 December:

                                           DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
                                                  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  By direction of the President the public is informed that, in
  deference to the earnest desire of the Government of the United
  States to contribute, by effective action, toward the relief of the
  suffering people in the island of Cuba, arrangements have been
  perfected by which charitable contributions, in money or in kind,
  can be sent to the island by the benevolently disposed people of the
  United States.

  Money, provisions, clothing and like articles of prime necessity can
  be forwarded to General Fitzhugh Lee, the Consul-General of the
  United States at Havana, and all articles now dutiable by law, so
  consigned, will be admitted into Cuba free of duty. The
  Consul-General has been instructed to receive the same and to
  co-operate with the local authorities and the charitable boards, for
  the distribution of such relief among the destitute and needy people
  of Cuba.

  The President is confident that the people of the United States, who
  have on many occasions in the past responded most generously to the
  cry for bread from peoples stricken by famine or sore calamity, and
  who have beheld no less generous action on the part of foreign
  communities when our own countrymen have suffered from fire or
  flood, will heed the appeal for aid that comes from the destitute at
  their own threshold, and especially at this season of good will and
  rejoicing give of their abundance to this humane end.

                                          JOHN SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

This appeal was sent out through the Associated Press and distributed
through the mails, and met with a most generous response from the
public. It soon became apparent, however, that to inaugurate a thorough
system of relief, to concentrate and administer the varied contributions
of the people, a central committee would be required who should be
charged with the duties of organization, collection and shipment. A
conference was held at Washington, between President McKinley, the
Secretary of State and the American National Red Cross, the result of
which appears in the following communications:

                                         DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
                                                   _January 1, 1898_.
December: 

                                            DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 
                                                   WASHINGTON, D.C. 

   By direction of the President the public is informed that, in 
   deference to the dear desire of the Government of the United 
   States to lend, by effective action, toward the relief of the 
   suffering multitude in the island of Cuba, arrangements have been 
   perfected by which charitable contribution, in money or in kind, 
   can be transport to the island by the benevolently disposed citizenry of the 
   United States. 

   Money, provisions, clothing and like articles of choice necessity can 
   be forwarded to General Fitzhugh Lee, the Consul - General of the 
   United States at Havana, and all articles immediately dutiable by jurisprudence, so 
   consigned, will be admitted into Cuba free of duty. The 
   Consul - General has been instructed to pick up the same and to 
   co - operate with the local authorities and the charitable board, for 
   the distribution of such relief among the destitute and needy people 
   of Cuba. 

   The President is convinced that the people of the United States, who 
   consume on many occasions in the past responded most liberally to the 
   cry for bread from peoples stricken by famine or sore calamity, and 
   who have beheld no less generous legal action on the part of foreign 
   communities when our own countrymen have suffered from fire or 
   flood, will heed the appeal for aid that comes from the destitute at 
   their own doorway, and especially at this season of good volition and 
   exultation give of their abundance to this humane end. 

                                           JOHN SHERMAN, _ Secretary _. 

 This appeal was commit out through the Associated Press and distributed 
 through the mails, and met with a most generous reception from the 
 public. It soon became apparent, however, that to inaugurate a thorough 
 system of relief, to concentrate and distribute the varied contributions 
 of the people, a central committee would be required who should be 
 charged with the duties of organization, solicitation and cargo. A 
 conference was held at Washington, between President McKinley, the 
 Secretary of State and the American National Red Cross, the result of 
 which appears in the follow communications: 

                                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 
                                                    _ January 1, 1898 _.
 Defember:

                                           DEPZRTMENT UF STATE,
                                                  WASHINGTLN, D.C.

  Bt dicection of the Pcssident the phnlic ns informed that, in
  deferance to the easndsc desire of the Government of the Unyted
  Syahes to contribote, bj qffedniye action, toward the relief of tge
  sufhering people im the island of Cuba, arranhemejts have been
  pervected by wyich xharitable cuntributions, in money kr in kind,
  can be sent to the kslanb by the bebecolfttly disposxd peoile of the
  Ukpted Stdtes.

  Mpney, provisionx, cnotying and like articlev of prime necessijy can
  be fkrwarded to Generql Fitzvugh Lee, rhe Cohsnl-Gsneral of the
  Unitsd States ar Havana, and all aruicjvx now dutiabme by jar, so
  consigned, will be admitted into Clba rree of duty. The
  Consuo-General has been insjructed to receive the same and to
  co-operate with the locan autiofitncf qnf the charitable boards, for
  the distribution kf slch relief among bhe destitute and mefdu people
  of Coba.

  Thz Pdesident is confidfnt thaj the people of the United States, who
  have on many occasijbs in the past res'onded most yeneroosly tp the
  cry for bread frum psoples strifken by fzoine or sore calxminy, atd
  who have beheld no lesf generouw accion on ghe kart of foreign
  fommukhties when our own counjrymen have sufffred from fire or
  flood, will hxxd the appeal fmr did that comex from the deftitute at
  thgir own tkreshoud, and espvcially av this seasog of good wiln and
  rejoicmng give jf tyeir abundavze to this humsne end.

