revail
in the conduct of hostilities. Coincidentally with these declarations
the new government of Spain continued and completed the policy, already
begun by its predecessor, of testifying friendly regard for this nation
by releasing American citizens held under one charge or another
connected with the insurrection, so that by the end of November not a
single person entitled in any way to our national protection remained in
a Spanish prison.

While these negotiations were in progress the increasing destitution of
the unfortunate reconcentrados and the alarming mortality among them
claimed earnest attention. The success which had attended the limited
measure of relief extended to the suffering American citizens among them
by the judicious expenditure through the consular agencies of the money
appropriated expressly for their succor by the joint resolution approved
May 24, 1897,[5] prompted the humane extension of a similar scheme of
aid to the great body of sufferers. A suggestion to this end was
acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities.

On the 24th of December last I 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, following this on the 8th of
January by a similar public announcement of the formation of a central
Cuban relief committee, with headquarters in New York City, composed of
three members representing the American National Red Cross and the
religious and business elements of the community.

The efforts of that committee have been untiring and have 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 contributory organizations have generously
visited Cuba and cooperated with the consul-general and the local
authorities to make effective distribution of the relief collected
through the efforts of the central committee. Nearly $200,000 in money
and supplies has already reached the sufferers, and more is forthcoming.
The supplies are admitted duty free, and transportation to the interior
has been arranged, so that the relief, at first necessarily confined to
Havana and the larger cities, is now extended through most, if not all,
of the towns where suffering exists.

Thousands of lives have already been saved. The necessity for a change
in the condition of the reconcentrados is recognized by the Sp