The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-22

the copy of the ultimatum delivered yester-
day to the Spanish minister at Washington
| can scarcely be regarded in a technical
sense as formal communication, but rath-
or as merely a piece of information, COM
inunicated through courtesy. It is not per-
ceived however, that any substantial adj
| vantage has been reached by the Spanish
government in preventing the formal deiv-
cry of the ultimatum through Mr.. Wood
ford. although it may be that they have
technically escaped what they regard as an
attempted, insult to the Spanish nation.
Assistant Secretary Day was closeted for
some time in the forenoon with Second As
sistant Secretary Adee, and it is believed
there is in preparation communication to
United States ministers and ambassadors
abroad notifying them of the attitude of
this government in the pending issue. 1t
seems to be the common understanding
that in view of the action of the Spanish
government there is now no occasion for
delay on the part of our government in
acting on the joint resolution directing in
tervention, for the refusal of the Spanish
government to receive the communication,
knowing it's character, is to be construed
only as a refusal of it's conditions.
CONFERENCES WITH MKINIEY.
When Judge Day received the cablegram
from Minister Woodford to-day he at once
hurried to the White House, where he
found President Mckinley about to enter
carriage to take Mrs. Mckinley to the rail-
road station. where he intended to see her
off on short trip to New York. The news
that diplomatic relations between the
United States and Spain were formally at
an end was so important that the President
babe hasty goodbye to his wife on the
White House portico and went Immediately
to the upstairs part of the house, where he,
and Judge Day held a conference, the re-
suit of which was the dispatch of Secretary
Porter to the Capitol to communicate the
news to the Senate committee on foreign
relations and also to leading members of the
House. BY a hasty summons, Senator Da-
Wis, of Minnesota, chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign relations; Senator
Lodge, of Massa chusetts. member of the
committee; Senator Allison, of Iowa,
leader in that body, and others were
brought to the White House, where they
joined Assistant Secretary Day and the
President shortly after 10 o'clock in con-
ference whose purpose was to map out the
immediate policy of the United States
The conference broke up shortly after half
past 10 o'clock, Judge Day, accompanied by
senator 1AOOS6, SOluS ONCl " WV oepNS -
partment The assistant secretary would
say nothing regarding the conference.
Chairman Davis, of the Senate foreign re-
lations committee, was laconic and not ex-
plicit, simply remarking. We've taken the
trick" Asked specifically regarding the
handing of his passports to Minister Wood
ford he said that that was all right; that
the delivery of the ultimatum to the Span
ish legation here had served all purposes
Senator Cullom, of the foreign relations
committee, was at this conference also. and
at II O'Clock on leaving the White House
said that the handing of the passports to
Minister Woodford constituted the Spanish
reply and ended all peaceful relations.
While an effort might be made i'll Congress
to make a formal declaration of war, there
was no occasion for it, and in his opinion
there probably would be none. He added:
''There is enough of a state of war now eX-
listing" Everything now he suggested,
would go ahead without preliminary action
of a formal declaration of war by Congress.
The next STEP he said would be to call out
the troops.
The President did not indicate TO the SEN
ators and members of the House with
whom he talked to-day that he considered
a declaration of war necessary, and it is
understood that he has been advised by
some of those whose advice he most relies
on that no declaration is necessary. Some
of the leading senators consider that the
congressional resolutions and the ultimatum
sent to Spain are all that is necessary to
give notice to the world that q, state of war
exists, while others say a manifesto to the
powers advising them of the condition of
affairs might be WELL The best information
is that the President is disposed to regard
this advice, and the probabilities are now
that he will not ask Congress to make
formal declaration of war.