The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-25
AN OFFICIAL Appeal
AID ASKED FOR STARVING CUBANS
THROUGH THE SECRETARY
OF STATE.
SPAIN GIVES APPROVAL.
THE DISTRIBUTION TO BE MADE BY
THE AMERICAN CONSUL
GENERAL.
OF CUSTOMS DUTIES.
Supplies and Drugs VIII BE Admit
ted Free by Order of the
Captain General.
lin GIVES APPROVAL.
OF CUSTOMS DUTIES.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 24-The fol-
lowing appeal to the American people
has been issued
Department of State Washington. Dec. "a.
1897.-By direction of the president, the public
is informed that in Difference to the earnest
desire Of the government to contribute by
effective action towards the relief Of the SUI
fering people in the island of Cuba, arrange
ment have been perfected by which charitable
contributions, in money or kind, can be
sent to the island by the benevolenty dis
posed people Of the United States.
Money, provisions, clothing, medicines and
the like articles of prime necessity can be
forwarded to Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the consul
general of the United States at Habana. and
all articles now dutiable by law SO consigned
will be admitted into Cuba free OF duty. The
consul general has been instructed to receive
the same and to cooperate with the local
authorities and the charitable boards for the
distribution of such relief among the destitute
and needy people of Cuba.
The president is confident that the people
of the United States who have on many coca
sions in the past responded most generously
to the cry for bread from peoples stricken by
famine or sore calamity and who have be
held no less generous action on the part or
foreign communities when their own country
men have suffered from fire and food, VIII
heed the appeal that comes from the desti-
tute at their own threshold. and especially at
this season Of good will and rejoicing give of
their abundance to this humane end
John Sherman
The appeal was issued after consul
tation with Minister Dupuy de LONE.
The Spanish minister called at the
state department about noon today and
conferred with Judge Day concerning
the relief of the reconcentradoS on the
island. He made it clear that the
Spanish government would cooperate
in any relief measures, and that there
was entire Willingness that the supp les
60 direct to Consul General Lee, in
10 NiCh % ilf
channels.
The negotiations have been proceed
ing for some time The first active
step in this direction was taken by the
president on Dec. /, and was in the
form of a request that the minister
learn from his government whether
the regular tariff duties would be re-
mitted on relief supplies sent to Cuba
Minister de LONE soon afterWard
answered that Spain had consented to
grant even more than had been re-
ouested and that the duties would be
RENTED not only on articles which the
president had referred to, but also on
ali medicines soap, salt and similar
articles OF prime necessity which might
enter into the plan of relief Inc only
condition attached was that the sup
plies should go through the regular re-
lief committees established at Havana,
of which the bishop of Havana is the
chairman. 1t was arranged also that
supplies sent to the Spanish minister
would be forwarded to the authorities
at Havana. Since then there have been
criticisms of the system adopted. and
reports have come from Havana that
the reconcentrados were starving as
result Of obstacles in the way OF trans
hitting relief The Spanish authori-
ties state, however, that there has been
no delay on their part, and that since
the arrangement was made no offer of
supplies has been made. There has
been a general desire, however, TO
adopt a system by which the supplies
will go direct to Gen. Lee. and as
result of the Spanish minister's call TO-
day this will be the plan to be adopted
in executing the relief measures under
the call now issued
HAVANA, Dec 24.-Capt Gen.
R1anco has cabled to the Spanish min
lister at Washington, Senior Dupuy de
Lone, that Americans have authority
to send supplies to the reconcent1ados
of the island without paying customs
duties.