File No. 837.55/24.
Minister Gonzales to the Secretary of State.
Havana, January 27, 1915.
Referring to the Department’s telegram of January 20, Chinese Chargé d’Affaires called on me. He had information of Department’s [Page 268] instruction and recognized delicacy and difficulty of my approaching the Cuban Government in the matter. I introduced the subject to the President in a personal and most informal conversation and got from him Government’s version. There is conflict about facts. He said that he wished to be as lenient as possible under the law but Chinese had abused concessions and forged certificates. I gave him to understand we wish to help if there was a way to do so and that the Chinese would be pleased if final action were not taken until their Minister comes here in March and presents his credentials. The President seemed somewhat favorable to that suggestion.