New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21
RELIEF MAY BE CHECKED
COMMITTEE IN DOUBT.
No Word Yet ReceiUed Here from
Jamaica on Offers of Aid.

The gathering of supplies for the Kingston
! earthquake sufferers by the New York-Ringston
relief committee WILL 1t is expected. be discon-
! tinued to-day for the time being at least and in
view OF the refusal on the part OF Governor
! Swettenham OF jamaica TO accept aid from
American war vessels. IL is possible that the
supplies now on the way 20 Kingston on the
steamers Allegheny and Prinz Joachim may never
reach that port Both steamers are to call OF
Port Antonio. and there will receive further IN
structions special meeting of the relief COM
rnittse will be held to-day, when the situation
will be thoroughly gone over and definite action
taken.
Members Of the relief committee last night ex-
pressed the feeling tina. nothing more could be
done without official authorization from the
Governor of Jamaica.
Several DAYS ago the relief committee sent
message to Governor Swettenham, asking hiui
the nature of acceptable relief and where sup
plies could be landed safely and 70 advantage
To these Inquiries. subsequently repeated no
reply was received Tia committee hoWe'et'
did hear from the Colonial Office in LONDON
through which one Of the three cable messages
was sent to Governor Swettenham. and the tone
of the message was such as TO lead the com
ynittea IN believe that its efforts were justified
That the Governor had not personally replied
was believed to be due to the confusion OF affars
in Kingston Acting on this supposition there
was dispatched on the Hamburg American Line
steamer Allegheny Saturday 1000 barrels Oh
clothing canned goods and medical supplies m
Guiding a Red Cross contribution representing
between 5000 and $4,000 Yesterday the COM
mittee sent on the Prinz Joachim OF the same
line also sailing for Kingston. additional sup
plies
The Allegheny should be of Port Antonio late
aNHi I'M
on Friday. In the mean time. should faVoranie
word be received from Governor Swettenham'
the captains of both steamers will be ordered TO
unload their relief cargoes upon reachlhs
Kingston and additional supplies will be hur-
red aboard other southbound vessels.
Julius P. Meyer. acting general manager IN
this city for the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Line and
chairman Of the New York and Kingston RELIEF
Committee, which was organized Immediately
following the earthquake disaster. and who has
worked indefatigably 10 make the relief expedi-
tions a success. said last night that the steamers
were ordered to await instructions off Port An
tonic, because It was not known definitely
whether IT was safe TO land the cargoes at tho
company's pier in Kingston
The committee believes it went about It's work
in the interests of humanity with circumspec-
ton. 1t first sent cable message to Governor
Swettenham, sending duplicate messages. one
was sent direct to the Governor, second In
care of the British Consulate at Havana, and a
third through the Colonial once at London.
None of these elected an answer from Governor
Swettenham. The receipt OF the cable message
by the Colonial Office was acknowledged by
Lord Elgin. Colonial Secretary who told the
committee that its message 10 the Governor Of
Jamaica would be promptly forwarded.
In his message the Secretary expressed cordial
appreciation Of and thanks for the prOffered
aid. Up 10 this time the committee had hest
tated 10 perfect its plans. hearing in mind that
the United States had officially declined foreign
assistance for San Francisco at the time OF the
earthquake disaster there, ana holding q pos
sibe that the British government might take
similar view regarding outside aid for its col
ony The receipt Of the Colonial SecretRry's
message, however, appeared 70 dispose OF this
possible objection. and the committee believing
the Governors failure TO respond due To mad
vertence or unavoidable delay, concluded ar
rangements for two shipments All cash con-
trihutions, amounting 10 several thousand dol
lars. had been held 10 be turned over eventually
to the Governor or expended as he should direct.