837.00/3634: Telegram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Daniels) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
165. In a talk with Doctor Puig34 today he said that Mexico thought most Cubans wished Machado’s removal or abdication but felt that intervention by the United States alone would not be approved by Latin American countries. It might indeed militate against agreements by the Montevideo Conference35 in the success of which he is deeply interested. He pointed out that Machado following the plan of Huerta would appeal to Cubans against intervention by “the Colossus of the North” stimulating the natural opposition to outside dictation. This would strengthen his position with Cubans. However, if the United States should say in effect that whereas the Piatt Amendment imposed upon it a right and a duty but that it generously proposed to act in cooperation with other countries on this continent, this joint action, such as Wilson’s belated confidential conference in the Huerta situation36 would be wise. I know it would be hailed with approval in Latin America. Puig believes it would result in the ousting of Machado. If Mexico was represented on such a body this country would cooperate in securing for Cuba a government which would insure peace and bring prosperity. Just before I called on Doctor Puig the Japanese Minister was there. He had said to Dr. Puig that it looked like the United States was about to do in Cuba what Mexico and our country had condemned Japan for doing in Manchuria. Puig answered that there was no such analogy because under the Platt Amendment and the Cuban Constitution the United States had both a right and duty to intervene to end Cuban revolution.
[Page 351]I hope Pan American participation in reaching settlement in Cuba may be invoked and Mexico invited to take part. Memorandum of conversation being sent by air mail.
- J. M. Puig Casauranc, Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- See vol. iv, pp. 1 ff.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1914, pp. 487 and 489.↩