Page:Messages of the President of the United States on the Relations of the United States to Spain (1898).djvu/43

 14 Against it, first, are the insurgents, with or without arms, and the Cuban noncombatants; second, the great mass of the Spaniards, bearing or nonbearing arms—the latter desiring, if there must be a change, annexation to the United States.

Indeed, there is the greatest apathy concerning autonomy in any form. No one asks what it will be, or when, or how it will come.

I do not see how it could be even put into operation by force, because, as long as the insurgents decline to accept it, so long, the Spanish authorities say, the war must continue,

I am obliged to say, too, that the Government of this island has not been able to relieve from starvation the Cuban population driven from their homes by the Weyler edict, and no longer attempts to do so.

I am, etc.,

Consul-General.

Havana, December 14, 1897.

I have the honor to report that I have received information that in the province of Havana reports show that there have been 101,000 "reconcentrados," and that out of that 52,000 have died. Of the said 101,000, 32,000 were children. This excludes the city of Havana and seven other towns from which reports have not yet been made up. It is thought that the total number of reconcentrados in Havana province will amount to 150,000, nearly all women and children, and that the death rate among their whole number from starvation alone will be over 50 per cent.

For the above number of reconcentrados $12,500, Spanish silver, was set aside out of the $100,000 appropriated for the purpose of relieving all the reconcentrados on the island. Seventy-five thousand of the 150,000 may be still living, so if every dollar appropriated of the $12,500 reaches them the distribution will average about 17 cents to a person, which, of course, will be rapidly exhausted, and as I can hear of no further succor being afforded, it is easy to perceive what little practical relief has taken place in the condition of those poor people.

I am, etc.,

2em

Havana, December 28, 1897.

I have the honor to report that I have been informed by the authorities here that they are now engaged in forming an autonomistic cabinet and arranging for the members to take the required oath on the 1st January next, and also for an election to take place thirty days thereafter.