File No. 16169/24.
The Secretary of State to Minister Jackson.
Washington, June 21, 1910.
Sir: Reports having reached the department that there are circulating in Habana certain vague rumors regarding possible contemplated political disturbances, with the suggestion that such disturbances might not be viewed with disfavor by this Government, you will informally bring to the attention of the appropriate Cuban authorities the following statement:
It need scarcely be said that the Government of the United States has no disposition unnecessarily to take part in, or to express itself concerning, questions relating to the internal politics of Cuba, and that it would view with profound regret and disfavor any political agitation or activity involving violence and bloodshed by whomsoever undertaken, looking to the creation of any situation in Cuba which would again render necessary the occupation of that island by this Government in order to maintain a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the united States and now assumed and undertaken also by the Government of Cuba. You should upon all appropriate occasions let it be known that this is the real wish and feeling of the Government of the United States, which can not but consider that any person or party undertaking to bring about such an untoward condition of affairs is inimical not only to the Government of Cuba but likewise to the Government of the United States; and that the disposition of the United States would be to assist, in so far as treaty stipulations and the rules of international law require or permit, the constitutional Government of Cuba in those proper and constitutional measures which it might find necessary to undertake to maintain peace, law, and order in that Republic.
As having a possible general bearing upon this question as well as upon the question of the attitude of the American Government upon all matters relating to Cuba, the department repeats to you its instruction of April 5, 1910,1 in which, commenting upon the allegation of certain Americans that their negotiations were hampered by the action of other private American citizens who professed to Cuban officials some sort of unofficial authority to speak the real views of this department, you were informed that this department could not believe there was any actual foundation for such apprehensions since it would be immediately perceived by the Cuban authorities that the Government of the United States could and would speak through its duly accredited representatives only, who alone are and could be authorized to represent and speak for it in any capacity whatsoever; and that the placing of dependence upon information received through other sources would surely lead to misunderstanding and difficulties. In order, however, that the matter may be entirely clear, the department [Page 417] again repeats that whatever the Government of the United States has to say upon any and all matters, it will say through its duly accredited representatives and that if any American should at any time, without the permission or authority of this Government, directly or indirectly commence or carry on any verbal or written correspondence or inquiries with the Government of Cuba or with any officer or agent thereof with an intent to influence measures or conduct of the Government of Cuba or of any officer or agent thereof in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States upon and regarding any subject whatsoever, you will immediately call such citizen’s attention to section 5335 of the Revised Statutes, and will state that the Government of the United States will, if such a person should persist in his course, invoke the provisions of such statute for the protection of this Government.
I am, etc.,
- Not printed.↩