Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-25
Presidents Message to Congress Ad-
vising That War Be Formally
Declared--Reasons Given.
ACT PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES
Amendment Recognizing Belligerent Rights
Defeated in Senate Army Reorgan-
ization Bill Secretary Sherman
Has Resigned.
Washington, April 25.-The presi-
dent has signed the declaration Of war
passed by congress today.

dent has signed the declaration Of wal
passed by congress today.
Washington, April 25.-The presiden
has sent to congress the following mes
sage:
herewith transmit to congress fol
consideration and appropriate action
copies of the correspondence recently
had with the representatives of Spain
in the United States, with the United
States minister at Madrid, and through
a letter, with the government of Spain
showing the action taken under a joint
resolution approved April 20, 1898, ''for
the recognition of the independence OF
the people of Cuba, demanding that the
government of Spain relinquish its au-
thority and government in the island OF
Cuba and to withdraw it's land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and
directing the president of the United
States to use the land and naval forces
of the United States to carry these
resolutions into effect.
Upon communicating to the Span
ish minister in Washington the demand
which it became the duty of the execu-
tive to address to the government of
Spain in obedience to the said resolution,
the said minister asked for his passports
and withdrew. The United States min
lister in Madrid was in turn notified by
the Spanish minister of foreign affairs,
that the withdrawal of the Spanish rep
resentatives from the United States
terminated all diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries and all official
communications between their respec-
tive representatives ceased Herewith.
I recommend to your especial atten-
tion note directed to the United States
minister at Madrid by the Spanish min
lister of foreign affairs, on the 21st inst,
whereby the foregoing notification was
conveyed. 1t will be perceived that the
Spanish government, having cognizance
of the joint resolution passed by the
congress of the United States, and in
view Of the things which the president
is thereby required and authorized to
do, responds by treating the representa-
tive demands of this government as
measures of hostility, following with
that, the instant and complete sever
ance of all relations by its action, where
by the usage of nations accompanies an
existent state of war between the sever
ing powers.
The position of Spain being thus
known, and the demands of the United
States being defed with complete rup-
ture in intercourse with Spain, have
been constrained, in exercise of the
power and authority conferred upon me
by the joint resolution, to proclaim, un-
der date OF April 22, 1898, a blockade of
certain ports on the north coast Of Cuba
lying between Cardenas and Bahia Hon
da, and the port of Cienfuegos on the
south coast of Cuba; and further, in the
exercise of my constitutional powers,
and in using the authority conferred
upon me by the act of congress, APP
proved April 20, 1898, to issue my proc
lamation dated April 90, 1898, calling
for volunteers in order to carry into
effect the said resolution of April 20,
1898.
Copies of these resolutions are hereto
In view of the measures so taken, and
with the view to the adoption of such
other measures as may be necessary to
enable me to carry out the expressed
will of the congress in the United States
in the premises, now recommend to
your honorable body the adoption of
joint resolution declaring that a state OF
war exists between the United States in
America and the kingdom of Spain, and
l urge speedy action thereon to the end
that definition of the international
status of the United States as belliger-
ent power, may be made known and to
assert in all its rights and the mainten-
ance OF all its duties in the conduct of a
public war may be assured.
(Signe0 WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Message Referred to Committees.
In the house the message was refer
red to the foreign affairs committee; in
the senate to the committee on foreign
relations.
House Proceedings.
At 1:19 this afternoon Acting Chair
man Adams asked unanimous consent of
the house to consider the war bill. 1t
took the house / minute and Al seconds
to pass declaration of war.
WW1 O0ClHEUtAOus
The following is the bill passed by the
house:
A bill declaring that war exists be-
tween the United States Of America and
the kingdom Of Spain.
Be it enacted, ETC.; First, That war be
and the same is hereby declared to ex-
ist, and that war has existed since April
21, A. D. 1898, including the said day,
between the United States of America
and the kingdom Of Spain.
Second, That the president of the
United States be and he is hereby di-
rected and empowered to use the entire
land and naval forces of the United
States and to call into actual service the
United States militia Of the several
states to such an extent as may be nec-
essary to carry this act into effect.
Recognition Of Belligerent Rights Wanted.
Senators Morgan and Turpie agreed
to report the house war declaration to
the foreign relations committee, but re-
served the right to amend 1t in the sem
ate. They want recognition Of bellig-
erent rights Of the Cubans.
Declaration Of War Passed by Senate.
The senate committee on foreign re-
lations agreed to report the war bill as
passed by the house. At $3.50 p. M, the
house bill declaring war was delivered
to the senate. Mr.. Davis moved to
close the doors. Agreed to.
In the executive session Mr.. Turpie
made speech in favor Of the recogni-
tion Of belligerency. Mr.. Morgan made
a speech charging congress for not SOON
or taking action on declaration of
war.
The senate agreed to the house war
bill without amendment.
In the secret session the Cuban bell