Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-18
THEY NEED OUR AID
Thousands in Cuba Dependent on
American Charity.
REALLY MEANS INTERVENTION
Spanish Officials Ignore the Con-
ditions Which Confront Them.
TEST YET TO COM E
Copyright, 1908, by Charles M. Pepper }

Copyright. 1903. by Charles NJ. Pepper)
Special From star Correspondent.
HAVANA. March 16. via Port Tampa,
Fla. March 17.-Whether the condition in
Cuba would be accepted by the world as
justifying immediate Intervention can be
Judged by what is being done and what
has to be done for the relief of the re-
concentrates. 1 do not know whether the
diplomatic note has as yet gone from
Washington to Madrid. If there is delay
it increases the burden which the Ameri-
can people have taken upon themselves
and prolongs an tntolerable situation.
Those who are in charge of the relief
movement tell me they felt justified In
calculating daily issue Of $4,000 ra-
tions They are satisfied that through the
channels opened up by the consuls and
through other agencies this quantity of
food can be distributed to people, mostly;
women and children, who without it will
die Of starvation. If there should prove
to be only quarter of million sufferers
instead Of 266, 600 the rations may be in
creased a trie.
I have not reviewed in detail the figures on
which this calculation is based, and do not
undertake to say that 1t is absolutely cor
rect. But when 10000 daily rations are
needed to meet the wants of the people of
Havana, with an additional 1900 required
for the towns close by, the figures do not
seem too large.
Needs Are Understnted.
MY own experience has been that the
needs have been understated rather than
exaggerated. Every fresh investigation has
disclosed gaunt distress in quarters where
tic axtC h@l
Knowledge of this suffering is said to be
breaking upon the American people with
the force of a new revelation. Why this
should be It is difficult to understand. For
fifteen months each day has brought it's
revelation of hundreds of innocent victims.
If there Is a reawakenng in the United
states II may not be amiss to say that of
the abyss of wretchedness it is yet possi-
Bile to rescue remnant of the rural dwell
ers of Cuba, nor are all these who await
succor reconcentrados; the town people are
also suffering keenly. The means of relief
are probably adequate for sixty days. By
great effort they might be stretched over
period of ninety days. If during that
time nothing is done to remove the cause
the question must be faced whether the
United States is ready to feed the inhabi-
tants of Cuba indefinitely or whether they
shall be left to starve without further eX-
ertions for their succor.
The official attitude of the Spanish au-
thorlties regarding American relief is one
of acceptance without thanks. The change
has been marked since last November.
when the officials resented the first sug-
gestion and declared that Spain would
never tolerate foreign countries distribut-
ing food. The government is now willing
that the United States shall feed those
whom il Still claims as subjects This re-
Neves her own burdens and enables Spain
to do something for the starving troops.
Relief Accepted Without Comment.
The civil governors and mayors of towns
and villages receive the relief and CO.
operate in its distribution. They must do
SO, for the responsibility Of checking star
Vation is On them, and their own govern
ment gives them no aid. When American
relief was started, apologetically and with
excessive tenderness for Spain's suscepti-
bilities, the wedge Of Intervention seemed
q thin one. 1t has been wide enough for
the purpose. Food Is distributed to the
starving in all parts of Cuba today in
the name of the United States and through
Its Official representatives. The Spanish
authorities are merely subordinates in the
oiSIhlputiOH h1S Is the case as 1t ap-
pears before the world. Independent of
the political side of autonomy and inde-
pendent of the military sids Of the insur-
rection, Spain IS asking the United States
to feed the inhabitants, while she strug-
giles hcpelessly 10 keep her flag flying over
the island. which is already lest to her.
In the face OF the naked situation ap-
parently the Sasasta ministry is going for
ward on dennite line. This is to ignore
the starvation and the succor from the
United State. What Is said about the
pl ogress" OF autonomy and of queiiing the
insurrection is not worth anaiyzing. Pos
s:bly the ignorant people of Spain might
be duped, but the Intelligent opinion of the
world need lot be treated SO contemptuous-
ly as to assume that 1t believes any OF
these things.
Pictures Of the Cuba of Today.
The pictures Of the Cuba of today are
enough Had there been an Improvement
in the economic conditions that would have
spoken loudly for itself. Starvation, in
stead of spreading among all classes OF the
population, would be on the wane Some
truth is contained in what the minister OF
the colonies says about the increase in
customs receipts. The reason is twofold.
a
temporary period of comparative honesty.
Mere duties were collected, not necessarily
because of increase in the quantities OF
imports. but because the stealings were
less However, 1t is probable that there
has been a real increase in imports over
a year ago. The country was 80 thorough
ly depleted of everything which could be
consumed that the vacuum had 70 be Haied.
The whole affair OF the customs receipts.
however, has been manipulated with a dis
tinct end in view. The purpose was to
find a false basis for treaty OF commerce
with the United States.
Gen. Bianco had not been on the island
ten days TIL he learned that successful
military campaign against the insurgents
was not among the possible events Of this
year. Thirty days time was enough to show
that the insurrection could not be UNDER
mined by either conciliation, persuasion or
bribery. After that only one thing remained