The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26

have been constrained, in the exercise OF
the power and authority conferred on me BY
the Joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim,
under date of April % 1885, a blockade Of
certain ports of the north coast of Cuba
lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda,
and Of the port Of Cienfuegos, on the south
coast of Cuba; and, further, in exercise of
my constitutional powers, and using the au-
thority conferred upon me by the act of
Congress approved April %, 1898, to issue
my proclamation, dated April %. 1885, call
ing for volunteers in order to carry into If
feet the said resolution of April 90 1898.
Copies OF these proclamations are hereto
appended.
In view of the measures SO taken, and
with a view to the adoption of such other
measures as may be necessary to enable me
TO carry out the expressed viii Of the Con-
gress of the United States in the premises,
l now recommend to your honorable body
the adoption of joint resolution declaring
that a state of war exists between the
United States of America and the Kingdom
of Spain, and I urge speedy action thereon,
to the end that the definition of the inter-
national status of the United States as a
belligerent power may be made known, and
the assertion of all it's rights and the main
tenance Of all its duties in the conduct of q
public war may be assured.
WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington. April 25.'
In the correspondence accompanying the
Presidents message to-day was the follow
ing: On April q, 1898, Minister Woodford
telegraphed Secretary Sherman as follows;
Following is text of my reply to the
official note received this morning at 1850
O'Clock from the Spanish minister of state:
have the honor TO acknowledge the re-
ceipt this morning Of your note Of this date,
informing me that the Spanish minister at
Washington has been or0ered to withdraw
with all mis- legation and without time from
North American territory. You also inform
me that by this act diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries are broken oil;
that all official communication before their
respective representatives ceases. | have,
accordingly, this day telegraphSd the Amer
lean consul general at Barcelona to instruct
all the consuls of the United States to turn
their respective consulates over to the Brit
ish conSulS and to leave Spain at once. l
have myself turned this legation over to her
Britannia Majesty's embassy at Madrid.
That embassy will from this time have the
care OF all American interests in Spain. l
now request passports and the safe con-
duct to the French frontier for myself and
the personnel or this legation. j intend leaV-
ing this afternoon at o'clock for Paris ="
Later in the day Mr.. Woodford sent the
following cablegram to Mr.. Sherman
Following is the text of official note re-
ceived this morning at 1880 from Spanish
minister of state.
In compliance with painful duty I
have the honor to inform your Excellency
that the President having approved reso,
luton of both chambers Of the United
States which, in denying the legitimate
sovereignty of Spain and threatening an i'm
mediate armed Intervention in Cuba is
equivalent to an evident declaration of war.
the government of his Majesty has ordered
its minister in Washington to withdraw
without loss of time from the North Amerl-
can territory with all the personnel OF the
legation. BY this act the diplomatic rela-
lions which previously existed between the
two countries are broken off, all official
communica lions between their respective
representa- iveS ceasing, and / hasten to
communicate this to your Excelency, IN
order that on your part you may make sucn
disposition as seems suitable. l beg your
Excellency to kindly acknowledge receipt Of
this note and L avail myself, ETC..
Other correspondence is as follows: On
April IA Secretary Sherman notified Mr..
Woodford of the passage by the House the
previous day of the Cuban resolutions and
of the reporting to the Senate of the res
olutions from the foreign relations COM
mittee On that day Secretary Sherman
wired: ultimate resolution in conference
cannot now be forecasted but will doubt
less direct intervention by force, if need be,
70 secure free Cuba. The situation is most
critical"
On Sunday morning last acting Secretary
Day notified Mr. Woodford of the passage
by the Senate Of the resolution amending
all of the House resolution after the enact
ing clause and informed him the House re-
cessed until Monday, and that II II non
concurred conference would follow: He
again announced the ultimate form of reso-
luton could not be foreseen
Last Tuesday acting Secretary Day noti-
fled Minister Woodford of the final adoption
Of the resolution by both houses. An in
struction will be telegraphed later imme-
diatey on the President signing the joint
resolution. In the meantime you will pre-
pare for withdrawal from spain ana notify
1lc 10 1,.aR af1t For 10
II any consul is in danger ne may quietly
leave at his discretion
Following is the reply: Have received
telegram of Tuesday morning. Am prepar-
ing TO withdraw Have norned cohsuls 10
On April 20. Secretary Sherman tele-
graphed Mr.. Woodford the ultima tum here
tofore published. On the same date Secre-
tary Sherman sent the following to the
municate to you a copy OF an instruction
sent this day to the United States minister
at Madrid, by telegraph, In obedience to
joint resolution of the Congress of the
United States of America in relation to the
pacincation of the Island of Cuba, approved
this day Of which copy b Is herel0 aT
to repeat to you the assurances OF my high
est consideration
Secretary Sherman inclosed with this az
copy of the joint resolution passed and also
OF the ultimatum, automatically referred to
as the Geographic instruction to the United
States minister to Spain.
At 1875 Wednesday morning the Spanish
minister sent to Secretary Sherman his re-
quest for passports which, together with
Mr.. Sherman's reply, were published at
the time.
On April 20 Secretary Sherman wired Min
lister Woodford the following: "Senor Polo
Bernabe Spanish minister to the United
States. upon being informed shortly before
noon to-day of the action of this govern
ment taken in pursuance of the resolution
of Congress of April 10, 1898, has asked for
his passports fol- himself, his family and
suite. They have been handed him with
assurance of safety while within the ter
ritory of the United States. Unless previous
ly handed your passports you will be ex-
pected to be near the court of Spain until
Saturday noon of this week and unless by
that date and hour some communication Is
received from the government of Spain
which you deem will be satisfactory to this
government you are to ask for your pass
ports and safe conduct"
At O'Clock on the following day Mr..
Woodford sent his reply to Secretary Sher-
man already published announcing the ac-
ton of the Spanish government before he
had communicated the ultinatum.
With the correspondence are the two
proclamations of President Mckinley, one
for the blockade of Cuban ports and the
other calling for rs 600 volunteers.
LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.