837.00/4368: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
449. Habana has remained fairly quiet on the surface today. There has been shooting in a few sections. There is deep apprehension of the [Page 520] result of the courts martial being held this afternoon. Captain Creecy at my request has remained at Camp Columbia all day and is in contact with Batista and his aides. Assurances are still maintained that no civilians will be executed.
The commander of the destroyer at Nipe Bay has radioed unconfirmed reports that a concentration of revolutionists is taking place in that section of Oriente; that some 500 have gathered at Cristal, 10 miles from Preston; and that a small detachment of soldiers has gone to Tanamo to put down disturbance there.
There is unquestionably developing an extremely violent reaction in every element in Habana against the present government because of the incidents of yesterday and because of the slaughters of some prisoners after they had surrendered. There is an open demand for intervention by the United States. The foreign colonies are criticising the failure of the United States to land troops. I have stated today, as I have consistently throughout the past 2 months, that my Government had officially declared that warships had been sent to Cuba to protect American and foreign lives and for no other purpose; and that it was likewise our declared intention to adopt no policy which would prevent or hinder the Cuban people from freely determining their own destinies.
I have noted in certain reports from the American press of today that the assertion is made that recognition of the Grau government would have prevented revolutionary outbreaks. I do not believe that any competent observer present here during the past 2 months would confirm that assertion. Recognition would probably have delayed revolt but it would not have prevented it. And recognition would have been construed by the bulk of the Cubans as evidence of our willingness to ignore their right to determine their own destinies by lending the support both moral and material which our recognition represents to a government which had come into power after [against?] the desires of the great majority of the Cuban people.