The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-25
House Passed the Resolution in One Minute and Forty
One SeCondsE Declares That War Now Exists
and Has Existed Since Thursday Last Secretary
Sherman Resigns, and Will Be Succeeded by As
sistant Secretary Oay--CrGat Britain Notified.

Washington. April 25. The President
today sent to Congress tie IL flowing mes
sage recommending declaration OF wal
against Spain:
To the seuate and House OF Represen-
tstives of the United States Of America
transmit to tho Cor gress for its CON-
sideration and appropriate action copies
OF corrssr oudence recently had with the
representative of Spain In the Unite
States, with the United States minister et
Madrid and through the latter, with the
government Of Spain, showing the action
taken under the Joint resolution ap-
proved Aprii 20, 1898 "for tie recogni-
tion OF the Independence CT the people Of
Cuba. demanding that the government OF
Spain relipquish its authority and gov-
ernment 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
elect"
Upon com m unirntipg to the Spanish
minister In Washington the dem and
which it 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.
Ite United States minister at Madrid
was 10 turn notified by the Spanish min
istei for foreign affairs that tie With
drawsl OF the Spanish representatives
from the United States Lad terminated
diplomatic relations between the two
countries and that all official communi-
cations between their respective repressn-
tativss ceased Herewith.
l comm end TO your especial attention
the ote addressed to the United States
minister at Madrid by the Spanish min
lister for foreign affairs on tbe 2lst inst.
wi ereby tie fore soinR notification was
conveyed. IL 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 rte president is thereby
required ana authorized to do. responds
by treating tho reasonable demands OF
this government as measures of hostility,
following with that instant and complete
severance of relations by Its action, which
by the usage OF nations accompanies an
existence OF war between sovereign
powers.
The position of Spain teing thus made
known and the demands or the United
States being denied with complete rup-
ture OF intercourse by the act of spain.
l have teen constrained in exercise of the
power and autu ority conferred upon me
by the joint resolution aforesaid, to pro-
claim under date Of April %, 1898,
blockade OF certain ports OF the north
coast of Cuba, lying between Cardenas
and Rahfa Aonda and of the mort Cfeu-
fuegos on the south coast Of Cuba, and
further in exerclso OF my constitutional
powers and using the authority conferred
upon me by the act of Congress, approved
Arril %, 1893. to issue my proclamation
dated April %. 1898, calling for voiun-
teers In order To carry into effect the said
resolution OF April 20, 1898. Copies OF
these proclHmations ara hereto appended.
La view Of the measures 80 taken. and
with n view to the adoption OF such other
measures rs may be necessary TO enable
me to carry out the expressed will Of