Consul-General Steinhart to the Acting Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State of the Republic of Cuba at 3.40 to-day delivered to me a memorandum, in his own handwriting, a translation of which follows: “The rebellion has increased in the provinces of Santa Clara, Habana, and Pinar del Rio, and the Cuban Government has no elements to contend it, to defend the towns and prevent the rebels from destroying property. President Estrada Palma asks for American intervention, and begs that President Roosevelt send to Habana with rapidity two or three thousand men to avoid any catastrophe in the capital. The intervention asked for should not be made public until the American troops are in Habana. The situation is grave and any delay may produce a massacre of citizens in Habana.”