The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-17
PRESIDENT REAFFIRMs HIS AT.
TiTUDE TOWARD CUBA.
INFLUENCED BY FAIRNESS
Regards 1t the Duty of the United
States to LegisIate to Help
Young Republic.

Washington, June 13.-After talk
ing with a number of the leaders ii
congress regarding Cuban reciprocity
President Roosevelt today determined
to send a message to congress reaf
irming his attitude on the subject.
The president has earnestly consid
cred the matter for several days ant
it is stated that the action of the anti
reciprocity republican senators yes
terday, in deciding to hold out agains'
the policy advocated by the majority
of the party did not influence the pres
ident 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 broad question OF
the duty Of the United States to Cuba
and Of fairness to the new republic.
It has been pointed out to the pres.
ident that his warmest political sup
porters are in the section of the coun.
tidy where there is the greatest oppo-
sition to reciprocity-the west and
northwest, and that he should re
main content with the stand he has
taken without ac%centuating his views
in a special message.
1t is known, however, that the pres
ident did not hesitate to arrive at a
conclusion that he would not let his
rN1i}iooI ~r0rr1o+o i~%1vfov<, ~rys%h vrh~A
he regarded as his plain duty.
1t is further known that he told his
friends that it was a source of great
regret to him to take a position hos
tile to the wishes of his warmest sup
porters. 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 opportunity for
false speculation as to his attitude.
The president was further led to
conclude that the relations of the
United States and Cuba must neces-
CARLY grow closer and that the United
States should not at the outset, after
its declared purpose toward the is
land, assume a position contrary
thereto, and thus arouse the sus
picions of the Cuban government as to
our. real intention toward it..
1t is stated the presidents positive
declaration in his message today as
to the duty of congress probably will
end his active efforts to bring about
reciprocity.
The Message.
To the Senate and House: l deem
it important before the adjournment
of the present session of congress to
call attention to the following express
sions in the message which in the dis
charge of duty imposed upon me by
the constitution, l sent to congress the
first Tuesday of December last:
ELSEWHERE l have discussed the
question of reciprocity. In the case
Of Cuba, however, there were wighty
reasons of morality and of national in
trest why the policy should be held
to have a peculiar application, and l
most earnestly ask your attention to
the wisdom, indeed, to the vital need,
Of providing for a substantial reduc-
ton in the tariff duties in Cuban i'm.
ports into the United States. Cuba
has in her constitution affirmed what
we desired, that she should stand in
international matters in closer and
more friendly relations with us than
with any other power; and we are
bound by every consideration Of honor
and expediency to pass commercial
measures in the interest. of her we'll
being"
This recommendation was merely
giving practical effect to President Nc
Kinley's words when, in his message !
Of December S, 1898, and December
5, 1899, he wrote: i
1T is important that our relations
with this people of Cuba shall be of the
most friendly character and our com
mercial relations close and recipro-
cal.
Duty of the Nation.
I'VE have accepted a trust, the full
fillment of which calls for the sternest
integrity of purpose and exercise of
the highest wisdom. The new Cuba
yet to rise from the ashes of the past
must needs be bound to us by the ties
Of singular intimacy and strength if
it's enduring welfare is to be assured.
The greatest blessing which can come
to Cuba is the restoration of her agri-
cultural and industrial prosperity"
Yesterday. June IL. l received by ca
BILE from the American minister in Gu
ba q most earnest appeal from Presi-
dent Palma for Legislative relief be-