The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-20

Washington. April 2o.--spaln has been
Informed that the Cuban resolution
passed by congress- Ii now part of the
laws Of the United States. with the
Information was an uitimatum demand
Ing compliance with this law and an
answer within 4 short time. probably
"a hours. Compliance 10 not expected.
and forward movement on Cuba will
commence the latter part of this week.
according to the plansof the administra-
tion.
Two cabinet meetings were held yes
terday, the first beginning at IL o'clock
and lasting two hours and the second
lasting from until $50. At their close
announcement that executive action was
delayed until today was made. Both
sessions were devoted principally 70 dis
cushion Of the ultimatum to Madrid. At
the morning session the president rather
favored allowing the Madrid govern
msnt two or three days In which to re-
ply to our demands. but since that time
he has changed his Views somewhat.
and II 10 now believed to be his purpose
20 require an answer within short time
The reason for limiting the time to one
day or even less II said to be entirely
strategic; otherwise two or even three
days would have been allowed. The
ultimatum recitss the main features Of
the resolution passed by congress. which
arrived at the white house at 1:l5 o'clock,
little over an hour having been con-
sumed In the formaiities OF securing the
signatures Of Speaker Reed and Vice
President Hobart In open session and
Its. delivery by Representative Hager Of
Iowa. chairman OF the committee on
enrolled bills. and Representative Over
street or Indiana. II was expected that
the resolution would be signed immedi-
ateiy II reached the president, and this
was Mr.. McKinley's inclination. but for
certain reasons 1t was deemed advisable
That the resolution and the ultimatum
TO Spain should be signed Simultaneous
ly. and time was needed to draft the
ultimatum In diplomatic form. The
fact that the resolution was not immedi-
ately signed gave rise to disquieting
reports, but II soon appeared from state
ments OF cabinet officers that the presi-
dent had not the slightest intention Of
Withholding his signature. and that the
delay In attaching II was accounted for
-
complete plan Of operations for the gov
ernment OF the executive In the i'm
mediate future before taking the final
ana important step of turning the joint
resolution into statute.
A member Of the cabinet, In speaking
about the ultimatum. said: I'm accord
ance with the terms Of the resolution.
the president will demand that Spain
ho -
Tor this viii be nat-footed and absolute.
and no tentative or half way reply will
satisfy the president, nor win any COM
promise that contemplates the with
drawal Of spain's troops from the island
and the subsequent re bIishment Of
Spanish control or the raising of the
Spanish nag over the country be ac-
cepted by the administration. Possibly
II may be that q suggestion that the
matter has been referred 10 the cortes
may be instrumental In postponius fer
brief time the putting ints effect OF the
consresstssai resolution. but the pres
ident 10 disposed not to brook any fur
ther delay. 1t is only fair that In a great
crisis like this reasonable time shall be
given. II Spain refuses to eyacuate
Cuba prompt measures will be adopted
To put into force the congressional reso-
luton.
"A blockade Of Cuba, 80 far a. Il n at
present understood. will be begun at
once. There 10 an adequate number of
war vessels In the Vicinity to make this
effective. I think such supplies as the
Spaniards now control will not last them
more than month. Then steps taken
with q view to increasing the equipment
OF Corners soldiers and furnishing them
with sufficient hardtack for food will
enable him to harrass the Spaniards
from the rear. which will materially as
sist in bringing them to terms. MY idea
is that 1t Will probably take two months
TO bring about the results which will
compel the Spaniards to evacuate and
enable the island 10 be occupied by the
United States with molestation.
NO; the United States government
will not issue any letters Of ma roue and
reprisal, nor countenance privateerinR.
but-if the Spanish government chooses
to enter upon this line OF warfare she
Will have to deal with the nations of
Europe with whose commerce she seeks
to interfere"
AZ to the course OF events In the i'm
mediate 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 United States. and
should the Spanish answer be unsatis-
factory as is expected. the next step will
be for him to ask for his passports ana
leave Madrid. That would be followed
instantly by the withdrawal from Wash
ington Of the Spanish minister. The
state department eficiais are confident
that the Spanish sovernmsnt will 30
shape every phase Of the pesotiations a.
to obiige us "a take the Initiative at
every point. After the withdrawal OF
the ministers and assuming that Spain