The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-07
CAUSE OF THE PROTEST..
Why the President Decided to Send
Relief on Naval Vessels

WASHINGTON March 6.-The decis-
ion of the administration to send sup
plies to the reconcentrados in Cuba was
arrived at early in the week. Gen. Lee
mad represented that he had been I'M
able to distribute the goods that had
been received in answer to the procla-
nation of the president to the Ameri-
can people. He reported that many
tons of these supplies were stored in
Havana, and could not be forwarded
TO the eastern end Of the island. The
United States conSuls at MatanZas and
Sagua la Grande had come in person
to Havana to seek for relief, after re-
porting to the state department the ter
rible conditions existing in their re-
spective districts
The state department Immediately in
stituted inquiries, and. learning that
the original decree Of the Spanish gov
eminent authorizing the free admission
OF supplies applied only to the port of
Havana, secured permission for the free
reception of these supplies at all ports.
The next obstacle met was the diff
hculty of trans-shipping the goods
from Havana eastward, there being a
semi weekly service by steamer, and
that subject to many vexatious locar
restrictions.
When the United States cruiser
montgomery returned from her cruise,
Which included the Cuban ports of Ma
tanzas and Santiago, the officers
brought narrowing tales of the distress
existing there. Capt Crowninshield. the
chief of the navigation bureau of the
navy department, an officer of the
soundest discretion and judgment, was
on the ship, an accidental passenger.
He told President Mckinley directly
what he had learned The result was
the immediate decision of the navy de-
partment to accede to the request of
the relief committee in New York to
forward their supplies to the eastern
ports of Cuba. One of the American
lines of steamships running to New
YORK had offered to take the bounteous
contributions of the American people
to Key West. and the president himself
gave the order for their carriage to
eastern Cuba by any of the available
ships of the North Atlantic squadron.
The announcement by the Associated
Press of the purpose of the government
to send supplies to Cuba on naval ves-
sells was made last Wednesday. Within
tWenty-four hours there We're signs of
resistance on the part of the Spanish
government At first this took the
shape Of formal inquiry by the Span
ISM charge, Senior du Bose. as to the
correctness of the report, the inquiry
being couched in an incredulous tone
and later, when the affirmation came
there was lodged not a formal protest,
but rather an insinuation that the
movement of the naval ships would nor
be acceptable; that it would be con-
strued into an act of active sympathy
on the part of the government of the
United States with the insurgents.
But the president had satisfied him.
self that the course he had chosen, that
of sending supplies in a naval vessel
was the only one that promised suffi-
cient and prompt relief. There was no
time for polite diplomatic exchange of
notes when. according to Gen. Lees
advice, people were perishing from
hunger by hundreds every day in Cuba.
and the Spanish charge was so in
formed.