The herald., 1898-04-01

% has received no OIuclbA WoI0 ~
~ 40 to the decree issued Il
! q, by Captain General Blanco, y
resembling the reconcen- =
e trado order In Santa Clara ~
-, and other provinces. It Is Il
\, regarded a. an extremely q
q. important II not the most y
\, important development Of II
q favorable character thus far ~
! secured. +
THE DECREE ISSUED
HAVANA. March 3l.--Capt Gem BlAnco
has issued an important decree dated
March % and published this morning. in
which he predicts the end Of the conceutra-
ton In the four western provinces-Pinar
6sl Rio. Havana. Matanzas and Santa
Clara.
The preamble sets forth that the pacifica-
tion OF said provinces having been cons!d-
erably advanced by the combined action of
arms and the natural effect Of the estab-
ilShmeut OF autonomy in giving security
to the country. making possible the ad-
vancement Of the sugar, tobacco and food
crops. It also being near the time when the
minor plantings give the means Of hving
to the laboring classes and peasants. also
believing the time had come to resume the
normal condition In the towns and viii
lagos. to do away with the cause Of suffer-
Ing among the people. to remove SO far as
possible all the effects OF the reconcentra-
tion and further to give complete liberty to
all the country to return to such places as
they desire. to do such labor as they may
select. this order Ii issued.
The preamble further says that for the
recopcentrados who being without re-
gQrrces OF instruments with which to la
bar. re,49aan In the towns or oenters pre-
viously set apcrs for their use, tie colonial
government with great urgency proposes
to the governor general plan % relief. In
this plan the mayors and alcahes are ex-
pscted to take part. establishing soup
Kitchens. etc. and doing all in their power
to TERMINATE the existing misery. Then
follow the 1--WE articles, carrying out what
n rot forth In the preamble.
NsArtitle latter the publication Of this
0fdsr the reconcentrados andtheir families
VIII be allowed to return home In the four
provinces given above.
Article 2-Orders all relief committees
and military authorities to facilitate the
workings Of the decree and also to aid the
recontentradoee In selecting and securing
new houses.
Article 3-Directs the colonial govern
mont. through It's secretary and ministerial
officers. to prepare to execute all necessary
orders to secure for the country people
work on public improvements and also to
give food By economical Kitchens to all
the suffering. attention being called to
those on the small country estates,
Article +-All the expenses over and
abovs the funds now In the hands Of the
committee are to be provided for under the
head Of an extraordinary war credit.
Article Sail former orders OF recon-
centration are abrogated.
OFFICIAL REPORTS
WASHINGTON. March s1-Ths Spanish
legation has received full report from Capt.
Gen. Blanco from the governors Of all the
provinces OF Cuba and from the alcaldes
and chiefs Of police Of the principal cities,
- to the condition of the reconcentrados.
1t Is an elaborate treatment of this SUBJ
jsct by the officers directly On charge and,
gives the situation fully from their stand
point. It II noteworthy that they do not
seek to minimize the dreadful condition Of
these people. but endeavor to show that
they are doing their utmost to alleviate the
misery and misfortune which exists.
\ Gen. Blanco's report il in substance az
follows:
I'm the midst Of the painful impression
CAUSED by the situation Of the reconoentra-
DOS. It II some satisfaction to note .he
great improvement In their condition as
compared with which 1t was four or five
months ago. In response to the keen In
terest which the home government has
shown IN the matter, this government has
sndeavored from the very first In every
possible way to alleviate 50 much misery
and misfostunA The cities, overfiiled! with
msn, woman and children without work.
vsre unable to sustain population Of
consumers who produced nothing; the de-
struotion Of - many hamlsts by the insur-
gents comoe11ed the unfortunate inhabit-
anita To- seek rSonee In the towns to save
their lives the emily thing possible to be
saved Aum tho wanton and barbarous de
struunon wAldh had reduced thea 10 a
stsks q The nnsk horrible wrStclednAss.
In Puerto Principe nearly all the recon-
epntrados were Of this class. The maladiss
eriginatsd By this providing together Of
human beings and the fatal belief In an In
Syitabls death .oornbined to take away from,
many the necessary energy to struggle for
iife and TO discourage private charity,
which considered itself impotsnt without
= decided hslp from official charity.
uaAdsr considerations may be made to
sEulsin : cszaain passive RESISTANCE among
soue Slsments, who regarded every CON
ctntra4o ~ IN enemy, more or less Dis
Guised zdp result Of AL this Wa ths
tgplv formidable problem presented, ali
tAs sraver from the fact that Il was 4
aecsssity Of immediate urgency.
IA deposition Of this government was 10
attack the evil at it, source. ~ the Dc.
oPes Of Nov. 18th Inst, the return Of an
~ rsooncsntrados 10 thar homes 49, per-
NIdttsd, and they wsrs authorised It the
same time to carry arms to defend their
peoperty. In this the citlas were reliovod 81
sarge part Of thsir abncrmal population
( And check given to the diseases produced
" ovsrosowdino. Committees Of hoip
Wegs cyvsnlsed. lhtsrvsuGion In them beina
Dwss = - essrxy. desters aaa N IA
+ ~