I give the Department reasons why this permission will not give the relief claimed by the authorities.
While Article I grants permission to this starving class to return to the country, Article [11 abrogates this very article in exacting that to avail themselves of the privilege the places to which they go must be garrisoned, This condition alone will preclude over one-half of these poor unfortunates, for their homes are in ruin, and the sugar estates able to maintain a guard can care for but a small percentage of the whole.
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The guerrillas have already started their merciless warfare, having within the past week killed two "presentados" who had in good faith surrendered and gone to work on the American-owned estate "Victoria," repeating the act upon three insurgents who had surrendered to the local guerrillas of Sagua.
I will not question the good intention of those now in power; yet it is a self-evident fact that the authorities are utterly helpless to extend any relief to those who have thus far survived the pangs of hunger. Without instant pecuniary assistance * * * all efforts to relieve the starving populace must fall stillborn. So far as relates to this section of the island, the claim made by the Captain-General through a published letter to the Spanish minister in Washington that "extensive zones of cultivation have been organized, daily rations are provided by the State, work is furnished," etc., is not borne out by my observation.
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As to grinding the present crop, I have interviewed most of the largest planters in this consular district, who stated that unless assured of immunity from the insurgent chief—Gomez—they would not jeopardize their property by attempting to grind.
It is an unquestioned fact that the military are powerless to give this necessary protection.
I am, etc.,
Consul.
Mr. Barker to Mr. Day.
No. 266.]
Saqua la Grande, November 25, 1897.
Sir: With reference to the distress and deaths in this island, I beg to submit the following relative to this—Santa Clara—province.
As has been my custom for the past five months, I have just made the monthly trip of investigation in this consular district, embracing a large part of the territory of the province. Appended is the official mortality list of each of the judicial districts comprising the province known as "Cinco Villas" (five towns) from January 1 to November 15, 1597, inclusive, viz:
| Santa Clara | 27,900 | Sancti Espiritus | 5,482 |
| Sagua | 16,583 | Trinidad | 4,946 |
| Cienfuegos | 14,263 | ||
| Remedios | 11,415 | Total | 80,589 |
Add to this 25 per cent for the number of which no record has been kept. * * * I deem a conservative estimate would make the grand total 100,736 deaths.
In truth, after talking with both military and judicial officers, I regard this rather under than above the actual deaths for the period stated.
