837.00/3206
The Chargé in Cuba (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 23.]
Sir: Referring to my despatches Nos. 930 and 931 of November 12 and 13, 1931, I have the honor to report that, in so far as I have been able to ascertain, there has been little, if any, actual progress during the past week toward bringing about a rapprochement between the Government and the Opposition.
Having received no word to the contrary from Mr. Antonio Mendoza, I assume that he has not yet been permitted to visit General Menocal, Colonel Mendieta and Mr. Mendez Peñate in the Cabañas military prison. The President has, however, continued to order the release from jail of small groups of political prisoners of minor importance.
Yesterday’s newspapers report the sudden departure for the United States on November 18 of Senator Wilfredo Fernández and Representatives Evelio A. del Real and Fidel Alonzo Caiñas, all coöperativista Conservatives from the Province of Pinar del Rio, Fernández being the leader of his party in the Senate. It is commonly believed that these gentlemen have embarked upon a “mission of cordiality”, [Page 80] the purpose of their trip being to confer with the Opposition leaders now in New York. These latter include Domingo Mendez Capote, Cosme de la Torriente, Miguel Mariano Gomez, Rafael Iturralde, Fernando Ortiz, Ramon Zaydin, Aurelio Alvarez, Juan Espinosa and Rosendo Collazo.
The action of the Senate, as reported by telegram No. 185 of November 18, 10 a.m.,41 in passing the House bill providing for the immediate creation of a Superior Electoral Tribunal has been well received. Editorial comment on the subject in the anti-Government press is favorable, without being enthusiastic, and points out that the powers to be conferred on this Tribunal for supervising all electoral operations should increase confidence in the fairness of future elections.
There has been no further progress in the consideration by the Senate of the Constitutional Reform Bill, in spite of President Machado’s repeated assurances that its approval by that body would be expedited.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