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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
