who are in such deadly peril and threatened with starvation, the
Government of the 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