Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-11
mortality among them


which had attended the limited meas
ure OF relief, extended to the suffering
American citizens. among them by the
iudicious expenditure through the con-
sular agencies of the money appropri-
ated expressly for their succor by the
Joint resolution approved May a. 1897,
prompted the humane extension of
similar scheme to that great body of
sufferers. "A suggestion to this end
was acquiesced in by the Spanish au-
thorlties.
caused to be issued an appeal to the
American people. inviting contributions
in money or in kind for the succor of
the starving sufferers In Cuba. Follow
ing this, on the Sth of January, by
similar public announcement OF the
formation of central Cuban relief
committee, with headquarters in New
York, composed of the members, repre-
sentlng, the American national Red
Cross and the religious and business
clements of the community. The efforts
of that committee have been untiring
and accomplished much. Arrangements
for free transportation to Cuba have
greatly aided the charitable work. The
president of the American Red Cross
and representatives of other contribu-
tory organizations have generally WIS.,
tied Cuba and co-operated with the
consul general and the local authors
ties to make effective distribution of
the relief collected through the efforts
of the central committee. Nearly $780,
900 in money and supplies has already
reached the sufferers. and more Is
forthcoming. The supplies are admitted
duty free. and transportation to the in
terror has been arranged. so that the
relief, at first necessarily confined to
Havana and the larger citles,is now ex-
tended through most. If not all Of the
towns where suffering exists. Thou
The necessity for a change in the
condition of the reconcentrados Is
recognized by the Spanish government.
Within n few days past the orders of
General Weyler have been revoked. the
reconcentrados are, II Is said. to be per-
mltted to return to their homes, and
aided to resume the self-supporting
pursuits of peace; public works have
been started TO give them employment,
and the sum of 100000 has been APP
propriated for their relief.
CANNOT FIGHT IT OUT.
The war in cuba is OF such a nature
that, short of subjugation. or extermin-
alton, final military victory for the
other side seems impracticable. The
alternative lies in the physical ex-
haustion of the one or the other party
or perhaps both, condition which in
effect ended the ten years war by the
truce of Fan Jon. The prospect of
SuCn II plolIutNlpn anu CoHtluslpH VI
the present strife is contingency hard
ly to be contemplated with the
equanimity of the civilized world. ana
least of all by the United States. af-
fected and injured as we are, deeply
and intimately by its very existence.
Realizing this, 1t appeared to be my
duty in a spirit of true friendliness, no
less to Spain than to Cubans who have
so much to lose by the prolongation OF
the struggle, to seek to bring about an
immediate termination Of the war.
THE LATE NEGOTIATIONS.
TO this end l submitted, on the 27th
ultimo, as n result of much representa-
ton and correspondence through the
United States minister at Madrid,
propositions to the Spanish government
looking to an armistice until October l,
for the negotiation of peace with the
| good offices of the President
In addition, 1 asked the Immediate
revocation OF the order of reconcentra-
ton. so as to permit the people to re-
turn to their farms and the needy to
be relieved with provisions and sup
plies In the United States, cooperating
with the Spanish authorities SO as to
afford full relief.
The reply OF the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 3lst
ultimo. 1t offers, as the means to
bring about peace in Cuba, to coniide
the preparation thereof to the insular
| department, inasmuch as the concur
renee of that body would be necessary
to establish final result. it being.
however, understood that the powers
reserved by the Constitution to the
central government are not lessened
or diminished. As the Cuban parlia-
ment does not meet until the 4th OF
May next, the Spanish government
would not object, for It's part. to ac-
cept at once q suspension of hostilities
If asked for by the insurgents from the
general-in to whom II would per-
tain, in such case, to determine the
duration and conditions of the arm
istice.
The propositions submitted by Gen.
Woolford and the reply of the Spanish
government were both In the form of
brief memoranda, the texts OF which
are before mentioned and substantially
In the language above given. The
function of the Cuban parliament in
the matter of preparing" peace and
the manner of doing so are not ex-
pressed in the Spanish memorandum,
but from Gen. Woodford's explanatory
reports of preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference it is
understood that the Spanish govern-
ment stands ready to give the insular
congress- full powers to settle the
terms of peace with the Insurgents.
whether by direct negotiation or indi-
rectly be means of legislation, does not
appear,
With this last overture in the d.
rection of immediate peace and its dis
appointing reception by Spain, the ex-
ecutive was brought to the end of his
effort.
In my annual message OF December
last. I said:
"Of the untried measures there re-
main-recognition of the Insurgents
as belligerents; recognition of the in
dependence of Cuba. and Intervention
to end the war by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants
and Intervention in favor OF one or the
other party
NO ANNEXATION.
speak not of forcible annexation.
for that cannot be thought Of That
by our code of morality would be
criminal aggression. Thereupon | re-
viewed these alternatives In the light
OF President Grants measured words
uttered In 1875. when. after seven
years Of sanguinary, destructive and
cruel barbarities in Cuba. he reached
the conclusion that the recognition of
the Independence of Cuba was I'm
practicable and indefensible. and that
the recognition of belliberency was not
warranted by the facts according to
the tests of public law. 1 commented
especially upon the latter aspect of the
question, pointing out the inconveni-
ences and positive dangers of u recog-
milton of belligerency. which, while
adding to the already onerous bur-
dens of neutrality. within our own