611.3731/419: Telegram

The Ambassador in Cuba ( Welles ) to the Acting Secretary of State

74. Referring to our telephone conversation yesterday the newspapers here this morning announce that the President has positively abandoned his intention of requesting authorization of Congress in this session to undertake the negotiation of reciprocal trade agreements in the form originally proposed.

It is highly desirable that I be instructed to announce at the first possible moment that I am authorized to undertake the negotiation of a revision of the existing commercial convention between Cuba and the United States24 or else that the Department announce that such negotiations will be undertaken by the Department with the Cuban Embassy at Washington.

If no announcement is made and the impression is given that there is no hope of economic improvement in Cuba through a revision of the commercial convention until some time in the indefinite future, the reaction here will be extremely prejudicial. If the negotiation of the revised convention is undertaken without delay not only will the psychological effect be good but the new convention could be presented for ratification to our Senate in the next regular session with the probability that ratification would be obtained and consequently that shortly thereafter the resulting change in conditions would operate not only in benefit of Cuba but also of our own exporters.

Welles
  1. Convention concluded December 11, 1902, Foreign Relations, 1903, p. 375.