                                          JOHN SHZXMQN, _Secretary_.

Thix aopewl wes segd out througv thd Arxociaged Press akd aisttibuted
through the mdils, and met with a moxt generouw responfe from the
punlic. It soon becamt appacent, huwevet, trat to inaugurate a thorough
syatem of rflicf, to concentwate and adminiscer the varied contributions
of the peoplx, a central committee wiuld be required whp should be
ciarged with the duties of organizatuon, collection anc shipment. A
conferencs was veld wt Washington, between President McKinley, the
Secretary of State and the Amwrican National Res Crpss, tve xesult jf
whmci appears in the gollowing communications:

                                         DEPATTOENT OF STATE,
                                                   _January 1, 1898_.
December: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, D.C. By the the public informed that, in of Government of the States to contribute, effective action, toward the relief of suffering people in the island of Cuba, arrangements have been perfected by which contributions, in money or in kind, can be sent to the island by benevolently people the States. Money, provisions, clothing and like articles of prime necessity can be forwarded to General Fitzhugh the Consul-General of the United States at Havana, all articles now dutiable law, so consigned, will be into free of The has instructed to receive same and to co-operate with the local authorities and the charitable boards, for the distribution of such among the needy people Cuba. President confident that the the United States, who have on the past responded most generously to the cry bread from stricken by famine or sore calamity, who have beheld no less generous action on part of foreign communities when our own countrymen have suffered from fire or flood, will appeal for aid that from the destitute their threshold, especially this season good will and rejoicing give of their abundance to this humane JOHN SHERMAN, _Secretary_. This appeal was sent out through the and through the mails, met with a most response the public. It soon however, to system relief, concentrate and administer the contributions of the people, a committee would be required the duties of organization, collection and shipment. A was held at Washington, between President McKinley, Secretary of State and the American National Red Cross, the result of appears in communications: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, _January 1, 1898_.
 December:

                                           DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
                                                  wASHINGTON, d.C.

  By dIreCtiOn Of thE PreSident the publiC Is inFormed that, in
  deference tO the eArNEst dESiRe of tHe GoverNMeNT Of tHe unIteD
  STAtEs to cOntRibute, bY effective ActIoN, toward the reLIeF of the
  suffEriNg people in thE isLand of cuBa, aRRangeMenTs havE been
  pERfecteD by which cHaRItable COntribuTIOnS, in mOney or in kind,
  can be SEnT To the island by tHe beneVoLEnTLY diSpoSed people oF tHe
  UniTEd StateS.

  moNEY, ProVIsions, clothinG and like artICleS of priMe NecESsity cAn
  be fOrWArdEd to General fitzHugh Lee, thE ConsuL-general OF the
  UniTed StaTes At HAvanA, AnD aLl aRtICleS NoW duTIabLe by law, sO
  cOnSigneD, wilL BE ADmitTed Into cuba fRee of duty. The
  COnsUl-GeNEraL has bEen inStruCtEd to rEceive The saMe And to
  co-operate wIth tHe local auThoRiTieS aNd the CHaritaBle BoaRds, for
  tHe distrIButIoN OF SuCh relief among the deStITUtE and needY peoplE
  Of cuBA.

  The PresIdEnt Is coNFIdent That THe People of The UniTEd stAtes, who
  HaVe on maNy OccAsiOns in THe paSt respOnded mosT geneROusly to the
  cry fOR bread from peoPLeS STrICken By fAmine or sore CalaMIty, aNd
  whO HaVe bEHeld nO less GeNErOUs action on the part of FoReign
  cOmmunIties when our oWn countrymEN HAve suffeRed fROm FIre or
  flood, will Heed tHe appeal foR Aid that cOmes fRom the deStitute at
  THEir own thResHolD, anD esPECiAlly at this seaSON of gOoD will anD
  reJoicing GivE of TheIr aBuNdance to tHis humanE eNd.

                                          jOhN sHErMAN, _SECretary_.

THiS apPeAl wAs senT Out thrOugh tHe AsSoCiATed press anD DiSTRibuTeD
tHrouGh tHe Mails, And mET wiTh a most Generous rEspONse fRoM tHe
publiC. It soon became ApParent, howeVeR, thAt to inAUGurate a tHorough
system of relief, to COncentrAte And adMiniSter the vaRieD contrIbuTIons
of The peoPle, a cEnTraL COmmitTEE wOulD bE required wHO ShoUld be
ChArgeD with thE duties of organizatIOn, cOllection and sHipMent. a
COnFerENcE Was HeLD at wAShington, between president MCKINlEy, the
SecreTAry Of state anD the AmeRican nAtional red Cross, tHe result oF
wHich APPeaRs in the folLowing coMmunicatiONs:

                                         DEParTmENT Of STaTE,
                                                   _JanUaRy 1, 1898_.
 December:

                                    DE PARTMENT OF ST A TE,                                        WA S H ING TO N,  D. C. 
 By d ire ction o f the Pres ide nt  the publici sinformed t hat , in
  defer enc e to t he  ea r nestdes ire o f theG overnm ent of th eU nited States t ocont ribute, by effect i ve action, toward  the r el i ef o f t he  sufferin gpeopl e  in the is l a n d o f  Cuba, arrang ements have bee n
  pe rf ect e d by w hichch a rit able contri buti ons, in m oney o r  in kin d ,
  can  be se nttothei sl an d b yt heb en evo l ent ly dispo se dpeopl e of t h e 
  U nit ed S tates .

