File No. 837.00/561.

The American Minister to the Secretary of State.

No. 71.]

Sir: I have the honor to invite the Department’s attention to Mr. Jackson’s despatch No. 672 of March 10,1 the Department’s instruction No. 263 of March 20, 1911,1 and prior correspondence relative to the “Independent Party of Color” (Partido Independiente de Color) of Cuba. It was announced at that time that the party intended to send a delegation to Washington for a presentation of grievances.

The leader of that party, Evaristo Estenoz, called at the Legation two days ago and stated that the party had decided to send to Washington “as soon as the present cold weather in the north should let up a little” a delegation of six, one from each province. He said that the principal grievance which among others it is intended to bring before the President of the United States is that, preceding the elections held in the fall of 1908 under the Provisional Government, their party was duly recognized and given standing as a political party by Governor Magoon in a formal decree; that, in contravention of the proclamation which made all acts of the Provisional Government binding upon the Republic of Cuba, the Gómez administration through the bipartisan electoral boards has refused to recognize the standing which had been accorded them by the Provisional Government; and that in the approaching electoral period they have reason to believe that they will be similarly debarred from placing [Page 243] a ticket in the field. Estenoz also said that when he and the other leaders of the party were arrested in April and May, 1910, on the charge of “inciting rebellion” the Government made known to them indirectly that their arrest and incarceration for several months had been in obedience to “indications from Washington.”

The above information is communicated to the Department as of possible interest in the event that the announced delegation should really reach Washington and endeavor to see the President.

I have [etc.]

A. M. Beaupré.
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.