File No. 837.00/1168
Minister Gonzales to the Secretary of State
Habana, March 3, 1917, 6 p.m.
President Menocal handed me today a memorandum in Spanish and reply to my representations of yesterday carrying Department’s instruction of March 1, 5 p.m. Following is a translation:
There are very serious objections to bases proposed by the leaders of the rebel troops in Santiago and they are not predicated upon any consideration of justice. The very healthy moral effect of the declaration of the Government of the United States in favor of the constituted Government of Cuba duly appreciated by me demands that the energetic and decided action now being developed with assurance of early and satisfactory outcome shall not be weakened by a pact which is not even justified by necessity.
The full amnesty which is sought for all those in arms granted, as it would have to be granted, by pact or parley and not by wholesale clemency while they are still in frank sedition and perpetrating all kinds of misdeeds would have a disastrous effect upon the morale of the army and upon public opinion. It must be borne in mind that this is not a revolution of the people but is almost wholly a military sedition of officers who have been disloyal to the Government and unfaithful to their oaths and have scandalously broken discipline by rising in arms against the lawful powers, imprisoning constituted authorities and in some cases burning judicial archives and appropriating public moneys.
Without setting aside considerations of clemency for the victims of suggestion or force, as already announced in proclamations published to that effect, it is obvious that only by the just and exemplary punishment of the principal perpetrators and instigators of such crimes could the future Government of Cuba be set upon a firm foundation and the integrity of her institutions preserved. Indiscriminate pardon granted in consequence of a pact in which they would appear in the position of imposing terms would not only crush the authority and moral force of the Government but would provoke deep discontent in the loyal forces. A large part of the officers of the army, wounded in their most cherished sentiments, would prefer to abandon the ranks than to have themselves confounded with or by rank subordinated to those who have conducted themselves in such a guilty and shameless manner. Call attention to fact that the rebels with whom naval officers conferred in Santiago can speak only for a small group and not for Gómez who is Commander in chief of constitutional army and head of revolution respectively.
[Page 375]The suggestions contained in the bases relative to decisions of the Supreme Court and to the special elections in Santa Clara and Oriente Provinces are inconsistent with the facts. All of the decisions of the Supreme Court in election matters have been strictly fulfilled and in accordance with those decisions the election proclamations of successful candidates in Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and Camaguey have been issued. The special election pending after those decisions were to have been held on the 14th and 20th of February. The former were held on the appointed date and the governor-elect has already taken office, Senators have been chosen by senatorial electors and the representatives in Congress have been proclaimed. The election in Oriente has been postponed on account of the revolutionary uprising in the capital of the province and, without the necessity for any pact therefor with the rebels, will be held in accordance with law as soon as the troops take the city which will not be more than a few days hence. All facts go to prove that the people have been indifferent to the incitement of the rebels. The rebels have failed in their hope to bring about a popular uprising and were it not for the seditious troops who are still out, the movement, lacking the support of public opinion, would be already wholly put down. The Government encounters, on the contrary, decided support in all the provinces as shown by number of volunteers hastening to enlist in defense of law and order.
I am quite sure that had the arms which we await from the United States been already received we would by this time have had the rebellion completely in hand. Everywhere the law prevails in the western provinces and has been reestablished in Santa Clara and Camaguey and in a great part of Oriente. The advance of the troops upon Santiago after the victorious action of Bayamo is progressing with all possible haste and success. I think I am entitled to reasonable time for completing this task of peace and justice.
That in the interval of the few days longer which the insurrection will at any rate last, some destruction of private property may occur at the hands of the rebels themselves and with the deliberate purpose already announced of forcing change in the policy of the United States should be no reason for such change, for property damages would not remain without compensation nor could they justify the resulting sacrifice of the supreme interests of maintenance of constitutional legality of discipline in the armed forces of justice.
I believe firmly that the only constitutional measure which can be adopted in this situation of violence and force encompassed by the sedition of a part of the army is to let the army itself carry out its duty and accomplish the end for which it was created by enforcing respect of authority and law, which it will be able to do soon if the authority and the prestige of the Government is not crushed by unjustified concessions.