File No. 837.00/1196
[Untitled]
Habana, March 8, 1917, 10 p.m.
Department’s March 7, 10 p.m. In a proclamation issued today addressed to the Cuban people, President describes revolution as broken by the capture of its chief promoter and leader, he exhorts all those who are still out in a lost cause to lay down arms which can at most serve only to prolong the suffering of the country and cause [Page 380] further irreparable damage, and conveys the assurance that while lie will treat, with inflexible vigor those who are obstinate in further wounding the mother country he will have all possible indulgence for those who, sincere in their repentance, give themselves up to the just and proper course of the laws and the constitution.
This afternoon I spent more than two hours with the President and Secretary of State with reference to Santiago and Oriente Province. Immediate result was issuance of following proclamation for immediate publication under this date:
It having reached my knowledge that there exist or that an attempt is being made to spread erroneous ideas in regard to the special elections which were to have been held on the 20th of last February in the Province of Oriente and which were suspended by my decree number 237 of the 16th of February because City of Santiago, where, by provision of the law the provincial electoral board vested with the canvass of the returns of that province resides, was in the power of the rebels risen in arms against the Constitutional Government of the Republic, I hereby make known that within ten days after reestablishment of the said Constitutional Government in the aforesaid City of Santiago de Cuba the holding of said elections will be decreed in accordance with decisions of the Supreme Court or resolutions of the central electoral board or the provincial electoral board relating thereto with full guaranties for the free casting of ballots which the electoral law prescribes and in strict accord with the provisions thereof.
Under the law all persons not in prison who are registered at polling places may vote without regard to whether they have been insurgents and regardless of amnesty.
The President recognizes Garcia Muñoz as governor. Muñoz cabled request that the President appoint Rigoberto Fernandez military commander Oriente Province. Menocal considered suggestion that deserter from army who had overpowered and imprisoned superior officer, rebelled against legal government and seized state funds be made military commander while yet in revolt too preposterous to merit reply.
The President and Secretary of State concur that civil governor has authority under the law to receive surrender of rebelling officers whom he must hold in prison subject to courts and to accept surrender under terms amnesty proclamation of February 27 of all enlisted men who would of course return to army. The Governor is absolutely devoid of legal power to appoint military commander. Under Cuban laws provisional governor little more than salaried figurehead.
Naval commander’s proclamation issued March 4 and indorsed by Consul, while ambiguous in form received by me, appears to support Fernandez as commander of Oriente before having surrendered as rebel; to warn other forces from entering province after Government troops already in province; and to clothe Fernandez with sole authority to suppress disorders of which his revolutionary companions solely guilty.
Yesterday rebels warned federal commander Betancourt, advancing toward Santiago, they would burn the President’s personal estate, the Palma Soriano mills, if advance continued. Menocal ordered advance today. Rebels burned all cane—thirty-five million arrobas. Federal troops arrived in time to save mill.
I believe influence in Oriente against Government opposition of Commander Fernandez of Santa Clara and Commander Demola of Camaguey tremendously exaggerated through Ferrara in New York [Page 381] and his agents in Santiago. These rebel officers lack influence in Oriente where there are no important civil rebel leaders. With Santiago in Government control there is not half the influence to sustain disturbance in that province that has been demonstrated in Santa Clara.