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Historic DS as president, one page, 8 x 10, Executive Mansion letterhead, April 23, 1898. President McKinley directs the Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to “my proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers.” Signed beautifully at the conclusion by William McKinley. In fine condition, with light edge toning, and a paperclip impression to the top edge.
On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, and to establish a ‘stable government’ that would ‘maintain order’ and ensure the ‘peace and tranquility and the security’ of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. On April 20th, Congress passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban independence, demanded that the Spanish government give up control of the island, foreswore any intention on the part of the United States to annex Cuba, and authorized McKinley to use whatever military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba's independence.
The Spanish government rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately severed diplomatic relations with America. As this document demonstrates, McKinley responded by implementing a naval blockade of Cuba on April 22nd and issued a call for 125,000 military volunteers the following day, a critical executive decision represented by this very document. That same day, Spain declared war on the United States, and Congress voted to go to war against Spain on April 25th.
After isolating and defeating the Spanish army garrisons in Cuba, the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron on July 3rd as it attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago. On July 26th, at the behest of the Spanish government, the French ambassador in Washington, Jules Cambon, approached the McKinley Administration to discuss peace terms, and a cease-fire was signed on August 12th. The war officially ended four months later, when the U.S. and Spanish governments signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898.
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