The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-20
TWO CABINET
MEETINGS HELD
ACTION DELAYED

Both Sessions Were Devoted to the Discussion
Of the UItimatum to be Sent to Madrid--At
First the President Favored Two or Thres
Days 10 Allow Spain to Comply with the De-
mands, but is Now Believed He will Allow
Only "a Hours Compliance is not Expected.
and a Forward Movement on Cuba is FIX
pected the Latter Part Of the Week. The
Steady Progress Of Military and Naval Pre-
parations Indicate that Peaceful Solution Of
Existing Difficulties is not Probable--If The
Spanish Answer be Unfayorable, Woodford
will Ask for His Passports.
Washington, ID. c., April 19.-Spain
will not receive notification of the de-
mands of the United States before to-
morrow. She then will be informed that
the Cuban resolution passed by Con
gress at an early hour this morning are
now a part of the laws of the United
States, and an ultimatum will be sent
demanding compliance with this law, and
all answer within very short time, prob
ably twenty-four hours. Compliance is
not expected and forward movement
OH Cuba will commence the latter part
of this week, according to the plans of
the administration.
The Congressional Cuban resolution
will not he signed until tomorrow
morning.
The ultimatum to Spain will be signed
at the same time. The President early
decided to make the two practically one
act by simultaneous signature of each.
Two Cabinet meetings were held dur
ing the day, the first beginning at II
and lasting nearly two hours, and the
second lasting from ) until $50 o'clock.
At their close announcement that Exc
cutive action was delayed until to-mor-
row was made. Both Cabinet sessions
were devoted principally to discussion of
the ultimatum to be sent to Madrid.
At the morning session the President
rather favored allowing the Madrid gov
ernment two or even three days in
which to reply to our demand, but since
that time he has changed his views
somewhat, and it is now believed to be
his purpose to require an answer within
Il very short time probably within TWEEN
ty-four hours. The reason for limiting
the time to one day, or even less, is said
to be entirely strategic, otherwise, or
two or even three days would have been
allowed. The ultimatum itself, will be
short and to the point. 1t will recitc
the main features of the resolutions
passed by Congress, and demand com
pliance Herewith. So far as could be
learned there will not be a meeting OF
the Cabinet this evening or tomorrow
morning before the President signs two
documents. which, it is believed, unqueS
tionably will precipitate war. 1t Is like
ly that the President and Assistant
Secretary Day will again this evening
go over the message which is to be sent
to Madrid and make any changes which
may be thought desirable. leaving the
hnal act of signing the Congressional
resolution, and the ultimatum until to-
morrow morning. 1t probably will not
be made public here until notice is re-
ceiyed that it is in the hands of the
Spanish government, diplomatic etiquette
requiring this.
The Cuban resolution passed. bv Con
gress arrived at the White Uousa ot
i: 10 clock, a little over an hour having
been consumed in the formalites Of SO.
curing the signatures of Speaker Reed
and Vice President Hobart to the reso.
luton i'll open session, and its delivery
at the White House by Representative
Hager, Of Iowa, Chairman of the com.
mittee OH enrolled bills, and Representa-.
tive Oyerstreet of Indiana.
1t was expected that the resolution
would be signed Immediately after il
reached the President and this was Mr.
McKinley's inclination but for certain
State reasons it was deemed advisable
that the resolution and ultimatum tC