Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-11-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
gress Was Read in Both the House and
Senate Tuesday Afternoon.

Senate Tuesday Afternoon.
The message in full is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives: l have convened the Congress
that it may consider the legislation
necessary to put into operation the COM
mercial treaty with Cuba, which was
ratified by the Senate at its last session
and subsequently by the Cuban govern
ment. l deem such legislation demanded
not only by our interest but by our honor
We cannot with propriety abandon the
course upon which we have so wisely en-
barked When the acceptance of the
Platt amendment was required from
Cuba by the action of the Congress of
the United States this government there
by definitely committed itself to the
policy of treating Cuba as occupying a
unique position regards this country
II was provided that when the island be-
came a free and independent republic
she should stand in such close relations
with us as in certain respects to come
within our system of international policy;
and it necessarily followed that she must
also to a certain degree become included
within the lines of our economic policy
Situated as Cuba is it would not be pos
sible for this country to permit the
strategic abuse of the island by any for
eign military power
II is for this reason that certain limita-
tons have been imposed upon her finan-
been conceded by her to the United
States. The negotiations as to the details
Of these naval stations are on the eve of
completion. They are so situated as to
prevent any idea that there is the inten-
ton ever to use them against Cuba, or
otherwise than for the protection of Cuba
from the assault of foreign foes, and for
the better safeguarding of American in
terests in the waters south of us.
These interests have been largely in
creased by the consequences of the war
with Spain and will be still further in
creased by the building OF the isthmian
canal They are both military and eco
nomic. The granting to us by Cuba of
the naval stations above alluded to is of
the most importance from a military
standpoint, and is a 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 al
ready stands high among her sister re-
publics of the New World. She is Loyalty
observing her obligations to us, and she
is entitled to like treatment by us
The treaty submitted to you for ap-
prevail secures to the United States
economic advantages as great as those
given to Cuba. Not an American interest
is sacrificed By the treaty a large Gu
ban market is secured to our producers.
1t is a 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 eX-
port trade 1t would be indeed short
sighted for us to refuse to take advan-
tage of such an opportunity and to force
Cuba into making arrangements with
other countries to our disadvantage.
This reciprocity treaty stands by itself.
1t is demanded on considerations of
broad national policy well as by our
economic interests. 1t will do harm to
{,I, mill i1HI
tries. 1t is in the interest of our people
as a whole, both because of its impor-
lance from the broad standpoint of in
ternational policy, and because economi-
cally II ultimately concerns us to develop
and secure the rich Cuban market for our
farmers, artisans, merchants and manu-
facturers. Finally, it is desirable as a
guarantee of the good faith of our ma
ton toward her young sister republic to
the south, whose welfare must ever be
closely bound with ours. We gave her
liberty We are knit to her by the mem
DRY of the blood and the courage of our
soldiers who fought for her in war; by
the memories of the wisdom and integ-
rity of our administrators who served
her in peace and who started her so well
on the difficult path of self government.
We must help her onward and upward
and in helping her we shall help our
selves.
The foregoing considerations caused
the negotiation of the treaty with Cuba
and its ratification by the Senate. They
now with equal force support the legisla-
ton by the congress which by the terms
of the treaty is necessary to render 1t
operative. A failure to enact such legis-
lation would come perilously near a repu-
diation of the pledged faith of the nation.
1 transmit herewith the treaty, as
amended by the Senate and ratified by
the Cuban government.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.