837.00/3633: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:42 p.m.]
145. I had this morning a very long conversation with Ferrara. I read to him a paraphrase of the Department’s 66, August 9, 6 p.m. In accordance with the authorization given me over the telephone later I am sending Ferrara a written copy of such paraphrase. It was perfectly obvious that Cintas had not reported correctly to Ferrara his conversation with President Roosevelt.
The bases of Ferrara’s’ arguments were: an indefinite extension of time before reaching any decision; acquiescence on our part for the Government to put down the general strike by any means necessary as a method of insuring public order in the future; and finally that the solution proposed by me as mediator should have been proposed some 6 or 7 months from now during which time I should have permitted negotiations to drag on.
[Page 352]After a protracted discussion Ferrara stated that President Roosevelt’s suggestion that food supplies be sent here to alleviate distress was a futile gesture and that if possible bases for agreement could be reached upon a liberal loan to be made by the United States Government to the Machado administration without interest for a stated period together with the immediate negotiation of a new commercial treaty which would grant Cuba material advantages he would advise President Machado to resign some time later after the effects of the action taken by the United States Government had permitted President Machado to regain his lost popularity.
I replied to the Secretary of State that I could not convey any such bargain to my Government predicated on a continuance of power of the Machado administration; that I had reached the conclusion that normal conditions in Cuba could not exist so long as the present administration continued and that I believed any counterproposal advanced by President Machado should be based upon patriotism and the needs of the Cuban people and the interests of the Cuban Republic rather than upon any idea of the United States making loans to Cuba over which the existing Machado administration would have control. I stated that while I was without authority to say so it was my personal belief that as soon as there existed in Cuba a constitutional government which merited the confidence of all of the Cuban people the Government of the United States would be disposed to consider favorably any reasonable requests for economic assistance which might be advanced.
Ferrara told me that he would like to think matters over; that he would confer with President Machado tomorrow morning and that he would then, tomorrow afternoon, talk again with me and give me some indication in a definite way of what President Machado intended to do.