837.00/4338: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
427. Dr. Antonio Guiteras, the Communist Secretary of Gobernación, made his resignation effective this morning. He gave it as his opinion that the failure of the government was due to the fact that it did not turn sharply to the Left, and announced his intention of working for a government composed of soldiers, sailors, small shopkeepers and workers. He made evident a definite break between himself and Batista, because Batista was resolutely opposed to Communism and the disorders promoted by labor agitators, and threatened to get rid of Batista in the near future. So far as I can ascertain, the other Cabinet secretaries are uncertain whether their resignations accepted yesterday afternoon still remain effective in view of Grau’s withdrawal of his own resignation.
A university student referendum is in progress this afternoon. The Student Assembly meets tomorrow morning and the result of the votes on the following two points will then be announced:
- (a)
- whether the Student Directorate should cease all governmental activities;
- (b)
- whether the students approve the activities of the selfappointed representatives of the students during the past 2 months.
Torriente this morning informed me that he and the other directors of the Unión Nacionalista Party were so incensed at the attitude [Page 513] adopted by Colonel Mendieta in refusing to assume the responsibilities of government when they were offered to him that they intend to withdraw their support from Mendieta and leave the party organization as soon as a solution of the present crisis has been reached.