The Portland daily press., 1898-04-26
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Recommended That a Formal Dec,ar ation
OF War Be Made.

washington, April 25.-The President
today sent to Congress the following
message recommending decla ration OF
war against Spain:
- Che senate and House of Representa-
yves Oh tne United States of America:
.5 olanhlnl5 to the Congress for it's con-
ot e e and appropriate action, copies
, 70 ooaaespondence recently had with the
eCStpttoseneasives of Spain and the United
- Me-, Wi0h the United States minister
+ba 1. .soA ana through the latter, with
ono go'ernment of Spain, showing the
actlon, taken under the Joint resolution
approved April 20, 1898, Hfor the reoog-
~ T' OF the independence of the people
" SSupa' demanding that the government
VI spain relinquish It's authority and
su;xxselAment IN the island of Cuba and
~ s.h It's land and naval forces from
~ Euon anu cuban waters, and directing
t ehe RESIDENT IT. of the United States, to use
oss..es 10 carry these resol into
upon communicating to the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand
whlcn 1t became the duty OF the executive
W ADDRESS to the government of spain IN
opeuience TO said resolution the minister
ASKED For his passports and withdrew.
Oh1uCu OIfaUSS lullllSJoE 4Aet0AiN1
was IN turn notified by the Spanish min
lister for foreign affairs that the with
uraYal OF the Spanish representative from
Uhe United States had terminated diplo-
matlc relations between the two countries
and that all official communications be-
tween their respective representatives
ceased Herewith.
l commend to your especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
minister for forQion affairs fhA Dist
instant, whereby the foregoing not1fica-
ton was conveyed.
1t will be perceived therefrom that the
government of Spain having cognizance
OF the joint resolution of the United
States Congress, and in view Of the
Things which the President is thereby re-
qulred and authorized to do, responds by
treating the reasonable demands OF this
government as measures of hostility fol-
loving with instant and complete sever
ance OF relations by its action, which by
the usage of nations accompanies an ex-
istent state of war between sovereign
powers
The position of Spain being thus made
KnoWn and the demands Of the United
States being denied with complete rup-
tsre OF intercourse by the act of Spain,
nave eeen constrained in exercise of the
power and authority conferred upon me
Dy the joint resolution aforesaid to pro-
claim under date of April %, 1895 a
blockade of certain ports of the north
coast Of Cuba, lying between Cardenas
and Bahai Honda and of the port OF Glen
fugos on the south coast of Cuba and
further in exercise of my constitutional
powers. and using the authority conferred
upon me by the act of Congress approved
April ~, 1885, to issue my proclamation
dated April 20, 1898, calling for volunteers
in order to carry into effect the said reso-
luton of April 20, 1898.
Copies of these proolamations are hereto
appended.
In view of the measures so taken, and
with view of 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
premises, l now recommend to your
honorable bodies the adoption of a joint
resolution declaring that state Of war
exists between the United States of
America and the kingdom of Spain and I
urge speedy action thereon to the end that
the definition of the international status
of the United States as belligerent
power may be made known and the asser-
ton of all its rights and the maintenance
of all its duties in The conduct of d pub
lie war may be assured.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, April
o.