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  4. Document 9

611.3731/198: Telegram

The Ambassador in Cuba ( Crowder ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Habana , May 17, 1926—4 p.m.
[Received 8:35 p.m.]

84. From a source close to President Machado I have received the following reliable information:

(1)
That President Machado sent the note transmitted with my despatch No. 1416, May 7, out of deference to an almost unanimous public opinion in Cuba on the matter;
(2)
That the Government of Cuba would appreciate as an act of courtesy Department’s prompt expression, in most general terms, of its willingness, when a convenient time may offer itself, to enter upon a discussion of trade relations between the United States and Cuba with view to render them truly reciprocal, even though such discussion should lead to no result;
(3)
That Department’s unwillingness to enter into such a discussion as suggested above would seriously impair prestige of the present administration.

I have expressed no opinion as to what Department’s decision might be.

Crowder