The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-28

sideration and appropriate action copies of
correspondence recently had with the rep
resentative 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
20. 1898, "for the recognition of the inde-
pendence of the people of Cuba, demanding
that the Government OF Spain relinquish
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
Minister in Washington the demand which
it became the duty of the Executive to ad-
dress to the Governmen Mt of Spain, in obcdi-
cnce to said resolution, the Minister asked
for his passports and Withdrew. The
United States Minister at Madrid was in
turn notified by the Spanish Minister of
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 communications between their re-
spective representatives ceased herewith.
commend to your especial attention the
note addressed to the United States Min
lister at Madrid by the Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs on the e1st instant, whereby
the foregoing notification was conveyed.
1t will be perceived therefr0m that the
Government OF Spain, having cognizance
of the Joint resolution OF the United States
Congress, and in view of the things which
the President was thereby required and
authorized to do, responds by treating the
reasonable dsma nds of this Government as
measures of hostility, following with that
instant and complete severance OF re-
lations by its action, which by the usage
of Nations accompanies an existent state
of war between sovereign powers.
The position Of Spain being thus made
known, and the demands OF the United
States being denied, with complete Tup-
ture OF intercourse by the act OF Spain, l
have been constrained in exercise OF the
power and authority conferred upon me
by the joint resolution aforesaid, to pro-
claim, under date of April 22, 189S a block
ade of certain ports Of the north coast OF
Cuba. lying between Cardenas and Bahia
Honda and Of the port of ClenfuegoS on the
south coast of Cuba; and, further, in ex-
ercise of nay constitutional powers and
using the authority conferred upon me by
the act of Congress. approved April y;
%, 1898, calling forth volunteers in order to
carry into effect the said resolution of April
90, 1888. Copies of these prOclamations
are hereto 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 honor
able body the adoption OF a joint resolution
declaring thatsa state of war exists between
the United States of America and the King
dom of Spain, and | urge speedy action
thereon to the end that the definition of
Ia ;v,fa StatI nf the Init eI
States as beiligerent power may be made
known, and the assertion of its rights and
the maintenance of all it's duties in the
conduct of public war may be assured.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, April
Is, 1898.
DECLARATION OF WAR;
Immediately upon the assembling of Con
gress the Message was read and referred
to the Committee. 1t took the House Com
mittee Just 10 minutes to formulate the fol
lowing bill, which was passed unanimously
in one minute and 40 seconds from its
introduction:
A bill declaring that war exists between
the United States of America and the
Kingdom of Spain:
Be it enacted,
First That war be and the same is here
| by declared to exist and that war has ex-
| listed since the 21st day of April, A. ID. 1898
| including said day, between the United
| States of America and the Kingdom OF
| Spain.
| Second That the President of the United
| States be, and he hereby is, directed and
/ empowered to use the entire land and
naval forces OF the United States and tc
| call into the actual service of the United
| States the militia of the several States tC
| such axtent as may be necessary to carry
| this act into effect.
| There was no speech or comment, only
| applause when the result was announced
| The Senate was more deliberate The
friends of Cuban recognition rallied again
under the lead of Senator Turpfe, who Of
| fered an amendment on that line. Every
effort was made to get him and his friends
| to desist, but without avail. The Senate
| speecilmaldng followed, the amendment
| defeated hx vote Of 81 To % and thf