I believe this means peace, which the sober judgment of our people will approve long before next November, and which must be approved at the bar of final history." To this message the Secretary of State replied: "The President highly appreciates the Queen's desire for peace.

He cannot assume to influence the action of the American Congress beyond a discharge of his constitutional duty in transmitting the whole matter to them with such recommendations as he deems necessary and expedient." On the 9th of April the Queen granted the amnesty, on the formula of a request by the European powers.

On the next day, General Woodford cabled that the United States could obtain for Cuba a satisfactory autonomy, or independence, or the cession of the island.
It was evident that there was no difference of opinion among those in authority in the United States as to the fact that Cuba must be severed from Spain.

There were, however, differences of judgment as to which of the three methods suggested by Woodford was preferable, and there was a substantial disagreement as to the means necessary to realize the aims of the American Government.

General Woodford believed that Spain would grant the demands of the United States, if she were given time and were not pressed to the point of endangering her dignity.