Show AMERICANS WILL BE RELIEVED Cnbinet Discuss the Ways For Relief HAVE SUFFERED LONG ENOUGH EXACT FACTS I TH CASE HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR Statements That People Are Dying in the Streets of Cuba Not Cred itqd at the Spanish Legation But That Americans in Havana Are Suffering Greatly Cannot Be Denied De-nied ITcKInley May Send in a message Washington May 14rhc meeting of the cabinet today was devoted almost entirely to the consideration of the Cuban question The meeting occurred an hour earlier than usual owing to the importance import-ance of the question to be discussed and the fact that the president and cabinet were to leave for Philadelphia at 1243 I The cabinet discussion was upon the I advisability of asking congress to provide i vide Immediate relief to the Americans who are according to the reports received from ConsulGeneral Lee penned up in the cities of Cuba and In actual danger of starvation I had no bearing upon tho policy of the administration toward Spain or the Cuban Insurgents except incidentally but dealt with the direct and Immediate Question of relieving destitute Americans on the island Secretary Sherman laid before the cabinet some of the most important documents docu-ments In the state department about the situation and before tie meeting was over Judge Day the assistant secretary of state personally took to the White House some additional papers for which the secretary had sent Every phase of the matter was discussed dis-cussed the advisability of asking con cusse gross for an appropriation Spains attitude at-titude the methods for distributing re liet if It should be decided to enter upon it the necessity or advisability of having hav-ing a warship accompany food supplies But the final decision of the question was postponed until ConsulGeneral Lee and other American consuls in Cuba and probably Mr Calhoun make their reports re-ports by cable to the department They have e requested to cable the latest facts as to the existing situatIon These reports will be here probably when the president and cabinet meet tomorrow I night and If It Is decided to send a special message to congress early next week these reports with other facts In the possession of the state department will be made the basis of the request to congress I seems extremely probable now that such a message will be sent to congress but hardly before Tuesday as there would be no time to prepare a message mes-sage before that day unless Mr McKinley McKin-ley devoted Sunday to the task I The Spanish minister Dupuy de tome I called at the state department shortly before I be-fore noon today and conferred for sometime I some-time with Assistant Secretary Day relative rela-tive to the reported Intention of this government I gov-ernment to send relief to American sufferers I suf-ferers In Cuba The minister cave assurances as-surances that the Spanish government I woud be In sympathy with any benevolent benevo-lent movement and would lend every assistance as-sistance to i I was recalled by the minister that four months ago he had I written the officers of the Red Cross society so-ciety giving In behalf of his government full authority for extending aid to the sufferers in Cuba Since then however no steps toward relief have been taken The Spanish minister does not question the existence of misery and suffering in the island but declares that i is such oniy as accompanies insurrection and war heightened In this case by the diseases peculiar to low tropical countries I I is stated that these conditions have existed for months and have been well known As to the severity of the suffer I ing it Is said that it consists mainly in I the lack of adequate food medicine and nursing for the sick an The statements that people are dying In the streets are not admitted at the legato lega-to but are discredited and it Is said tliit there are a number of welltodo Amercans In Cuba who would relieve any distress on the part of their fellcw I countrymen TJe manner of sending relief to Cuba I if it shall be decided upon by the press dent and congress has been discussed I among officials and in some quarter It is felt that the dispatch of vessels would be inadvisable I is believed that he surest sur-est way would be to send relief ny the ordinary freight routes which hare facilities facil-ities for reaching the various ports and interior points in Cuba The centers of suffering are so widely separated that a relief vesrel to any one I I point would encounter many delays and i difficulties in giving speedy relief to the people needing it I I The conference between Assistant Secretary I Secre-tary Day and Senor Dunuy de Lome lasted for over an hour and was confined con-fined entirely to a discussion of the extension ex-tension of relief measures No objection was made in behalf of the Saanisn government j i gov-ernment to the supply of food medicine erment I I and clothing to the distressed Americans j in Cuba but It was clearly understood j 1 that the relief is to be extended only to American citizens through agencies not yet decided upon The Spanish authorities t authorI-ties have not recorded any objection on i their part to a general distribution provided I I pro-vided it is not carried to the extent of i carred i provisioning the insurgent forces in their 1 resistance to Snalr IOn IOn i I-On this point I can be stated positively j I that It Is the present idea of the admlnls j tration that it will have followed all of I its fuctions when i cares for its own i citizens Attention was called by the I Atenton cale I Spanish minister to the fact that the Red Cross had been given full permission to operate In Cuba and that in the distribution I distribu-tion of Its charitable offices the society makes no distinction in nationalities be It distressed Spaniard Cuban or American I |