Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-04-22
HOW THE WAR BEGINS
CONGRESS DECLARES AND THE
PRESIDENT AFFIRMS.

The Joint Resolution of Congress,
Recognizing the Independence o.
Cuha-Ultimatum of the Presi
dent for the Spanish to Get Out
of the Island.
Joint resolution for the recognition q
the independence of the people IN
Cuba, demanding that the government,
Spain relinquish its government in
Cuba and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters
and directing the President of the Uni
ted States to use the land and naval
forces of the United States to carry this
resolution into effect
WHEREAS, The abhorrent conditions
which have existed for more than thre
years in the island of Cuba, so near onr
own borders, have shocked the mo,a
sense of the people of the United STATES
nave been disgrace to Christian ciyiliZa.
tl0n, eliminating as they have i'm the de.
strucllon of United States battleshin
and 2GG OF its officers and crew while on
friendly visit in the harbor of Havana
anu cannot longer be endured, as has
ici va Nv Tue ITtSluellI OF the
United States in his message to Congress
OF April ii, 1893. upOn which the action of
Congress was invited; therefor
irs0tred, BY the Senate and House of
representatives of the United States of
America IN Congress assembled:
be free and independent. ~ W
Second - That it is the dutv of tho
United States to demand. and the govern.
inent OF the United States does hereby
demand, the government of Spain ~
once relinquish its authority and govern
ment in the island of Cuba and Withdraw
its land and naval forces from Cnb. an%
Cuban waters. 0
Third - That the President of tho
U nited States be and he is hereby di
rected and empowered to use the eniira
lanu aud naval forces United States. and
10 call into actual service of the United
States the militia of the several States tn
the extent as may be necessary to carry
THESE resolutions into effect.
FOIrth-That the United States hereby
disclalms any disposition or intention to
exercise sovereignty, Jurisdiction or con.
troll over said island, except for the
pacficatiOn thereof, and asserts its de-
leave the government and control of the
island to its people.
THE uLnMATuM.
APhlls ~, 1898.
Woodford. Minister United States.
Madrid:
You have been furnished with the text
of the joint resolution voted by the Con-
press of the United States on the 10Th
inst. and approved to-day in relation to
the pacification OF the island of Cuba.
In obedience to that act the President di
reefs you to Immediately communicate to
the Government of Spain said resolution
with formal demand upon the govern.
ment of Srain to at once reinuuish its
authority and government in the island
of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
In taking this step, the United States
hereby disclaims any disposition or i'm.
tentiOu to exercise sovereignty jurisdlc
ton or control over the island. eXcept for
the pacification thereof. and asserts it's
determination when that is accomplished
to leave the government and control of
the island to its people under such free
and independent government as thew
may establish. If by the hour of noon on
Saturday next, the 23d day of April inst,
there be not communicated to this gov
eminent by the government of Spain
full and satisfactory response To this de
mand and resolution whereby the ends of
peace in Cuba shall be assured, the Presi.
dent will proceed without further notice
To use the power and authority enjoined
and conferred upon him by said joint
resolution to such an extent as NAV be
necessary to carry the same into effect.
(Signed.) SHERMAN.
Woodford telegraphs the State De-
partment that before he could COM
municate the ultimatum, the Spanish
Minister for Foreign Affairs notified
him that all diplomatic relations had
been broken between the two coun-
tries. He accordingly asked for his
passports.