File No. 837.00/1210
Minister Gonzales to the Secretary of State
Habana, March 12, 1917—6 p.m.
Your March 11, 4 p.m.5 Consul and naval commander not agreed to conditions in City of Santiago.
No report except from Consul that city authorities retiring or panic conditions there. Naval commander will turn over city to the Cuban Government when latter brings there without fighting way in sufficient force to guarantee order. Expected this force 650 men will enter by sea Wednesday evening; after which reserves in the city will be organized.
Meantime Government forces around San Luis on advice of naval authorities are not advancing pending conference with Cuban Government officials and commander United States Ship Montana at Guantanamo from which latter hopes good results. Next forty-eight hours may indicate more clearly what to expect of rebels. If policy of destruction is to be pressed Cuban Government cannot protect foreign property. As suggested earlier, physical aid from United States, if given, can be best employed in guarding railroad trunk lines and the more central properties, leaving Cuban forces to protect outlying properties and pursue bandits.