837.00/4353: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:35 a.m.]
441. Dr. Guiteras, Secretary of the Interior and War, has just stated to my contact with him that it is intended in the course of the day to hold summary courts martial and execute immediately all soldiers or police who joined the opposition movement and who have been captured. I fear that the opportunity will be taken on some pretext to execute at the same time some of the officers who have been imprisoned since the National Hotel incident. I am advising the Spanish Ambassador of these facts in order that he may, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, make such representations as may be possible in the matter on the grounds of humanity.