837.00/3640: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:35 p.m.]
149. After conferences last night and this morning with political leaders of all parties and with the most prominent members of the opposition I have determined in an interview which I shall hold with Ferrara this afternoon to state to him that if President Machado declares that he will not accept the first two points in the solution proposed by me but offers as of his own initiative as a counterproposition a request for leave of absence until a Vice-President is inaugurated and the immediate resignation of all of the members of his Cabinet with the exception of General Herrera, the latter then to become acting head of the Government until a Vice-President is inaugurated, I will personally accept such a solution; recommend it to my Government for its approval; and recommend it to the leaders of the opposition as a solution of the immediate political crisis. General Herrera is Secretary of War and until Ferrara’s return was Acting Secretary of State. I had a confidential talk with General Herrera late last night in which he gave me his formal commitment that in the event that the President suggested an arrangement of the character above-indicated he would accept the responsibility and would obligate himself to appoint a national Cabinet composed of those representative men of all political groups whom the leaders of such groups indicated. If the constitutional reforms are immediately passed the Vice-President will be inaugurated not later than next February and General Herrera would then retire from office turning over the Government to a new and impartial individual as Vice-President agreed upon by all elements, who would hold the national elections of 1934 and govern the country until the next constitutional period, 1935.
This suggestion should in every sense of the word be acceptable to President Machado for the following reasons:
- (1)
- It permits him to save his face by declaring that he has not accepted the solution proposed by me but of his own initiative appointed one of the members of his Cabinet as head of the ad interim Government to hold office until the Vice-President takes over.
- (2)
- It offers security to President Machado for the lives and property of himself and of the members of his present Government as well as of the members of his family. The fear of assassination is in my judgment the fundamental obstacle to President Machado’s refusal to relinquish office under the solution originally proposed.
- (3)
- It offers absolute guarantees to all of the members of the Liberal Party who are afraid of reprisals by the opposition.
- (4)
- It insures the loyal support of the Cuban Army which is unanimously devoted to General Herrera although he is now retired from the Army and thus assures the maintenance of public order during the period entailed.
- (5)
- Some of the opposition factions will protest but the retirement of President Machado and the formation of a national Cabinet giving representation to every element will in a very short period bring acquiescence. The principal leaders of the opposition have unanimously decided to accept this proposal since in their belief it is the only method of obtaining Machado’s resignation and of avoiding American intervention which in their opinion Machado is at present determined to force.
- (6)
- From the point of view of the United States Government it seems to me a thoroughly satisfactory solution inasmuch as it would be a solution undertaken upon the initiative of the President of Cuba and agreed to by the political parties and the main leaders of the opposition. It is essentially a Cuban solution of the Cuban problem.
I may say that General Herrera is the only member of the present Government who has unswervingly supported my efforts to bring about a peaceful solution of the political problem and that he has invariably maintained faith with me. His entire life has been spent in the Army and he has to my knowledge upon two occasions refused to permit the Army to be used for political purposes. He is exceedingly amenable to suggestions which represent the interest of the United States Government. While he has been chief of the Cuban Army since the beginning of the term of President Zayas 12 years ago until the month of May when he retired, he has not in any sense been responsible personally for the atrocities which have been committed by certain Army officers during the past few years.
In accordance with President Roosevelt’s message to the Ambassador I shall insist upon prompt action. While the situation remains in general quiet it cannot remain quiet much longer. Any incident might provoke a general explosion.
I shall cable the Department further as soon as I have had my conference with Ferrara at 4 o’clock this afternoon.