The herald., 1898-04-26
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
SENT TO CoNGRESS- ACTED ON
INSTANTLY
WITHOUT A WORD OF DEBATE
The Bill Is Passed, Signed by the Pres
ident and Becomes Law Of
the Land
Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The Presi-
dent today sent to Congress the following
message recommending a declaration OF
war against Spain
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America:
I transmit to Congress for its considera-
tion and appropriate actions copies OF cor
respondence recently had with the repre-
sentative of Spain in the United States.
with the United States Minister at Madrid
and through the latter, with the Govern
ment of Spain, showing the action taken
under the joint resolution. approved April
90 1898, for the recognition of the inde-
pendence Of the people of Cuba, demand
ing that the Government of Spain relin-
uuish it's authority and government In the
Island of Cuba, and to withdraw its 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 Spanish Min
ister in Washington the demand which 1t
became the duty of the Executive to ad-
dress to the Government of Spain in obe-
dience to said resolution, the said Minister
asked for his passports and withdrew. The
United States Minister at Madrid was In
turn notified by the Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs that the withdrawal of
the Spanish representative from the
United States had terminated diplomatic
relations between the two countries and
that all official communication between the
respective representatives ceased there
with.
I recommend to your especial attention
the note directed to the United States
Minister at Madrid by the Spanish Minis
ter for Foreign Affairs on the 21st instant,
whereby the foregoing notification was
conveyed. It will be perceived that the
Spanish government having cognizance Of
the Joint resolution of the Congress of the
United States, and in view of the thing
which the President Is thereby required
and authorized to do, responds by treating
the representative demands Of this gov
ernment as measures of hostility, follow
ing with that instant and complete sever
ance of relations by its action, whereby
the usage of nations accompanies an ex-
istent state of war between sovereign
powers.
The position of Spain being thus made
known and the demands Of the United
States being thus denied. with a complete
rupture in the intercourse with Spain,
power and authority conferred upon me by
the Joint resolution aforesaid to proclaim
under date of April %, 1898, blockade of
certain ports of the north coast of Cuba
and of the port of Cienfuegos on the south
coast Of Cuba; and, further, in exercise of
my proclamation dated April %, 1898, call
ing for volunteers in order to carry into
effect the said resolution Of April 20, 1898.
Copies Of these proclamations are here
unto appended.
In view of the measures so taken, and
with view to the adoption of such other
measures as may be necessary to enable
me to carry out the expressed will of the
Congress of the United States in the
premises. now recommend to your hon.
orable body the adoption of joint resolu-
tion declaring that state of war exists
between the United States of America
and the Kingdom of Spain, and 1 urge
speedy action thereon to the end that the
definition Of the Int irrational status Of
the United States as belligerent power
may be known and the assertion of all its
rights and the maintenance of all its
duties in the conduct Of public war may
be assured. WILLIAM M'KIELEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, April 95.
!. 1898.
WOoDFORDys LFTTFR