stant and complete severance
of relations by its action, which by the usage of nations accompanied an
existing state of war between sovereign powers.

"The position of Spain being thus made known, and the demands of the
United States being denied, with a complete rupture of intercourse by the
act of Spain, I have been constrained, in exercise of the power and
authority conferred upon me by the joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim
under date of April 22, 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 act of
Congress, approved April 22, 1898, to issue my proclamation, dated April
23, 1898, calling for volunteers in order to carry into effect the said
resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereto
appended.

[Illustration: PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY.]

"In view of the measures so taken, and other measures as may be necessary
to enable me to carry out the express will of the Congress of the United
States in the premises, I now recommend to your honourable body the
adoption of a joint resolution declaring that a state of war exists
between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain, and I urge
speedy action thereon to the end that the definition of the international
status of the United States as a belligerent power may be made 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.

(Signed) "WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
"_Executive Mansion, Washington, April 25, 1898._"

The war bill was passed without delay, and immediately after it had been
signed the following notice was sent to the representatives of the foreign
nations:

"A joint resolution of Congress, approved April 20th, directed
intervention for the pacification and independence of the island of Cuba.
The Spanish government on April 21st informed our minister at Madrid that
it considered this resolution equivalent to a declaration of war, and that
it had accordingly withdrawn its minister from Washington and terminated
all diplomatic relations.

"Congress has therefore, by an act approved to-day, declared that a state
of war exists between the two countries since and including April 21st.

"Yo