Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-11-13
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT.
Honor as Well as Interesti Demands the
Cuban Treaty.

Honor as Well as Interesti Demands the
| Cuban Treaty.
Washington, Nov. 12.-Following is
the message which the president yes
terday sent to the special session OF
congress:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives:
| / have convened the congress that ii
may consider the legislation necessary to
put into operation the commercial treaty
with Cuba, which was ratified by the
senate at its last session, and subse-
quently by the Cuban government. 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
embarked.
When the acceptance of the Platt
amendment was required from Cuba by
the action of the congress of the United
States, this government thereby definite
ly committed itself to the policy of
treating Cuba as occupying unique po-
sition as regards this country. 1t was
provided that when the island became 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 ne
cessarily 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 wise
for this country to permit the strategic
abuse of the island by any foreign mill
tary power.
1t is for this reason certain imita tions
have been imposed upon her financial
policy and that naval stations have been
conceded by her to the United States.
The negotiations as to the details of
these naval stations are now on the eve
of completion. They 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 assault of foreign foes
and for the better safeguarding of
American interests in the water south
of us. These interests have been largely
increased by the consequences of the
war with Spain, and will be still further
increased by the building of the 18TH
mian canal. They are both military and
economic. The granting to us by Cuba
of the naval stations above alluded to
is of the utmost Importance from a mil
itary 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 sis
ter republics of the new world. She is
loyalty observing her obligations to US;
she is entitled to like treatment by US.
The treaty submitted to you for ap-
proval secures to the United States eco
nomic advantages as great as those Civ
en- to Cuba. Not an American interest
is sacrificed by the treaty, and large
Cuban market is secured to our produc-
ers. 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 develop
ment of our export trade. 1t would be,
indeed, short-sighted for us to refuse to
take advantage of such opportunity, and
to force Cuba into making arrangements
with other countries to our disadvantage.
This reprocity treaty stands by itself.
It is demanded in consideration of broad
National policy, as well as by our eco
nomic interest. I twill do harm to no
1t will benefit many indus
tries. 1t is in the interest of our people
as whole, both because of it's import
ance from the broad standpoint of inter-
national policy and because economically
it Intimately concerns us to develop and
secure the rich Cuban market for our
farmers, artisans, merchants and manu-
facturers.
Finally, it is desirable as a guaranty of
the good faith of our nation toward our
young sister republic, whose welfare
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 war; by the memories of the
wisdom and integrity of our administra-
tors who saved 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 ourselves.
The foregoing consideration caused the
negotiotion of the treaty with Cuba and
it's 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 it i'm
perative, as failure to enact such legiS-
lation would come perilously near re-
pudiation of the pledged faits of the
nation.
I transmit nerew1In the treaty as
amended by the senate and ratified by
the Cuban government
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House, November 10. 1908.