837.00/4321: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1—12:45 a.m.]
419. Batista requested urgently an interview with Mendieta this afternoon. The latter postponed the meeting until late tonight in order to be afforded the opportunity for a final agreement with the other political leaders.
Batista has stated tonight that he is willing to place the entire decision as to the solution in Mendieta’s hands but that the solution must be reached immediately. The two possibilities are the Ortiz plan which would permit the retention of Grau San Martín with an entirely new Cabinet selected by the opposition and a legislative assembly vested with some executive functions and composed of individuals selected in accord with the opposition, or the Provisional Presidency of Mendieta with a completely new government.
The situation tonight appears to promise an immediate crisis and Batista is apprehensive; the chief of the national police and two of the commanders of the four remaining armed forces in Habana went to see Mendieta this evening to urge him to accept the Presidency, and it is obvious that unless a solution is rapidly found the Army will disintegrate. At this moment it appears likely that Mendieta will finally reach an agreement with Batista tonight.