The record-union., 1898-04-26
MckTNLEY'S MESSAGE.
Recommending Declaration of
War Against Spain.

WASHINGTON April 25.-The Pres
ldent to-day sent Congress the follow
ing message recommending a declara-
tion of war against Spain:
TO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of
America:
L transmit to Congress for its con-
sideration and appropriate action cop
les of correspondence recently had with
misrepresentation of Spain in the United
States with the United States Minister
at Madrid, and through the latter with
the Government of Spain. showing the
action taken under the joint resolution
approved April 20 1898, for the rec6g-
milton of the independence of the peo-
pie of Cuba. demanding that the Gov
ernment of Spain relinquish its author
ity and government in the island of
Cuba. and to withdraw its land and
naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters. and directing the President of
the United States to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to
carry these resolutions into effect.
Upon communicating to the Spanish
Minister at Washington the demand
which it became the duty of the Ex-
ecutive to address to the Government
of Spain in obedience to said resolution.
the said Minister asked for his pass
ports and withdrew The United States
Minister at Madrid was in turn notified
by the Spanish Minister for Foreign
Affairs that the withdrawal of the
Spanish representative from the United
States had terminated diplomatic rela-
tions between the two countries. and
that all official communications between
the respective representatives ceased
Herewith.
II recommend to your especial atten
ton the note directed to the United
States Minister at Madrid by the Span
ish Minister for Foreign Affairs on the
Dist inst, whereby the foregoing notifi-
cation was conveyed 1t will be per-
ceived that the Spanish Government,
having cognizance of the joint resolu
tion of the Congress of the United
States, and in view of things which
the President is thereby required and
authorized to do, responds by treating
the reasonable demands of this
Government as measures of hostility,
following with that instant and COM
p1ete severance of relations by its ac-
ton whereby the usage of nations ac-
companies an existent state of war be-
tween sovereign Powers.
1.-THE position of Spain being thus
made known, and the demands of the
United States being denied with a COM
plete rupture in the intercourse with
Spain, I have been constrained in the
exercise of power and authority con-
ferred upon me by the joint resolution
aforesaid to proclaim under date of
April 80, 1898, a blockade of certain
ports of the north coast of Cuba. lying
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda
and of the port of Cienfuegos, 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 % 1898, to issue my proclama-
ton dated April %, 1898, calling for
volunteers in order to carry into effect
the said resolution of April 20, 1898.
Copies of these proclamations are here
unto appended
I'm view of the measures so taken,
and with a view to 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, I now recon-
mend to your honorable body the adop
ton of joint resolution declaring that
a state Of war exists between the
United States of America and the king
dom of Spain. and / urge speedy ac-
tion thereon to the end that the defini-
ton of the international status Of the
United States as a belligerent Power
may be known, and the assertion of all
its rights and the maintenance of all
its duties in the conduct of a public war
may be assured.
''WILLIAM MKINLEY
Executive Mansion, Washington,
April p. 1898"
CORRESPONDENCE SUBMITTED.
The message was accompanied by the
following kilograms and notes that
passed between the Governments of