing
| destitution in Cuba first came to the
knowledge of the President, was disposed
| to move cautiously as it was feared that
| precipitate action might irritate Spain
| and possibly endanger the lives of our
| consular officers when the character of
their reports became known to the Span
ish authorities and the subjects of Spain
in Cuba.