File No. 837.00/598a.
The Secretary of State to the American Minister.
Washington, May 23, 1912.
You will explain to the Cuban Government that the following has to-day been given to the press in the hope of somewhat steadying the situation and thereby assisting the Government of Cuba to put down the present uprising:
Information reaching the Department of State has indicated a serious state of disturbance in the easternmost Province of the Island of Cuba, especially in the neighborhood of Guantánamo and Santiago, where there are important [Page 246] American interests, which have already made representations to the Department to the effect that their property is being seized and the lives of their employees endangered, and have requested that, the Government of the United States procure for them adequate protection. The Department of State has accordingly requested the Navy Department to send vessels and marines to the United States naval station at Guantánamo, which is near the center of the disturbance. The Prairie is to take 500 marines and join the Paducah and Nashville there. These steps have, of course, been taken simply in order that, in case of necessity, protection may be accorded to the Americans in that vicinity.
Should situation require, additional vessels will also be ordered to Guantánamo.