The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-26
The Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-The President
today sent to Congress the following
message, recommending 4 declaration Of
war against Spain:
To the Senate and House OF Represent
atives OF the United States of America:
transmit to the Congress for its CON.
sideration and appropriate action copies
of correspondence recently had with the
Representatives 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 recog-
milton OF the independence OF the people
of Cuba, demanding that the govern
ment of Spain relinquish its authority
and governmelt in the island of Cuba.
and to withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and
directing the President of the Unitd
States to use the land and naval forces of
the United States to carry these resolu-
tions into effect
Upon communication to the Spanish
Minister in Washington the demand
which 1t became the duty of the execu-
tive to address to the government OF
Spain in obedience to said resolution, the
Minister asked for his passports and
Withdrew. The United States Minister
at Madrid was in turn notified by the
Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs that
the withdraw Of the Spanish representa-
tive from the United States had termi-
mated diplomatic relations between the
two countries, and that all official COM
munications between their respective
representatives ceased Herewith.
The position OF Spain being thus made
known, and the demands of the United
States being denied, with complete
rupture OF intercourse by the act of Spain,
| have been constrained in exercise Of the
power and authority conferred upon ME
by the joint resolution aforesaid, to pro-
claim under date of April %, 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 consti-
tutional powers and using the authority
conferred upon me by the act OF Congress
approved April %, 1898, to issue my pro-
clamation dated April %, 1898, calling
for volunteers in order to carry into
effect the said resolution Of April 20,
1898. Copies of these resolutions are
hereto appended.
commend to your especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
Minister at Madrid by the Spanish
Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 2lst
instant, whereby the foregoing notitica-
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 required and authorized to do,
responds by treating the reasonable de-
mands of the government as measures of
hostility, following with that instant and
severance OF relations by its ac-
tiOn, which by the usage of nations ac-
an existent state of war be-
tween sovereign powers.
assertion of all its rights and the main
tenance of all its duties in the conduct of
Il public war may be assured.
WILLIAM McKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, April
%, 1898.
In the House the Presidents message
was ordered printed and referred to the
IN Foreign Affairs by the
Speaker.