837.00/1948: Telegram
The Minister in Cuba ( Long ) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 4—12:30 a.m.]
1. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has just advised me that the fact that the Liberals are already interpreting the visit of General Crowder as a victory for them and direct reflection [on] the President of Cuba may make it impossible for him to receive the General.
I informed Doctor Desvernine that no one knew better than he how unreasonable such claims were. He enlarged upon how such a mission coming [unannounced?] would affect adversely the prestige of President Menocal and observed that if our Government had announced that General Crowder was coming on a mission of friendship to study Cuba’s immediate needs it would have rendered more agreeable a trying situation.