Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-11-18
MIR. Rooseyelt's Recommendations TO
the Extra Session
TREATY RELATIONS WITH CUBA
Both interest and Honor Demand OF
Our Government Prompt Action
Brief But Vigorous Paper.


hcrs of both houses listened TO tho
reatias Of the Presidents message. the
1ull text of which follows:
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
o the Senate and House of Repre
Sentatives:
nave convened the Congress that
IL may consider the legislation neces-
sarE TO put into operation the CONNER
Clai treaty with Cuba. which was rati-
ned by the Senate at its last session
anu subsequently by the Cuban govern
meht. | deem such legislation demand
ed. not only by our interest. but bv our
hohor. We cannot with propriety
abandon the course upon which we
nave so wisely embarked. When tho
acceptance of the Platt amendment
was required from Cuba by the action
ot the Congress OF the United States.
TINS government thereby definitely
committed itself to the policy of treat
ING 'uba as occupying unique position
as regards this country. 1t was pro-
Niuel that when the island became n
frec and Independent republic. II
Shou!d stand in such close relations
WITH us as in certain respects to come
WITHIN our system OF internal policy:
and IL necessarily followed that she
mus, also to certain degree become
included within the lines of our econo.
mic policy. Situated as Cuba is. il
would not be possible for this country
to permit the strategic abuse of the
island by any foreign military power.
- IS for that reason that certain
limitations have been imposed uDon
her financial policy and that naval sta
tions have 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 arc
80 situated rs to prevent any idea that
there rs the intention ever TO use them
against Cuba, or otherwise than for
the protection OF Cuba form the as
sau!is OF foreign foes and or the bet
te. safeguarding OF American interests
in the waters south OF US.
These interests have been LARGELY
increased by the consequences of the
war with Spain and will be still furth-
cr increased by the building OF the
lsthmian canal They are both mill
tary and economic The granting to us
by Cuba OF the naval stations above
alluded to is OF the utmost importance
from n 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.
NOT AN AMERICAN INTEREST
SACRIFICED.
The treaty submitted to YOU for ap-
Proval secures to the United States
economic advantages as great as those
given Cuba. Not an American interest
is sacrificed. BY the treaty, a large
Cuban market is secured to our pro-
ducerS. 1t is market which lies az
our doors, which is already large.
which is capable OF great expansion.
and which is especially important to
the development OF our export trade.
1t would be indeed short-sighted 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. This re-
ciprocity greatly stands by itself II
Is demanded on considerations OF
broad national policy as we'll as by
our economic interest. IL will do harm
To no industry. 1t is in the interest OF
our people as a whole. both because OF
its Importance from the broad stand
point OF international policy and be-
cause economically It intimately con-
Germs us to develop and secure the rich
CGhan market for our farmers. ar
tisans, merchants and manufacturers.
y GUARANTY OF GOOD FAITH.
FINALLY. ii is desirable IS guaranty
of the good faith OF our nation towards
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 members OF
the blood and the courage Of our SOL
dicrS who fought for her in war; by
the memories OF the wisdom and in
tegrity Of our administrators who serv-
ed her in peace and who started ner
so we'll on the difficult path Of self
government. We must help her onward
and upward: and in helping her we
shall help ourselves.
PLEDGE OF THE "NTfON MUST BE
KEPT.
The foregoing consideration caused
the negotiation CT the treaty ith Cuba
and its ratification by the Senate. They
now, with equal force. support the leg
islatiOn, by the Congress which by the
terms OF the treaty is necessary to rem
der il operative. A failure to enact
such legislation would become peril
ously near repudiation of the pledged
faith OF the nation.
81 transmit herewith the treaty as
amended by the Senate and ratified by
the Cuban government.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. Nov. 10. 1903."