United States. President McKinley, after two months of parliamentary debate following the USS Maine incident, sends a 7,000-word message to Congress requesting the use of military force to intervene in the conflict between Cuba and Spain and achieve Cuba’s independence. The House approves the motion by 325 to 19. Spain breaks off diplomatic relations, McKinley implements a naval blockade of Cuba, and Spain declares war. And on April 25, McKinley also asks Congress to declare war on Spain.
