Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-28
And Announces a Complete Rupture Of
National Intercourse.
WHY BLOCKADE WAS AUTHORIZED
Asks for a Joint Resolution
Declaring War
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR RIGHTS

Washington, April o. The Presi-
dent to- day sent TO Congress ths follow
ing message recommending declara-
tion of war against Spain:
To tho Senate and House OF Repre-
Beuta,ives of the United States OF
AmericR
transmit to the Congress for its
confederation and appropriate action
copies of correspondence recently bad
With the representative of Spain in the
United States, with the United States
Minister al Madrid, and through tho
latter, with the government Of Spain,
showing tie action taken under the
Joint resolution approved April Goth,
1928, " For the recognition Of the indie
pendence OF the people of Cuba, de-
inanding that tine government of Spain,
ralinquiah its authority and government
10 the Islund of Cuba and to Withdraw
its land and naval forces from Cuba and
Cuban waters. and directing the Presi-
dent OF the United Statea to use the
land and naval forces of the United
States to carry these resolutions into
effect. -
Upon communicating to the Spanish
Minister in Washington the demand
which ii became ths duty of the Execu-
N tive 10 address to the government of
hnaiu, iu obedience TO said resolution,
the Minister asked for his passports aud
a Withdrew. The United Statss Minister
a at Madrid was. in turn, notified by the
n Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs
a that the withdrawal of the Spanish
representative from the United States
n had terminated diplomatic relations he
II tween the two countries and that all
a official communications between their
respective representatives ceased there
VI with.
"a commend to your especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
Minister at Mudrid by the Spanish
N Minister for Foreign Affairs on the
y 2lst inst, whereby the foregoing noti-
i iicatlnn was conveyed. 1t will be per
q ceived therefroin that the government
n of Spain. having cngnizance of the joint
81 resolution OF the United States Con
81 greas, and in view OF the things which
a the President is thereby required and
M authorized to do. responds hy treating
N the reasonable demands of this govern
E ment as measures Of hostility, follow
$ ing with that instant and complete sew
Il erance of relations by its action. which
Fl by the usage of pations accompanies an
existent state of war between sovereign
llowers.
Il Tha position of Spain being thus
~ made known, and tte demands of the
III United States bsing denied, with a
" complete rupture of intercourse by thB
# act of Spain, ! have been constrained
y in exercise of the power and authority
B conferred upon me by the ioint resolu-
A lion aforesaid. to proclaim, under dute
n pf April 22d, 1905, a blockade OF certain
a ports of the north const of Gubs lying
A ttnl a.
Rnd OF the port OF Cisnfuegos on the
South coast of Cuba; and further in
4 Exercise OF my constitutional power and
aasing the authority conferred upon me
hy the ect of Congress approved April
22d, 1885, to issue my proclamation
dated April 23d, 1893, calling for voluu-
4&eers ia order to carry into effect the
raid resolution of April Goth, 1893.
n Copies of these proclamaiious are hereto
Expended.
"A In view Of the measures so taken, and
I'M with a view to the adoption OF such
other measures as may be necessary, to
n hnahie me to carry out the expressed
will of the Congress uf the United
I4 States in the premises, | now recon-
Fl mend to your honorable body the adop-
4ion Of joint resolution declaring that
K b state of war exists between the United
&.
pain, and urge speedy action thereon.
ID the end that the definition OF the
International status OF the United
States as belligerent power may he
}nade known. and the assertion of al
Its rights and the maintenance of all It'll
tiuties ia the conduct OF public wal
n may be assured.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington
NJ April 25th, 1898.
NJ Z, Key West, Fla, April %. The Nortt
n Aflantic squadron, exeapt the monitors
Horror and Puritan anl this smaller
II 4 rfusers, sailed from Key West at 5. al
II pfclock this morning heated for TIN
4 F1orida straits. The skies were grow
| {HR grey with the coming dawn whel
}1B formidable family of destroyer
7 sliietly and unostuntatiously steamed
zway, presumably for the shores o
xjrba.
f Besides the two monitors, ths ship
ND behind are tho gunboat Helena
fuisers Marhlehsad and Detroit. dis
&tchboat Dolphin and the torpedob0at
2Rshing, du Iont and Porter,
Throughout the long night unusua
Eofivity on the vessels of the feet toll
#&ary watchers on shore that this long
A #aited advance on Havana was nea
& k hand. yet there was nothing officia
Il 3H which To found that belief. Wash
} EHkton advces Of yoateriay afternoo
4 iicRtei the probability OF move
n mi during the night or to-day, bn