The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-05-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Full Text Of Document Recommending
Passage of War Resolution.

Full Text Of Document Recommending
Passage Of War Resolution.
Washington, April 27.-The presi-
dent today sent to congress the follow
ing bill recommending the passage of
declaration Of war against Spain:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of
America: l transmit to congress for
its consideration and appropriate action
copies of correspondence recently had
with the representative 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 joint
recognition of the independence of the
people of Cuba, demanding that the
government of Spain relinquish its
authority and government in the island
of Cuba and 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 in Washington the demand
which it became the duty of the execu
tive to address to the government Of
Spain in obedience to said resolution,
said minister asked for his passports
and withdrew. The United States
minister at Madrid was in turn notified
by the Spanish representative that the
United States had terminated diplo-
matte relations between the two coun-
tries, and all official communications
between their respective representatives
ceased Herewith.
recommend to your attention the
note directed to the United States MIN
lister at Madrid by the Spanish min
lister of foreign affairs on the 21st inst,
whereby the foregoing notification was
communicated. 1t will be perceived
that the Spanish government, having
cognizance of the resolutions, and in
view of the things which the president
is hereby required and authorized to
do, responds by treating the representa-
tive demands of this government as
measures of hostility, following with
that instant and complete severance OF
relations by its action.
The position of Spain being thus
made known and the demands of the
United States being denied with COM
plete rupture in the intercourse with
Spain, have been constrained in the
exercise of the power and authority
conferred upon me by the joint resoiu-
ton aforesaid to proclaim under date
of April %, 1898, blockade of GER
tain ports on the north coast Of Cuba,
lying between Cardenas and Bahia
Honda and the port of Cienfuegos on
the south coast of Cuba, and further in
the exercise of. my constitutional pow
ers and using the powers conferred on
me by act of congress, approved April
49,. 1898, to issue my proclamation
dated April SO, 1898, calling for volun-
teers in order to carry into effect said
resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies
of this proclamation are hereunto ap-
pended.
In view of the measures SO taken
and with the view to the adoption of
such war measures as may be neces-
sary to enable-mesto carry out the ex-
pressed will of 8 the congress to the
United States in the premises, now
recommend to your honorable body the
adoption of joint resolution declaring
that state of war exists between the
United States of America and the
kingdom of Spain, and urge speedy
action thereon to the end that q def
milton of the international status of
the United States as a belligerent
power may be made known and the as
sertion of all its duties in the conduct
of the public war may be assured.
(Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington.