837.00/3936: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba ( Welles ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 19—2:33 a.m.]
277. At 7 o’clock the leaders of the political groups presented their ultimatum to Grau San Martín. They demanded the resignation of his government both on the ground that it had come into being through mutiny in the Army and because the overwhelming, majority the Cuban people were opposed to it. They proposed the adoption of the following plan:
- 1.
- The creation of a nonpartisan government composed of individuals neither active in politics nor prominent in the direction of revolutionary groups.
- 2.
- The appointment of the members of such government to be determined by representatives of the following groups:
- The Student Council; the University professors; the Unión Nacionalista; the A. B. C.; the O. C. R. R.; the Menocal Party and the Gómez Party.
- 3.
- The program to be carried out by such government to be as
follows:
- A.
- Reorganization of the Army.
- B.
- Energetic measures for the protection of life and property.
- C.
- Immediate solution of the state of anarchy existing in relation between capital and labor.
- D.
- Recognition by the United States.
- E.
- Determination of questions involving foreign debt. [Apparent omission] the sugar industry.
- F.
- The appointment of a legislative council to legislate conjointly with the Provisional Government, such council to consist of 30 members and to enact following measures.
- G.
- Creation of a special tribunal to pass on all crimes and misdemeanors involving the Machado Government.
- H.
- Convocation of a constitutional convention within 6 months after installation of government; such convention to meet within 6 months after date of convocation.
- I.
- The organization of political parties, the enactment of a new electoral code and the taking of a new census.
- J.
- In general the promulgation of all measures governing the functioning of the Provisional Government.
Three of the members of the original revolutionary junta of five, Irizarri, Franca and Portela are attempting tonight to persuade the Student Council to agree to this compromise or some solution based [Page 449] upon it. About half the members of the student leaders are now favoring compromise, at the same time two of the political leaders are having a secret meeting with Batista to seek the Army’s neutrality in this controversy and to guarantee him and his associates amnesty and other assurances he desires.
At this moment there appears to be a real effort to effect an agreement.