ot make any recommendations to Congress as to which of these
methods would be the more desirable. A cable of the length of that
proposed requires so much time for construction and laying that it is
estimated that at least two years must elapse after giving the order for
the cable before the entire system could be successfully laid and put in
operation. Further deep-sea soundings must be taken west of the Hawaiian
Islands before the final route for the cable can be selected. Under
these circumstances it becomes a paramount necessity that measures
should be taken before the close of the present Congress to provide such
means as may seem most suitable for the establishment of a cable system.

I commend the whole subject to the careful consideration of the Congress
and to such prompt action as may seem advisable.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

PROCLAMATIONS.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas by a joint resolution passed by the Congress and approved April
20, 1898,[24] and communicated to the Government of Spain, it was
demanded that said Government at once relinquish its authority and
government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces
from Cuba and Cuban waters, and the President of the United States was
directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the
United States and to call into the actual service of the United States
the militia of the several States to such extent as might be necessary
to carry said resolution into effect; and

Whereas in carrying into effect said resolution the President of the
United States deems it necessary to set on foot and maintain a blockade
of the north coast of Cuba, including all ports on said coast between
Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port of Cienfuegos, on the south coast
of Cuba:

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, in
order to enforce the said resolution, do hereby declare and proclaim
that the United States of America have instituted and will maintain a
blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including ports on said coast
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port of Cienfuegos, on the
south coast of Cuba, aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United
States and the law of nations applicable to such cases. An efficient
force will be posted so as to prevent the entrance and exit of vessels
from the ports aforesaid. Any neutral vessel approaching any of sa