Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-05-03
transn,1, to me congress- FOR ,,a cons,dera.

transmit to the Congress- for its consldera-
ton and appropriate action copies Of corr
respondence recently had with the repre-
sentative of Spain in the United States with
the United States minister at Madrid, and
through the latter with the government
of Spain, showing the action taken under
the joint resolution approved April 20, 1898.
for the recognition of the independence Of
the people Of Cuba, demanding that the
government of Spain relinquish Its
Of Cuba. and to withdraw its land
and naval forces from Cuba and
Cuban waters, and directing the pres
ident OF the United States to use the land
and naval forces OF the United States to
carry these resolutions into effect.
Upon communicating with the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand which
1t became the duty Of the executive to ad-
dress to the government of Spain in obedl-
ence to said resolution, the said minister
United States minister at Madrid was In
turn notified by the Spanish minister for
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.
II recommend to your especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
minister at Madrid by the Spanish minis
ter for foreign affairs on the 21st instant,
whereby the foregoing notification was
conveyed. 1t will be perceived therefrom
that the government of Spain, having cog
nizance of the joint resolution of the United
States congress and in view Of things which
the president is thereby required and au-
thorized to do, responds by treating the
representative demands Of this govern
ment as measures of hostility, following
with that instant and complete severance
Of relations by Its action, whereby the
usage of nations accompanies an existent
state Of war between sovereign powers.
1.-THE position of Spain being thus made
known and the demands of the United
States being denied with complete rup-
ture OF intercourse by the act of Spain.
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 %. 1898. a block
ade of certain ports of the north coast OF
Cuba, lying between Cardenas ana Bahia
Honda. and Of the Port Cienfuegos on the
south coast of Cuba: and further, in exer-
else of my constitutional powers and using
the authority conferred upon me by the
act Of congress, approved April 20, 1898. to
i issue my proclamation dated April 70, 1898.
calling for volunteers in order to carry into
effect the said resolution of April 20, 1898.
Copies Of these proclamations are hereto
Appended led, - -, - - .o,. =,
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 prem
Uses, I now recommend to your honor
able body the adoption Of Joint resolu-
ton declaring that state OF war
exists between the United States OF Amer
toa and the kingdom of Spain, and urge
| speedy action thereon to the end that the
| definition Of the international status Of the
UnitS1 States as belligerent power may
| be made known, and the assertion OF all its
rights and the maintenance Of all its duties
| in the conduct of public war may be a.
sured.
"(Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion. Washington, April rs.
| 1893"