837.00/3118
The Ambassador in Cuba (Guggenheim) to the Acting Secretary of
State
Habana, July 31, 1931.
[Received August
4.]
No. 804
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 722 of June
8, 1931, I have the honor to transmit herewith additional memoranda of
my conversations with various prominent Cubans, in order that the
Department’s records may be complete.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Extract]
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Cuba (Guggenheim) of a
Conversation With the President of Cuba (Machado)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the morning of June 8th, I asked for an audience with the
President. The President, as usual, spent about an hour or an hour
and a half discussing many subjects. I told him that I had advised
my Government in regard to his decision to carry out the reforms and
that I had called to inquire from him what the present situation
was. He said that the House would consider this week the various
[Page 67]
proposals; that he would
back the ponente’s plan, but was willing to
listen to certain modifications. I reiterated my advice—that in
order to effect the desired results he must carry out the plan in
some manner that would appeal to the public and the newspapers, even
if the opposition could not be satisfied. I pointed out that
expeditious action was necessary; the political, economic and
financial matters had reached a “low-water” mark, and that the
political situation had better be rectified immediately so that the
financial situation might be taken in hand. I told the President
that I did not think the country could stand a $60,000,000 budget;
that $50,000,000 was, in my opinion, the limit. He said he realized
this, but was confronted with an impossible situation. He gave me a
copy of the ponente’s plan which I told him I
would study.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
