File No. 837.00/1350
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War
Washington, May 18, 1917.
My dear Mr. Secretary: With reference to your letter of May 14, in which you state that the War Department is prepared to send a military expedition to the Island of Cuba, of adequate size to deal with the situation there, I have the honor to inform you that the Navy Department is in receipt of a telegram from General Cole, commanding the American forces of occupation in the Republic of Haiti, stating that in view of the unsettled conditions in that country, he is desirous of being reinforced, at the earliest possible moment, with a further body of marines.
The Navy Department has informed this Department that the only force of marines now available is that which is at the present time on duty in Cuba, guarding American property, and that it is desired to despatch this force of marines to Haiti at the earliest opportunity.
In view of the foregoing, and also of the necessity of replacing these marines with other American forces, it is requested that the War Department send immediately to the Island of Cuba a military expedition [Page 410] composed of two regiments, in order that the marine forces may be relieved; that adequate protection may be given to American and other foreign property, and that should the Cuban Government so desire cooperation by the American forces may be extended to the Cuban Government troops, in order to bring about at the earliest possible moment the complete restoration of order in the provinces of Cuba affected by the revolt against the Constitutional Government.
I am [etc.]