The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-22
RELATIONS BROKEN OFF

back to the presidential ONCE.
RELATIONS BROKEN OFF
Washington, April 21--Diplomatic rela-
tions between the United States and
Spain are at an end and events are NOV
ing with amazing rapidity up to the eli
max of actual war Judge Day, assistant
secretary Of state, early this morning re-
ceived a cabIegram from Minister Wood
ford at Madrid, stating that he had been
handed his passports and had been notl-
fed that official relations between the
United states and Spain were ended. His
cab!egram said he had been given the
passports before he had had an oppor-
tunity TO present the ultimatum trans
mitted TO him for submission to the Span
ish government, the delivery of the ulti-
matum to Minister Polo having been ac-
cepted by the Spanish government as a
formal announcement on our part.
Judge Day at once hurried to the White
House. where he found President Mckin-
ley about to enter a carriage to take Mrs.
Mckinney to the railroad station, where
he intended 10 see her off on short trip
10 New York. The news that diplomatic
relations between the United States and
Spain were formally at an end was so
important that the president babe hasty
goodbye to his wife on the White House
portico and repaired Immediately to the
upstairs part Of the house, where he and
Judge Day held a conference. the result
Of which vas the dispatch Of Secretary
Porter to the Capitol TO communicate the
news to the senate committee on foreign
relations and also to leading members of
the house. This was done in order to
facilitate any action deemed necessary by
congress.
BY a hasty summons Senator Davis of
Minnesota. chairman Of the senate com
mittee on foreign relations; Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts. a member Of the COM
mittee; Senator Allison Of Iowa, a leader
IN that body, ana others, were brought
10 the White House, where they joined
Assistant Secretary Day and the president
shortly after 10 o'clock in a conference
whose purpose was TO map out the imme-
date policy Of the United States.
The conference broke up shortly after
half pest % o'clock. Judge Day, accom-
panied by Senator Lodge, going over to
the state department. The assistant sec
rotary would say nothing regarding the
conference further than 10 authorize the
statement that public announcement
would be made later in the day. Chair
man Davis of the senate foreign relations
committee, was laconlc and not explicit,
simply remarking: We've taken the
trick" Asked specifically regarding the
handing of his passports to Minister
Woodford he said that that was all right;
that the delivery of the ultimatum to the
Spanish legation here had served all pur-
poses.
Senator Cullom Of Illinois. of the for
eign relations committee was at the con-
ference also and at II o'clock. on leaving
the White House. said that the handing
of the passports to Minister Woodford
constituted the Spanish reply and ended
all peaceful relations. While an effort
might be made in congress to make a
formal declaration of war there was no
occasion for it and, in his opinion, there
probably would be none"
He added: There is enough of state
of war now existing"
Everything now, he suggested. would go
ahead without preliminary action of
formal declaration of war by congress.
The next step, he said, would be to call
out the troops.
The president did not indicate TO the
senator's and members Of the house with
whom he talked today, that he considered
a declaration OF war necessary and it was
understood that he had been advised by
some Of those whose advice he most re-
lies upon that no declaration was neces-
sary. Some of the leading senators cor
sidered that the congressional resolution
and the ulumatum sent to Spain was all
that was necessary 10 give notice to the
world that a. state of war existed. while
others held that manifesto to the powers
advising them Of the condition of affairs
might be well.
The best information was that the pres
idcUt was disposed to regard this advice
and the probabilities We're stated 10 be
that he would not ask congress to make
L formal declaration.