837.00/4337: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:10 p.m.]
426. Negotiations between the chiefs of the political parties were in progress all yesterday afternoon and evening. Batista’s attitude continued firmly to be that a final effort should be made by every element to agree upon Mendieta as Provisional President and to insist upon his accepting the office but that failing such effort Gómez was the candidate with the greatest likelihood of forming a successful government. During the afternoon Grau San Martín was handed the written resignation of all of his secretaries and reached the decision himself to resign. At the same time the Student Directorate agreed to withdraw completely from the government of Cuba.
At half past 7 o’clock the Pais Libre, a newspaper published by the reporters and workmen of the Pais, was issued with the headline declaring that American intervention had been decreed and bearing on the front page a false cable concocted at the instigation of certain students and alleged to have been sent from Washington by special correspondent stating that the United States Government has determined upon intervention and that Marines would be landed and the Cuban soldiers disarmed by force. A mutiny immediately developed in the Cuban Navy barracks and agitation of the most dangerous character broke out in Camp Columbia and in the other Army barracks. I immediately telephoned Batista to send his aide and I handed him a written statement that the rumor was completely false and without foundation of any character. Batista has [had?] my statement read over the radio, announced it himself at Camp Columbia and had copies sent to the other Army and Navy barracks. The agitation promptly died down but the harm had already been done. The promoted sergeants in the Army and Navy were suspicious that any change of government favored by Batista might imply danger to themselves and their attitude was reflected in the meeting of the revolutionary representatives called together last night at Sergio Carbo’s house to meet with Grau San Martín and the students and to agree upon a new government. After long discussion which lasted until 4 [Page 512] a.m. this morning Grau San Martín withdrew his resignation and the individuals present at the meeting who were the same individuals who attended a similar meeting the night before declared their continued support of Grau San Martín.
The governmental crisis therefore continues. All governmental activities are at a standstill and the situation this morning in brief is as follows:
Grau San Martín remains in the Presidency supported by a few individuals. The Student Directorate has declared its intention of withdrawing from the government and will in all probability disband either before or after a vote of censure has been passed upon it today or tomorrow by the university student assembly. The Army is in a state of unrest as a result of the false cable published last night regarding intervention, although still controlled by Batista. The political parties and the remainder of the country are more than ever determined that Grau must go.