837.00/3641: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:40 p.m.]
150. Dr. Ferrara, the Secretary of State, has just informed me that President Machado has instructed him that in view of the serious crisis of the moment he will be willing to ask leave of absence from the Congress not later than Wednesday of next week; request the immediate resignation of his Cabinet with the exception of General [Page 357] Herrera permitting the latter full authority to form a national Cabinet composed of representatives of all sectors of Cuban public opinion. Machado will present his resignation to the Congress to become effective immediately after the Vice-President, who is to be impartial, not connected with active party politics, and acceptable to all elements, is inaugurated.
The President, nevertheless, intends to send to me tomorrow “for the record” a counterproposal to the solution presented to him by me as mediator. This counterproposition I understand will contain a request for the United States Government to give the new temporary Cuban Government both economic and financial assistance immediately. It likewise declares for a new version of the Piatt Amendment and for an indefinite continuation of the existing administration. At the close the statement is made, however, that if this counterproposition is found unacceptable by the mediator the President will consider any other solution. The President has instructed Ferrara to state to me that as soon as this first counterproposition is declared by me not to represent the desires of the representatives of the Cuban political organizations, he will then of his own initiative take the action described in the first paragraph of this telegram.
The maintenance of public order during the next few days until the final step is taken will be exceedingly difficult. It is for that reason that it is essential that no indication be given by the Department of the President’s intention to leave his office immediately until further arrangements for publication of such intention are determined upon here.
I am advised that the decision of the President to take action immediately was due to the fact that all of the ranking officers of the Army throughout the Republic had notified him that the Cuban Army would not support him further.
The rumors concerning General Herrera have been circulating continuously this afternoon. Some of the more violent members of the opposition are bitterly opposed to this solution. The more responsible leaders of the opposition, however, have determined to accept this solution as a patriotic necessity in order to insure protection of the elements which have been supporting the present Government and they are confident that the control which can be exerted through a National Cabinet will be sufficient to insure the success of the interim Government until the new Vice-President takes office.
The principal danger in the present situation lies in the fact that President Machado has postponed taking this action for a week beyond the time when it should have been taken. Unless the strike can be broken within the next few days before notification of a change in administration, disorders may very likely occur.