Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman.

Legation of the United States,
February 28, 1898.

No. 161.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday I telegraphed you in cipher as follows:

Madrid, February 27, 1898.

Decree dissolving the Spanish Cortes was signed February 26. New Cortes will meet April 25.— Woodford.

The practical effect of this delay in dissolving the old Cortes and assembling the new one on April 25 will be that the rainy season will have arrived in Cuba before the new Cortes gets fairly at work. With the beginning of the rainy season effective movements by the Spanish regular forces in Cuba will be impossible.

The Spanish Government will probably base argument on the then condition of military movements as reason for further delay.

Very respectfully, yours,

Stewart L. Woodford.