The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-21

Washington. April 21..-Yestarday was
day of events in the history Of the
Cuban question. The signing by. the
president of the joint resolution re-
quiring Intervention in Cuba, the noti-
fication Of that action to the Spanish
minister here. his demand for pass
ports, the departments prompt reply to
that demand, the departure of the min
lister and the transmission of our ulti-
matum that Spain must evacuate Cuba
and must make answer by Saturday,
through Minister Woodford. followed
In rapid succession. The nsxt step is
Spaln's answer. if she il to make any,
and the movement of the United States
army and navy on Cuba
Early In the morning the execution Of
the pTogram for the day began with a
conference between Assistant Secretary
Day, ex-Secretary Foster and Second
Assistant Secretary Adge. in which the
wishes of the president and cabinet a.
to the ultimatum were reduced to dip.
lomatlc form. The other events sue
ceeded each other with rapdity. The
minister by Judge Days personal mes
senger. Edward Savoy. who was ap.
pointed to his place in 1869 by Ham
ilton Fish. The messenger returned in
the course Of an hour with the min
ister's application for his passports
1t was not until $3.50 In the afternoon
that Savoy made his second trip, car"
ryhg with him tho desired paper This
YVES passport for tie minister and
his family and suite. 1t was not In the
usual form, but was what is known as
a special passport. In general terms it
is similar to that presented to Lord
sackvile-Wcst when that unfortunate
minister was obliged to retire.
At first there was some expectation
Mt the state department that a. response
from Minister Woodford might be ex-
pected before night. Later on, how
ever. after Judge Day had calculated
tho length of time that would be con
sumed in the cabling Of the ultimatum
to Minister Wocdford its translation
into cipher and retranslatior. he be-
came convinced that 1t would be prac-
tlcally impossible, owing to the diff
ference in time between Washington
and Madrid. to receive a response so
soon. Therefore the following state
ment was posted at the department.
"The text Of tho ult!matunl to Spain
will be given cut by Mr.. Porter Sec
retary to the president at the White
House sometime tomorrow, probably"
Spain May linsten Matters.
Tho next move must now be made
by spain, according to the department
officials. If the Spanish government
takes a view, as might possibly be
concluded from the action of It's min
lister here. that in language and terms
the congressional resolution is Insult
ing. it may promptly hand Mr.. Wood
ford his passports upon receipt of this
communication. and thus bring the
negotiations to the crisis and cause q
breach Of diplomatic relations within
the next "a hours. If. on the other
hand. 1t should neglect to return
satisfactory answer before Saturday |
noon, that line Of policy will be quite
es effective as positive act inasmuch
as It would amount to refusal OF the
demands of the United States.
In such case the president would pro-
coed Immediately to Use the naval and
military forces Of the United States to
execute the will of congress. How this
will be done. what steps shall first be
taken, whether Havana shall be block.
AIDED or whether an ATTEMPT shall be
made to make speedy campaign by
huring a large force Of troops to Ia
Vana under cover OF a bombardment
by fleet, are all matters Of mere
speculation. The experts OF the army
and navy have laid their plans with
the greatest detail for the future, but
they do not hesitate to say that any
attempt to make these public in ad-
VANCE, to the manifest advantage Of
Spain, would be actual treason.
An outline of the policy to be followed
" this government in the treatment Of