837.00/4218
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Caffery)
Dr. Marquez Sterling, in charge of the Cuban Embassy, came in to see me this afternoon under instructions from Dr. Guillermo Portela, [Page 408] who is a member of the Cuban governing group, and who is in charge of foreign affairs, to ask me if it were true that the United States Government intended to disembark marines at Habana this afternoon. He said that that report had been circulated throughout the city and that as a result a very disturbed feeling prevailed there. I told him that the report was false. He asked me if we had any intention of disembarking marines. I replied, “only for the protection of lives in actual physical danger”. He asked me if this might be made public at Habana. I said yes, that publicity might be given to the fact that “we have no intention of landing marines except in the single case where they are needed for the protection of lives actually in danger”.
Dr. Marquez Sterling went on to say that the Committee composed of the five members of the governing group and leaders of the opposition parties were still in session; that it meant to stay in session until it had agreed upon a President acceptable to all and a concentration cabinet representing all the groups.
As Dr. Marquez Sterling had asked me if he might speak frankly to me on the question of landing marines, I said, “I would like now to ask you frankly a question”. I said, “we hear that Communist elements are having an unfortunate influence and are causing disturbances in many parts of Cuba; what do you say to that?” He said that he could assure me that there were no Communist elements in the Revolutionary Government; that on the other hand, it was quite possible that the Communists were causing disturbances in various parts of the Island but he believed that with the formation of a concentration government it would be easy to put down the Communists. I said, “what is this I hear about anti-United States propaganda in various cities?” He said “those are only irresponsible elements; not more than ten serious people on the Island are unfriendly to your country”.
He asked me if I thought that the formation of a concentration government would be a good step. I said, “I will repeat what we have often said before,—that we would welcome the formation of any Cuban Government able to maintain order and give adequate protection to the lives of inhabitants of Cuba. We have no desire to impose any individuals or select the members of your Government.”