he United States may send, as soon as possible, the
means of transporting them from the stricken island. The island of St.
Vincent and, perhaps, others in that region are also seriously menaced
by the calamity which has taken so appalling a form in Martinique.

I have directed the departments of the Treasury, of War, and of the Navy
to take such measures for the relief of these stricken people as lies
within the Executive discretion, and I earnestly commend this case of
unexampled disaster to the generous consideration of the Congress. For
this purpose I recommend that an appropriation of $500,000 be made, to
be immediately available.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, _June 13, 1902_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I deem it important before the adjournment of the present session of
Congress to call attention to the following expressions in the message
which in the discharge of the duty imposed upon me by the Constitution
I sent to Congress on the first Tuesday of December last:

Elsewhere I have discussed the question of reciprocity. In the case of
Cuba, however, there are weighty reasons of morality and of national
interest why the policy should be held to have a peculiar application,
and I most earnestly ask your attention to the wisdom, indeed to the
vital need, of providing for a substantial reduction in the tariff
duties on Cuban imports 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 material well being.

This recommendation was merely giving practical effect to President
McKinley's words, when, in his messages of December 5, 1898, and
December 5, 1899, he wrote:

It is important that our relations with this people (of Cuba) shall be
of the most friendly character and our commercial relations close and
reciprocal. * * * We have accepted a trust, the fulfillment of which
calls for the sternest integrity of purpose and the exercise of the
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet to arise from the ashes of the past
must needs be bound to us by ties of singular intimacy and strength
if its enduring welfare is to be assured. * * * The greatest blessing
which can come to Cuba is the restoration