The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-20
swer within very short time, prob

even three days would nave been al
lowed.
The ultimatum itself, it is believed,
will be short and to the point. 1t will
recite the main features Of the resolu-
tions passed by congress and demand
a compliance Herewith.
So far as can be learned there will
not be another meeting of the cabinet
before the president signs the two doc
uments, which, it is believed, unques-
tionably will precipitate war.
1t is likely that the president and
Assistant Secretary Day will again go
over the message which ois to be sent
to Madrid and make any changes which
may be thought desirable, leaving the
final act of signing the congressional
resolution and ultimatum until tonor-
row morning.
1t probably will not be made public
here until notice is received that it
is in the hands of the Spanish govern
ment, diplomatic etiquette requiring
this.
Up to Mckinley.
gress arrived at the White house at
1:15 o'clock, little over an hour hav-
ing been consumed in the formalities Of
securing the signatures of Speaker
Reed and Vice President Hobart to the
resolution in open session and it's de-
livery at the White house by Repre-
sentative Hager, of Iowa chairman Of
the committee on enrolled bills, and
Representative Overstreet, of Indiana.
1t was expected that the resolution
would be signed Immediately 1T reached
the president, and this was Mr.. McKin-
leys inclination, but for certain state
reasons it was deemed advisable that
the resolution and the ultimatum to
Spain should be signed simultaneously
and time was needed to draft the ulti-
matum in diplomatic form.
The fact that the resolution was not
Immediately signed gave rise to a few
diSquiet1ng reports; but it soon ap-
peared from the statements of cabinet
officers that the president had not the
slightest intention Of Withholding his
signature, and that the delay in at
taching it was accountable for solely
by his desire to have a full and COM
plete plan Of operations for the gov
ernment Of the executive in the imme-
diate future before taking the final and
important step Of turning the joint
resolution into a statute.
Just what this plan shall be was the
occasion of the two cabinet meetings
today. The first session, in anticipa-
tion of the reception of the resolution,
was devoted largely to questions of
finance and military policy as well as
to the framing Of the ultimatum itself.
So far as can be gathered the impor-
tant point at issue in regard to the
ultimatun was the question of time
to be allowed for response on the
part Of Spain.
naval preparations indicated the con-
viction on the part of the administra-
tion that a peaceful solution Of existing
difficulties is not probable.
Course of Events.
AS to the course of events in the i'm
mediate future, the only prediction
that can be made is one based on prec-
edents. According to these, Minister
Woodford will notify the Spanish gov
ernnlent of the action of the govern
ment Of the United States, and should
the Spanish answer be unsatisfactory,
as is expected, the next step in order
will be for him to ask for his passports
and leave Madrid. That would be fol-
lowed instantly by the withdrawal from
Washington Of Senior Polo y Bernabe,
the Spanish minister.
At this point it can be said that the
state department officials are confident
that the Spanish government will so
shape every phase of the negotia tions
as to oblige us to take the initiative at
every point.
After the withdrawal of the mir:s.ers
and assuming Spain does not back
down, will follow actual war, but
whether or not the first overt act will
be preceded by a formal declaration of
war, which would insure the immedi-
ete naturalization Of the powers, or
whether the North Atlantic squadron
will make its appearance off Havana
as beginning cannot yet be predicted,
In this connection 1T may be stated
that the army and navy experts are
beginning to take less hopeful view
Of an easy and quick campaign than
they entertained a short time ago.
Months are now mentioned, instead of
weeks, as the probable length of hos
ttHties, and one eminent naval officer
who had experience in the late war
processes a belief that unless outside
pressure is brought to bear, war may
easily drag along for a year under the
existing conditions.
Apparently the powers have aban-
doned open efforts in Washington to
influence the course Of our govern
ment. Matters were quiet at all the
legations today, and no instructions
We're received by any Of the ambas-
sadors or ministers in the line of medi-
alton.
The U1tfmatum.
THE ultimatum," said one member
OF the cabinet after the meeting today.
'has been agreed upon in substance,
but has not yet been formally drawn
up. It's preparation has been entrusted
to Assistant Secretary Day, of the
state department. 1t will be sent to
Spain tomorrow and will reach Madrid
in the evening, the difference in time
between this country and Spain being
about six hours.
Il think you are safe in saying that
Spain will be given forty-eight hours,
that is, until Friday evening, to sub
| nit her reply. In accordance with the
terms of the resolution the president
will demand that Spain shall evacuate
| the island. The demand for this will
| be f1at-footed, and no tentative or
halfway reply will satisfy the presi-
| dent.
Nor will any compromise that con-
| templates withdrawal Of Spain's troops
| from the island and the subsequent re-
establishment OF Spanish control nr the
raising Of the Spanish flag over the
country be accepted by the administra-
ton.
Possibly 1t may be that a sugges-
ton that the matter has been referred