File No. 837.00/1121
The Secretary of State to Consul Griffith
Washington, February 23, 1917.
Your telegram forwarding statement of Chamber of Commerce of Santiago, addressed to President Wilson received. The President has instructed me to direct you to make the following statement in reply.
The Government of the United States has clearly defined its position in the present armed rebellion against the Constitutional Government of Cuba and it will attribute any disturbance of economic conditions or ruin of crops to the action of those in rebellion against the Government. Moreover, it cannot hold communication with leaders of this rebellion while they are under arms against the Constitutional Government. No other question except the reestablishment of order throughout the Republic through the return of those in rebellion to faithful allegiance to the Government can be considered under the existing conditions.
The Government of the United States, as has been made known to the people of Cuba, will support only constitutional methods for the settlement of disputes and will exert every means in its power as the friend of the Cuban Republic, to effect such settlement, but, until those persons who have revolted against the Government lay down their arms, declare allegiance to their Government and return to peaceful pursuits, the Government of the United States can take no further step.