Evening journal., 1898-04-20
SHORT TIME TO DECIDE.
Refusal to Yield Will Be the Signal
For HOStiltes.
BERNABE IS READY TO LEAVE.
sagasta Makes a Patriotic Speech NJ the
Opening Session of the Cortes-'rhe
Powers Cease All Talk of
Interference.

Interference.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-Spain win
not receive official notification Of the
demands OF the United States before to-
night. She then will be informed that
tho Cuban resolutions passed by con-
gress yesterday are now a part OF the
laws OF the United States. and an ulti-
matum Will be sent demanding com
pliance with this law and an answer
within short time probably "a hours.
Compliance IS not expected, and for
ward movement on Cuba will commence
the latter part OF this week. according
70 the plans OF the administration.
Two cabinet meetings We're held yes
terday-the first beginning at IL and
lasting nearly two hours and the sec
ond lasting from until $3.50 O'Clock.
At their close announcement that ex-
ecutive action was delayed until to-
day was made, Both cabinet sessions
were devoted principally 70 discussion
OF the ultimatum TO be sent TO Madrid.
at the morning session the president
rather favored allowing the Madrid
government two or even three days In
which 10 reply 10 our demands but since
that time no has changed his Views
somewhat, and Il Is now believed 10 be
BIS purpose to require an answer with
I'm very short time probably within
~ hours. The reason for limiting tho
time TO one day or even less is said 10
be entirely strategic otherwise two OF
even three days would have been al
lowed.
The ultimatum Itself. II Is believed,
will be short and TO the point. 1t will
recite the main features of the resolu-
tions passed by congress and demand a
compliance Herewith. It probably will
not be made public here until notice Is
received that II Is IN the hands Of the
Spanish government. diplomatic etl-
Quette requiring this,
The Cuban resolution passed by con-
gress arrived at the White House at
1si5 o'clock. a little over an hour hav-
ing heen consumed IN the formalities
of securing the signatures OF Speaker
Reed and Vice President Hobart to tho
resolution in open session and It's de-
livery at the White House by Repre-
sentative Hager OF Iowa. chairman Of
the commlttee on enrolled bills and
Representative Overstreet of Indiana.
IL was Nexpected that the resolution
would be signed az soon 40 Il reached
the president and this was Mr.. Nc
Kinley's inclination, but for certain
state reasons Il was deemed advisable
that the resolution and the ultimatum
70 Spain be signed simultaneously, and
time was needed 10 draft the ultimatum
in diplomatic form.
The fact that the resolution was not
Immediately signed gave rise 10 a few
cisquieting reports. but II soon appear
ed from statements OF cabinet officers
that the president had not the slightest
intention OF Withholding his signature
and that the delay In attaching Il was
accounted for solely by his desire 10
have a full and complete plan OF opera
tlons for the government Of the execu-
tive In the immediate future before
taking the final and important step OF
turning the joint resolution into a stat
ute. Just what this plan shall be was
the occasion for the two cabinet meet
ings yesterday.
The first session. in anticipation of
the reception of the resolution. was de-
voted largely 20 questions of finance
and military policy, as well as the franz
Ing of the ultimatum itself. SO far as
can be gathered the important point at
issue In regard to the ultlmatum was
the question OF time TO be allowed for a
steady progress Of military and naval
preparations indicated the conviction
on the part Of the administration that
a peaceful solution of existing Difficult
ties is not probable.
AS 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 Woodfort
will notify the Spanish government o
the action OF the government of IN,
United States, and. should the Span
ish answer be unsatisfactory. as Is ex
pected the next step In order viii b,
for him TO ask for his passports an,
leave Madrid. That would be followe,
instantly by the withdrawal fror
Washington OF Sonor Polo. the Spanisl
minister
At this point il can be said that tn
state department officials are connden
that the Spanish government will s.
shape every phase of the negotiation
as to oblise us to take the initiative "a
every point After the withdrawal a
the ministers ana assuming Spain doe
not back down. actual war will follow
but whether or not the first overt ac
will be peeceded by formal declaration
Of war, which would insure the imme
AlaAt DISQUALIFICATION OF the powers. ID
whether the north Atlantic squadre
will make its appearance of Havan
as beginning cannot yet Doe predicted
In this connection IL may De state
that the army and navy experts az
beginning TO take a les1 hopeful vie-
of an easy and quick campaign tha
they entertained a short time ae,
Months are now mentioned Instead {
weeks as the probable length of hostn
ties and one eminent naval officer VIII
had experience in the late war Pre-
fesses belief that unless outside pres
sure Is brought to bear a war ma
easily drag along for a year under n
existing conditions.
Apparently the powers have abar
doned open efforts in Washington to II
fluence the course of our governmen
Matters were very quiet at all Legation
yesterday, and no Instructions were r,
Italian society women now go abol