and final termination of hostilities between the Government of Spain
and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment
of a stable government, capable of maintaining order and observing its
international obligations, insuring peace and tranquillity and the
security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military
and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these
purposes.

And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of
the starving people of the island I recommend that the distribution of
food and supplies be continued and that an appropriation be made out of
the public Treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens.

The issue is now with the Congress. It is a solemn responsibility.
I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condition of
affairs which is at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation
imposed upon me by the Constitution and the law, I await your action.

Yesterday, and since the preparation of the foregoing message, official
information was received by me that the latest decree of the Queen
Regent of Spain directs General Blanco, in order to prepare and
facilitate peace, to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, the duration
and details of which have not yet been communicated to me.

This fact, with every other pertinent consideration, will, I am sure,
have your just and careful attention in the solemn deliberations upon
which you are about to enter. If this measure attains a successful
result, then our aspirations as a Christian, peace-loving people will be
realized. If it fails, it will be only another justification for our
contemplated action.