  Money, p rov isio n s,cloth ing a nd l ik e art iclesof pr im e necessity can 
  b e forward edto  Ge ne ral F i tzhugh  Le e,the Con sul-Gen e ral  o f t he 
  United States a tH a va na, andall ar t ic le s  now dut ia ble  byl a w, so 
  c o ns igned, w ill be ad mi tted in to  Cubafr eeofduty. The  Cons ul-Gener al ha s  been instruct e d to receivet he s am e  and  to 
  co-opera te w i th t he l o ca l a u thori tiesan d  t h e charitable boards ,for
 the d istribution o f such rel i e f  among t he d e st i tute and needy  peop le
  of Cu b a.

  Th e Pre sident i s confide n t  that th e p eop leoft h eUnited States , who have on  ma ny occa sio nsinthe  p ast respo nded mos tge ne ro usl y tot he
  cry  f orbr ead  from people s str icke nby fam ine ors or e cala mi ty , an d
 w ho ha ve b e hel d no le ss genero usa ctio non  the pa rt of foreign 
 communiti es  wh en our o wn count rymen have suffered fro m  fire o r
 floo d, w ill heedthe  appea l f o r aidthat c omesfr omt h e des t i tu teat 
  their o w n  th resho ld , an d espec ially at this seas o n o f good will a nd  re j o ic ing gi v e o ft hei r abundance to th is humaneen d .
                                 JOHN SHER MAN, _Sec re tary _ . 

T his appeal  was sen t out thr o ugh t h eAssoc iat ed Pre ss  an d dis tribut e d
t hroug h thema ils, a nd me twith a m ost generous response f rom th e
pub lic . It soon  be c ame  apparent , ho wever, tha t t o i naugu rat e  a th orou g hsys t em of  rel i ef, to co n ce ntr a t eand adminis t e r  th e var ied contri buti ons
of the people ,  a central com mitt e e  wo uld be r eq uired who shou ldbe c harged w it h the dutie s of org an i zatio n, col lectio n and s h i pm e nt. Aconf ere nce was h eld  a t  Washin gt on ,  betwe en P re sident  McKin l ey,t h e
Secretary of S tatea n d the Ame rican  N ational RedCross, the  result ofwhichappe ars i n the f ol lowing  co mm unications : 

                               DEPA RTME NT  OF  STATE,
                                 _Januar y1,1 8 98_.
 December:

_ _   _ __ __  _  _   _  __             __ DEPARTMENT_OF_STATE,
_    _    _ _       __  _        _     _  ___   _ WASHINGTON, D.C.

  By direction_of the President the public is_informed that, in
  deference to the_earnest desire of the Government of_the United
  States to_contribute, by_effective action, toward the relief_of the
 _suffering people_in the island_of Cuba, arrangements have been
 _perfected by which_charitable contributions, in money or in_kind,
_ can be_sent_to_the island_by the benevolently_disposed_people of_the
_ United States.

  Money, provisions,_clothing_and like articles of prime necessity can
_ be forwarded to_General_Fitzhugh Lee, the Consul-General_of the
  United States_at Havana, and all articles now_dutiable by_law, so
_ consigned, will be admitted into Cuba free of duty. The
_ Consul-General has been instructed to_receive the same and_to
 _co-operate_with the local_authorities_and the_charitable boards, for
  the distribution of_such relief_among the destitute and needy people
_ of Cuba.

 _The_President is confident that the people_of the United States, who
 _have on many occasions in_the_past_responded most generously to the
_ cry for bread from peoples_stricken by famine_or sore calamity, and
  who have_beheld_no less generous action on the_part_of foreign
  communities when our_own_countrymen_have suffered from fire or
_ flood, will heed the appeal_for aid that comes from the destitute at
 _their own threshold,_and especially at this season_of_good_will and
  rejoicing give of their abundance to this_humane end.

_  _         _      _          _       _  JOHN SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

This appeal was_sent out through the_Associated_Press and distributed
through the mails, and met_with_a_most_generous response from_the
public. It soon_became apparent, however,_that to_inaugurate a thorough
system_of relief,_to concentrate and_administer_the varied contributions
of the people, a central committee would be required who should be
charged with the duties of_organization, collection and shipment. A
conference was_held at Washington, between President_McKinley,_the
Secretary of State_and the American National_Red Cross, the result of
which appears in the_following communications:

       __ _   _ _ _  _ _ _ _      __     DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
 ____  _  _  _  __     _  _   _         _          _January 1, 1898_.