The western recorder., 1898-04-28
Prs.idsnt's Proclansaf,su
os War.

leougress the following message.
Recommending a declaration Of
war sgainst Spain:
To the Senate and House Of
representatives, Of the United States
OF America,
! I Transmit 70 the congress for liz
consideration and appropriate &C
ton, copies Of corfespondence re-
Gently had With The representative
Of Spain in the United 6tates, with
the United States minister at Ma
drid, and through the latter with
the government Of Spain, showing
the action taken under the joint res
tstutiou- uppsuvrd Aanii - le08.
for The recognition Of The. indes
pendence Of the people of Cubs,
demanding that tno government Of
Spain relinquish its authority and
government in the island of Cuba
and withdraw lis land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban va
ters, and directing the president
Of the United States TO use the
land and naval forces Of tho Unit
ed States to carry these resolutions
into effect.
Upon communicating to the
Spanish minister in Washington
the demand which it became the
fduty of the executive to address TO
the government of Spain in obe-
dience to said resolution, the said
minister asked for his passports
and withdrew. The United Stairs
minister at Madrid was, in turn,
notified by the Spanish minister
for foreign affairs that the with
drawal Of the Spanish representa-
tive from tho United States had
terminated diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries. and thnt
all official communication between
their respective representatives
cens sed Herewith.
I recommend to your especial
attention tho note directed to the
United States minister at Madrid
by the Spanish minister for for
cign affairs on the 21st inst. where
by the foregoing notification was
conveyed. It will be perceived
kthat the Spanish government, bav-
ing coEnis6nce of the joint scsolus
tion Of the congress Of the United
States. and in view Of things which
the president is thereby required
and authorized to do, responds by
treating the representativedemandz
Of this government a. measures Of
hostility, following with that in
slant and complete severance Of
relations by it's 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 ci
the United States being defied
with a complete rupture in the in.
tercoursc with Spain, I have been
constrained in the exercise of pow.
or and authority conferred upon
me by the joint resolution afore-
said to proclaim under date of Ap-
ril %. 1893, blockade Of certain
ports Of the north coast Of Cuba
lying between Cardcnas and Rahis
Honda. and of the port Of Cienfu.
Iegos ON the south coast of Cuba
and further, in the. exercise OF my
constitutional powers, and using
the authority conferred upon me
by the act of congress approved
April %, 1898, to issue my procla.
nation dated April %, 1893. call
ing for volunteers in order to car
! ry into effect the said resolution ol
] April 20, 1898.
i In view OF the measures SO taken
and with view to the adoption ol
such other measures AZ may b.
necessary to enable mo 70 carry
out the expressed will Of the con.
} gross Of tho United States in the
promises, / now recommend to youl
honorable body the adoption Of .
joint resolution declaring that !
state Of war exists between tho
United States Of America and the
kingdom Of Spain. and I urge
speedy action thereon. to the end
that the definition of the interna-
tional status of the United States
as a belligerent power may be made
known. and the assertion of all it
rights and the maintenance Of al
its duties in the conduct of a pub.
lie war may DO assured
WILLIAM McKMLEr.
4