Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-11-13
Entire Message of President Is a
Plea for Cuba.
WANTS PROMISES KEPT
Cuba Shows Good Faith by Granting
Naval Stations-The treaty, He
Declares, Will Harm No Indus.
try.

dent Roosevelt's message to congress
which he has assembled in cxtraor.
binary session. was read in both
houses today at noon.
The communication is an excep-
tionally short one and reads as fol
lows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiyes:
| have convened the congress that it
nay consider the legislation necessary
TO put into operation the commercial
treaty with Cuba, which was ratified
by the senate at its last session, and
subsequently by the Cuban govern
ment. deem such legislation de-
manded not only by our interest, but
by our honor We cannot with pro
priety abandon the course upon which
we have so wisely embarked. When
the acceptance of the Plat amend
ment was required from Cuba by the
action of the congress Of the United
States. this government thereby def
nitely committed itself TO the policy
Of treating Cuba as occupying unique
position "a regards this country. II
was provided that when the island be-
came a free and independent republic
she should stand in such close rela-
tions with us as In certain respects to
come within our system OF interna-
tional policy: and it necessarily fol
lowed that she must also to certain
degree become included within the
lines of our economic policy. Situated
as Cuba is. it would not be possible
for this country TO permit the strategic
abuse Of the island by any foreign mil
itary power.
For Cuba's Protection.
1t is for this reason that certain linn
itations have been imposed upon her
financial policy, and that naval sta
tons have been conceded by her to the
United States. The negotiations as to
the details of these naval stations are
so situated as TO prevent any idea that
there is the intention ever to use them
against Cuba, or otherwise than for
the protection OF Cuba from the as
ter safeguarding OF American inter
ests in the waters south OF us.
These interests have been largely
increased by the consequences OF the
war with Spain, and will be still fur
Their increased by the building OF the
isthmian canal They are both mill
tary and economic. The granting to
a. go lou
alluded TO is of the utmost importance
from a military standpoint, and Is
proof of the good faith with which
Cuba Is treating us. Cuba has made
great progress since her independence
was established She has advanced
steadily in every way. She already
stands high among her sister republics
of the new world. She is Loyalty OBJ.
serving her obligations to us and she
is entitled TO like treatment by us.
The treaty submitted TO you for APP
proval secures TO the United States
economic advantages as great as those
given to Cuba. Not an American in
large Cuban market is secured to our
producers. II is market which lies
at our doors, which is already large,
which is capable Of great expansion,
and which is especially important TO
the development OF our export trade.
II would be indeed shortsighted for
us TO refuse TO take advantage Of such
an opportunity, and TO force Cuba into
making arrangements with other coun.
tries to our disadvantage.
Harms No Industry.
This reciprocity treaty stands by it.
self Ii is demanded on considerations
OF broad national policy, as we'll as by
our economic interest. 1t will do harm
TO no industry. II will benefit many
industries. 1t IL in the interest Of our
people as a whole, both because OF its
importance from the broad standpoint
of international policy and because
economically II intimately concerns us
to develop and secure the rich Cuban
market for our farmers, artisans, mer.
chants and manufacturers. Finally, II
is desirable as a guaranty of the good
faith OF our nation toward her young
sister republic to the south. whose wei
fare must ever be closely bound with
ours We gave her liberty. We are
knit to her by the memories OF the
blood and the courage Of our soldiers
who fought for her in the war; by the
memories of the wisdom and integrity
Of our administrators, who served her
in peace and who started her SO vel
bn the difficult path of self-govern
,nent. We must help her onward and
upward and in helping her we shall
help ourselves.
The foregoing considerations caused
the negotiation of the treaty with
Cuba and its ratification by the senate
They now, with equal force, support
the legislation by the congress which
by the terms Of the treaty is necessary
to render IL operative. failure &c
enact such legislation would come
periiously near a reputation OF the
pledged faith OF the nation.
transmit herewith the treaty, as
amended by the senate and ratified by
the Cuban government.