811.114 Cuba/624
The Ambassador in Cuba ( Caffery ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26.]
Sir: Referring to previous reports concerning the fact that, due to the satisfactory attitude of Colonel Batista,16 for the first time since the signing of the Liquor Treaty, liquor smuggling from Cuba to Florida has been almost eliminated, I have the honor to state that I have been informed by Consul General Cameron, who returned yesterday from conferences at New Orleans and Jacksonville which had to do with liquor and narcotic smuggling, that the Federal Agents at Jacksonville remarked that the last seizure of arms destined illegally for Cuba had been made about two years ago. I am bringing this out in view of the recent seizures by the Cuban authorities of arms smuggled into this country from Florida. As the Department is aware, the Cuban military authorities are being particularly vigilant in preventing the departure of vessels from Cuban ports ladened with contraband rum because they believe that the same vessels often return to Cuba with contraband arms.
Respectfully yours,
- Col. Fulgencio Batista, Chief of Staff of the Cuban Army.↩