Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-15
A CUBAN MESSAGE.
PRESIDENT WILL PROBABLY SEND
ONE IN on TUESDAY.
IT WILL NOT Be WARLIKE AT ALL.
1T VIII simply Ask for Relief of
Americans In Cuba Who Are on the
Verge of staryntion-spain Agree
able.

ton the advlsability OF sending a mes
sage TO Congress next week on 'he
Cuban question. but has not yet come 10
decision in the matter. though he Is
at present considering the subject Inc
message. II Il goes in. will be entirely
pacific In tone, and. It can be stated on
good authority. viii not be OF war
like tenor In order TO have the facts
on which TO base a message. Mr.. NC
K.nley has had cableerams sent to every
consular officer In Cuba, asking each
OF them 10 give exact information as TO
the status OF affairs In his district, ana
10 telegraph replies at once 1t was un-
derstood to-day by some members of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
that this information would. no doubt
be communicated TO the Senate. but
whether il would be accompanied by a
message recommending action was yet
matter Of doubt
The meeting of the Cabinet to-day was
devoted almost entirely to a considera
tion of the Cuban situation. The meet
ing was he'd an hour earlier than usual
owing to the Importance Of the ques-
ton 10 be discussed. and the fact that
the President and Cabinet were leaving
discussion was upon the advisability of
asking Congress to provide immediate re-
lief 10 Americans who are, according TO
the reports received from Consul-Gene-
raj Lee penned up In the cities, and in
actual danger of starvation. 1t had no
bearing upon the policy OF the admins
tratiOn toward Spain or the Cuban in
surgcnts. except incidentally. but dealt
with the direct question OF relieving Ges-
titute Americans on the island.
Secretary sherman laid before the
Cabinet some most important documents
regarding the situation and before the
meeting was over, Judge Day, Assistant
Secretary Of State. personally took 10
the White House some additional papers,
for which the Secretary had sent. Every
phase of the matter was discussed-the
advisability Of asking Congress for an
appropriation. SPANS attitude, the
methods Of distributing relief. the neces-
siiy or adyisability Of having a warship
accompany the food supplies. But the
hnal discussion Of the question was post
p0ned until Consul General Lee and other
American cOnsuis in Cuba, and probably
Mr.. Calhoun. shall make their reports
by cable 10 the department. They have
been requested TO cable the latest facts
as 10 the existing situation. These re-
ports will be here probably. when the
President and Cabinet return tomorrow
night.
MESSAGE PROBABLE.
1t seems extremely probable now that
message will be sent to Congress. but
hardly before Tuesday. as there would
be no time 10 prepare ii before that day
unless Mr. Mckinley should devote Sun
day TO the task
The Spanish Minister. NJ. Dupuy de
LONE. called at the State Department
shortly before noon to-day, and con-
for. A. Co
retary Day relative 10 the reported in
tentiOn of this government to send re-
lief 20 American sufferers IN Cuba. The |
Minister gave assurance that the Span
ish Government would be in entire sym
pathy with any benevolent movement,
and would lend every assistance to it.
The Spanish Minister does not question
the existence Of misery and suffering
in the island. but declares that II is such
only as accompanies insurrection and
war heightened in this case by the dis
eases peculiar 10 low, tropical countries
IL IS stated that these conditions have
existed for months. and have been well
known. AS TO the severity Of the suffer-
ing. IL is said that il consists mainly in
the lack Of adequate food, and of medi-
cine and nursing for the sick and desti-
tute.
The conference lasted for over an
hour. and was confined entirely 10 a
discussion Of relief measures No objec-
lion was made in behalf Of the Spanish
Government 10 the supply of food, medi-
cine. and clothing to distressed Ameri-
cans In Cuba, but il was clearly under
stood that the relief is to be extended
only to American citizens through agen-
cies not yet decided upon. The Spanish
authorities have not recorded any objec-
tlon on their part TO agent distribution,
provided this is not carried to the extent
OF provisioning the insurgent forces in
their resistance to Spain. On this point
II can be stated positively that II is
the present idea of the administration
that it will have fulfilled all of its pro-
per functions when it has cared for its
own citizens.
Attention was called by the Spanish
Minister to the fact that the Red-Cross
Society had been given full permission 4
10 operate In Cuba. and that in the dis
tribution Of its charitable Offices the So
ciety makes no distinction as to ma
tlonality. so that the distressed Span
lard. Cuban, or American might, with
equal right, claim its bounty
THE SITUATION.
The fact that the Senate was not in
session to-day, and that comparatively
few senator's were at the Capitol had a
ouieting effect upon the situation IN re-
gard TO Cuban affairs. There was still,
however. much interest I'm the course
that the matter may take Monday. Sena-
tor Morgan said to-day that the mes
sage Of the President. If II should apply
only 10 relief measures in the way OF
food and clothing. would not cause him
10 deviate from his purpose of pressing
his resolution Tor the recognition Of a
state Of war as he had given notice he
would 60 before II was assumed that the
President would send In such a message
The friends OF the Morgan resolution
VII! not antagonze measures contem-
plating temporary relief. but they are
not disposed 10 accept such measures In
place Of q more general and far-reach-
ing declaration. The opposition also pro-
badly VIII acQuiesce in resolution ap-
propriatlng money 10 relieve immediate
wants.
Senator Hale. who is generally Eecog-
nized the leader Of the opposition TO
al measures looking 10 general de-
claration IN the Cuban interest. is absent
from the city. but Senator White, who
also opposes such meaures as a rule,
said to-day that while there were objec-
tlons 10 extending cur charities to such
an extent. he would be disposed TO offer
40 opposition 10 such a measure. Some
Of the pro-Cubans take the position that
any supplies sent 10 Cuba would merely
aid the Spanish cause. as they would
practically amount TO a contribution TO
Spain. Hence there is q possibility OF op-
position even 10 the proposed charity.
Senator Morgan has no purpose OF
changing the form Of his resolution in
any respect. Il was fully aware OF the
situation when i prepared the resolu-
-. B..D coll 70 Haly stsifaI G,.Al