837.00/3630: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:04 p.m.]
142. My 134, August 8, 9 p.m. President Machado this morning with the help of Ferrara succeeded in forcing the executive committee of the Liberal Party to pass a resolution rejecting the solution presented by me as mediator. The President attempted to persuade the Conservative and Popular Parties to take the same action. The President of the Conservative Party refused and in the letter sent by him to President Machado at noon today of which he sent me a copy he stated that while his party had not requested the President to retire he invited him “in the name of the Conservative Party to make the gesture as an act of the highest nobility which would add luster to his name together with his titles of General and President of the Republic.” The heads of the Popular Party have stated that the resolution of the party communicated by me to the Department in my 141, August 9, 8 p.m., is all-inclusive and was clearly intended by them to express their approval of the solution presented to President Machado. They advised me they will refuse the President’s request.
It is very obvious that the leaders of the Liberal Party are doubtful which way to jump. Both Senator Barreras, President of the Senate, and Governor Barcello, the President of the Liberal Party, told me in unmistakable terms that they felt that the solution proposed was the only one that would save the country and that it must consequently be accepted by the President. Ferrara told me this morning however that both of these individuals had stated to him not only that [Page 350] they were not in accord with the President’s retirement but that I had told them in my conversation with them that the President’s decision must be reached within 48 hours. Needless to state I never made any such assertion to either of these two Liberal leaders and the allegation is completely false as are all of the others which the President’s supporters are attributing to me. I am advising the Department of these facts in view of my belief that the attempt will very soon be made, if it has not already been made, by the Government to try and show that I have exceeded my instructions and my faculties as mediator.