Mr. Sherman to Mr. Hay.
Washington, April 5, 1898.
We have accepted the offer of the British ambassador that United States legation at Madrid be intrusted in case of necessity to British embassy there. Express thanks for courtesies. We hope British consuls may be authorized to extend like courtesy should any American consuls in Spanish territory request them to take charge of consular archives. The situation is grave. Spain has not in fact offered armistice or admitted any offices of the United States toward ending the war except to intimate that the President may influence insurgents to lay down arms and negotiate for peace under home rule. Spanish propositions obviously dilatory and intrinsically unacceptable. The President can no longer defer laying matter before Congress Wednesday, to-morrow, afternoon.