If these friendly offices are not accepted, it is said that the President will intervene in a more determined way.

In the mean while the House of Representatives has also voted in favor of the Relief Fund for the unhappy Americans in Cuba.

The proper means of distributing the Fund has been considered, and it has been decided that supplies of food and clothing shall be purchased here, and sent to Cuba.  When the supplies reach Cuba their distribution will be left in the hands of Consul-General Lee.

A complication has unfortunately arisen, which may delay the giving out of the relief for a little while.

When it was found that there were some 1,200 American sufferers in Cuba who needed immediate help, our Government approached the Spanish Government to see if any objection would be made to the sending of relief.

Spain, as we have already told you, gave us to understand that there would be no objection whatever, and the State Department was pleased to find that no obstacles would be put in the way of the good work.

When the manner of giving the relief was discussed in the Cabinet, it was decided that as supplies were so scarce in Cuba, and the prices asked for provisions so high, it would be better to purchase the supplies in this country, load a ship with them, and send them over.

A difficulty immediately arose.  Spain has placed certain Custom-House duties on this class of goods.  Our Government sent to the Spanish representative, and asked that these duties be remitted, as the goods were not being sent for sale, but for charity.

The Spanish officers said they were extremely sorry to be unable to oblige us, but declared that they had not the power to remit the duties.

They said that such action could only be taken by the Spanish Cortes (the Congress) or by a special decree of the Crown.

They said that owing to the annoyance felt by Spain over the passing of the Morgan resolution, it would not be safe to ask the Cortes for any such concession.  Such a request would be likely to raise a storm about Cuban affairs that might overthrow the Ministry, and encourage Carlist uprisings.

The Spanish Minister declared that it would be just as dangerous to ask for a Royal Decree.  The enemies of the Government would rise against it, and insist on a change of Ministry.

Whether this statement is true or false, it puts us in the very unpleasant position of having to pay a large part of our Relief Fund to the Spanish Customs, or to keep our poor countrymen waiting for the help they so sorely need until the matter can be arranged.

The Spaniards say that when they offered to help us in distributing the Fund they had no idea but that the supplies would be purchased in Cuba.

While this tariff affair is annoying and distressing us, other difficulties have been cleared out of the way of getting the supplies to Cuba by the generous action of the owners of the Ward line of steamers.