Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-14
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
President Roosevelt Makes Ap-
peal for Cuba's Welfare.
Still Insists That the Cubans Be
Given Reciprocity.
The Young Republics Life Depends
Upon America.

/ loli, Io.-AlltT ldlhlIg
with number of the leaders in Con-
gress regarding Cuban reciprocity
President Roosevelt, today, determined
to send a message to Congress re-af-
| firming his attitude on the subject The
| President has earnestly considered the
matter for several days and it is stated
| that the action of the anti-reciprocty
Republican senators, yesterday in de-
Gliding to hold out against the policy
advocated by the majority of the party
| did not influence the President in the
| least in deciding to transmit his mes
| sage to Congress, today.
The Presidents action, it may be
stated from sources close to him, was
| influenced by the board question of the
| duty of the United States to Cuba and
| of failures to the new republic.
1t has been pointed out to the Presi-
dent, that his Warmest political sup
port is in the section of the country
where there is the greatest opposition
to reciprocity the West and Northwest,
and that he should remain content with
| the stand he had taken without accent
uating his views in a special message.
1t is known, however, that the Presi-
| dent did not hesitate to arrive at the
conclusion that he would not let his po-
| ltical prospects interfere with what is
regarded as his plain duty. 1t is fur
| Their known that he told his friends that
| it was a source of great regret to him
| to take a position hostile to the wishes
of his warmest supporters, but that he
| felt it would not be in keeping with his
own nature and his position of Chief
| Executive to longer remain silent on
| this subject and thereby give an OPP
portunity for false speculation to his
attitude.
The President was further led to
conclude that the relations of the Unit
ed States and Cuba must necessarily
grow closer, and that the United States
should not at the outset CT its declared
purposes towards the island, assume a
position contrary thereto and thus
arouse the suspicious of the Cuban
government as 10 our real intentions
toward it.
1t is stated that the Presidents posi-
tive declarat ton in his message, today.
as TO the duty of Congress probably
will lend his active efforts to bring
about reciprocity.
The President, today, sent the fol-
lowing message to Congress:
j % tflt sSelldlt ana f1CuSe Oh lscDleSen-
tatiVeS:
l deem it important before the ad-
journment of the present session of
Congress to call attention to the fol-
lowing expressions in the message
which in the discharge of the duty i'm
posed upon me by the constitution l
sent to Congress on the first Tuesday
of December last:
Elsewhere / have discussed the
question of reciprocity. In the case of
Cuba, however. there are weighty rea-
sons of morality and of national inter-
est why the policy should be held to
have peculiar application, and / most
earnestly ask your attention to the wis
DOM indeed to the vital need, of pro-
viding for a substantial reduction in
the tariff duties on Cuban imports in
to the United States. Cuba has in her
constitution affirmed what we desired
that she should stand, in international
matters, in closer and more friendly re-
lations with US than with any other
power; and we are bound by every con-
sideration of honor and expediency to
pass commercial measures in the inter-
est of her material we'll being"
This recommendation was merely
giving practical effect to President Nc
\inley's words, when, in his messages
of December 5, 1898 and December 5,
1899, he wrote:
1T is important that our relations
with this people (of Cuba) shall be of
the most friendly character and our
commercial relations close and recipro-
CAL
eve have accepted a trust the fulfill
ment of which calls for the sternest In
tegrity of purpose and the exercise of the
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet tc
arise from the ashes of the past must
needs be bound to us by ties of singular
intimacy and strength If its enduring well
fare is to be assured The greatest bless
ing which can come to Cuba is the resto-
ration of her agricultural and industrial
prosperity"
Yesterday. June r. I received by cable |
from the American minister in Cuba d |
most earnest appeal from President Pal |
ma for Legislative relief before 1t is too |
late and (his) country financially ruin |
ed The granting of reciprocity with |
Cuba is a proposition which stands en- |
tirely alone. The reasons for II far out |
Continued on page So