The record-union., 1898-04-20
If Compliance to the Demand Meets
With Refusal at Madrid,
A Forward Movement on Cuba Is 70 Com.
Hence the Latter Part Of the Week,
According to Present Plans of
the Administration.

WASHINGTON, April 49, - Spain
will not receive official notice of the
demands of the United States before
Tomorrow. She will then be informed
that the Cuban resolution passed by
Congress at an early hour this morn
ing is now a part of the laws of the
United States, and an ultimatum will
be sent in compliance with this law,
and an answer within a very short
time, probably twenty-four hours, is
expected Compliance is not expected,
and a forward movement on Cuba will
commence the latter part of this week,
according to the plans of the Adminis-
tration.
The Congressional resolution will not
be signed until tomorrow. The ulti-
matum to Spain will be signed at the
same time The President early de-
cided to make the two practically one
Act by a simultaneous signature OF
each.
Two Cabinet meetings will be held
during the day, the first beginning at
IL and lasting nearly two hours, and
O'Clock. At their close announcement
that executive action was delayed un-
til tomorrow was made.
Both Cabinet sessions We're devoted
principally to discussion of the ultf-
matum to be sent to Madrid. At the
morning session the President rather
favored allowing the Madrid Govern
ment two or three days in which to re-
ply to our demands, but since that time
he has changed his views somewhat,
and it is now believed to be his pur-
pose to require an answer within a
very short time, probably within twen-
ty-four hours The reason for limit
ing the time to one day, or even less,
is said to be entirely strategic, other
wise two or even three days would have
been allowed.
The ultimatum itself, it is believed.
is short and to the point. 1t will re-
cite the main features of the resolu-
tions passed by Congress, and demand
compliance Herewith. The ultima
tum probably will not be made public
here until notice is received that it
is in the hands of the Spanish Govern
ment, diplomatic etiquette requiring
this
The Cuban resolution passed by Con-
gress arrived at the White House at
1:15 o'clock a little over an hour hav-
ing been consumed in the formalities
of securing the signatures of Speaker
Reed and President Hobart to the
resolution in open session and its de-
livery at the White House by Repre-
sentative Hager of Iowa, Chairman of
the Committee on Enrolled Bills, and
Representative Overstreet of Indiana.
1t was expected that the resolution
would be signed Immediately after it
had reached the President, and this
was President McKinley's inclination,
but for certain State reasons it was
deemed advisable that the resolution
and the ultimatum to Spain should be
signed simultaneously.
The steady progress of military and
naval preparations indicated the con-
viction on the part of the Administra-
ton that a peaceful solution of exist
ing difficulties is not probable. AS to
the course of events in the immediate
future, the only prediction that can
be made is one based on precedents.
According to these, Minister Woodford
will notify the Spanish Government
of the action of the Government of the
United States and should the Spanish
answer be unsatisfactory as is expect
ed, the next step would be for him to
ask for his passports and leave Madrid.
That would be followed instantly by
the withdrawal from Washington of
Senor Polo, the Spanish Minister At
this point it can be said that the state
Department officials are confident that
the Spanish Government will so shape
eyery phase of the negotiations as to
oblige us to take the initiative at every
point
After the withdrawal of the Ministers,
and assuming that Spain does not back
down. will follow actual war, but
whether or not the first overt act would
be preceded by a formal declaration OF
war which would insure the Immediate
naturalization of the Powers, or wheth-
er the North Atlantic squadron will
make ;ts appearanee off Havana as
,ad on