Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-20
ULTIMATUM TO SPAIN.

NupHu BONeTuI cut III lHlo
ULTIMATUM TO SPAIN.
Spain will not receive official notifi-
cation of the demands Of the [ nited
States before this evening. She will
then be informed that the Cuban reso-
lutions passed by Congress are now a
part Of the laws of the United
States, aad an ultimatum will
be sent demanding compliance
with this law. The government
at Madrid will be notified through
Minister WoodfOrd OF the resolutions
adopted by Congress. These resolu-
tons demand that the government of
Spain relinquish its authority and gov
eminent of Spain in the island of Cuba
and withdraw its land and naval forces.
Nor will withdrawal of SPANS troops
from the island and the subsequent re.
establishment OF Spanish control or the
raising of the Spanish flag over the
country be accepted by the admins
tration.
The President will probably require
an answer within forty-eight hours. II
| it is a refusal, as is expected, diplomatic
relations between the two countries
will cease and the President will pro-
coed to use the army and navy to move
on Cuba.
If Spain refuses to evacuate Cuba
prompt measures will be adopted to
| put into force the congressional resolu-
| ton. A blockade of Cuba will so far as is
at present understood, be begun at once
Then steps will be taken with view
to increase the equipment OF Gomez's
soldiers and enable him to harass the
Spauiards from the rear.
The ultimatum probably will not be
made public until notice is received
that it is in the hands of the Spanish
government, diplomatic etiquette re-
curing this.
At the cabinet meeting yesterday
the question ofsupplementing the regu-
lar army in its operations in Cuba with
volunteers was considered, and it was
decided that the President should call
for 50 900 men of the national guard.
The War Department has introduced
in Congress a bill providing for an in
crease of the army by volunteers.
A cabinet officer states that the
United States will not issue any letters
of marque and reprisal nor counte-
nance privateering, and that if the
Spanish government chooses to enter
upon this line Of warfare it will have
to deal with the nations OF Europe
with whose commerce Spain seeks to
interfere.
| A special cabegram from Paris states
that the sympathies of the continental
press are now almost wholly with
| Spain, while the English newspapers
stoutly defend the course of the United
States.
The Spanish government has issued a
note that negotiations were proceeding
in Cuba with view to obtaining sub
mission of the insurgents on basis OF
further concessions regarding au-
tonomy.
The Spanish government has sent a
communication to the powers stating
that the responsibility for war rests en-.
tirely upon the United States.
The Minister of Spain, Senior Polo
Bernabe, remains at his post in Wash
ington, but it is understood that he has
received instructions from Madrid to
leave without the formality of psss-
port as soon as the Cuban intervention
resolutions become law. The archives
of the Spanish legation must be left in
the care of the French embassy. The
Spanish Minister has expressed the be-
lief that war cannot be averted.
The Paris Figaro's Rome oorrespon.
dent says the Vatican was approached
yesterday by representative of q
European power in regard TO a propo-
sition which might yet end the Hispanc-
American conflict Spain is to offer
Cuba to the Cope, Just as Austria ceded
Venice to Napoleon, III, and the Pope
would be able to declare the independ-
ence of Cuba. In this way the amour
propre Of the Spaniards would be safe
guarded, and q disastrous war, which
81 compromise Spain's possession OF
mlgu. .Sould he avoided. The
other colonies, ~-"@ption to the
Pope gave favorable IT,. II not
proposition, but declared he coulu
take the initiative.
The naval plan of action by this govern
ment, it is understood, involves the blockade
of Cuba, but not the bombardment of Havana.