The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-29
WILL DECLARE WAR
The State Department Wishes Con-
gress to Issue a Formal Notice.
PROCLAMATION OF The BLOCKADE.
Foreign Nations Informed OF the Invest
ment OF Cuban Ports-PolIcy in the
Matter "f Privatsering-Rumor
About Hawaiian Islands

"aiteT VI lrlNdteertng-RumOr
About Hawaiian Islands.
WASHINGTON, April 2s.-The state
department is now considering the adj
visibility of requesting congress to
declare war. While there is no abso-
Lutte necessity for the immediate decla-
ration there are several reasons WHY
the adoption of such a course would
prove advantageous to us. Strong
pressure is being brought to bear
upon the state department to in
duce III to make proper recon-
mendatlon To congress to serve as
basis of action. 1t is held that until
formal declaration is issued we can.
not set in motion the neutrality laws
OF foreign countries and in fact would
be practically in the position that
Spain occupied toward Cuba-denvinp
that war existed in spite of the actual
fact. There is another reason of ma
terial importance just now that NAV
influence action. That is, that the
army and navy NAV be pre-
vented from calling for the serv-
ices of retired officers, owing to
the fact that in some cases the
statutes provide that this NAV be done
only upon "a declaration of war"
The state department has now re-
linquished its connection with the
Cuban question. whic h has practically
passed into the hands of the army and
navy. OF course all direct correspond
ence with Spain has now ceased, but
the department has still to perform a
number of formal acts required by in
ternational law, mainly in the direc-
ton of notifying the foreign powers of
the conditions under which the United
States will conduct the war with Spain.
These will include a notice in full form
TO all the powers of the intention of
the United States to refrain from
prlvateering, to respect the goods of
neutrals in Spanish bottoms and Span
ish goods not contraband in neutral
bottoms. The president will send a
message to congress suggesting that
declaration of war be passed The
message was in course of preparation
at the state department yesterday
afternoon. This action was fastened
by the seizure of the Spanish mer-
chairman off the Florida coast and
the desire TO prevent any possible com
plications The right of the seizure
of the Bnena Ventura. however. is not
questioned by the administration,
since Spain herself accepted our ulti-
matum as declaration of war.
CUBAN PORTS BLocKADED
WASHINGTON, April 23.-There were
two further important steps in Wash
ington towards actual hostilities. not
TO mention the overt act involved in
the seizure OF the Spanish vessel Buena
Ventura off Key West The first was
the issue by the president of his proc
lamaton announcing to the world "A
blockade of number of Cuban ports.
and the second was the signing by
him of the bill providing for the utii- |
ization of the volunteer forces
in war. Following no the for
malites beginning with the
blockade proclamation, the state
department yesterday afternoon adj |
dressed an identical note to all of the |
representatives of foreign nations ac- !
credited to Washington. notifying |
them of the policy to be pursued by |
this government in the matter of |
and neutrality. This was
followed by the sending of cable mes
'ages to all American embassies and
legations abroad, containing the same
Information in little more succinct
form for presentation To the govern
nents TO which they are accredited.
Inquiry at the navy department as
20 the story that our government had
arranged for the seizure of the Ha-
vaiian islands and the establishment
If coaling station in Hawaii failed
20 secure any positive statement on
he subject. There is good authority
or believing that the story is exag-
gerated and that all that has been
lone is to provide for the establish
nent of coaling depot and its ade-
luate protection.
The limitation of the blockade in
luba to certain part of the island
vas not officially explained yesterday,
nut one plausible reason advanced for
he governments action was that by
from establishing a block
lde over the eastern portion of the
sland understood TO be practically in
he control of the insurgents, the way
las been left open for them TO freely
eceive all needed supplies and NUM-
ions OF war.