837.51/2502
The Ambassador in Cuba (Wright) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18.]
Sir: Supplementing my telegram No. 127, of October 16, 4 p.m.,59 I have the honor to report that the President’s veto of the bill to liquidate the moratoria was sent to the Congress with the following message (translation):
“In exercising a constitutional power by returning to the Congress, with my observations, the bill to liquidate the moratoria, I declare that this act does not involve anything which affects the respect and obedience due to the legislative power, or the ties of consideration and close affection which bind me to the authors of the bill, and especially to Colonel Batista, who was the initiator of the fundamental idea which the Congress carried out in, according to my judgment, a mistaken manner.
“The Legislative Power, in exercise of its prerogatives, has voted what it believes should be an adequate solution.
[Page 556]“The Executive Power, likewise in exercise of its prerogatives, has vetoed the bill.
“It is now up to the Congress of the Republic to reconsider or to accept my veto.
“If it does the first I shall adhere to the legislative decision like a man respectful of the law. If it does the second I shall be prepared to cooperate within my powers toward a solution of the difficulty which faces us, offering the poor gift of my experience and my will to the service of the Republic.”
Colonel Batista said to reporters, after reiterating his attachment to the President:
“It is up to the Congress now to decide, and I hope that it will decide as quickly as the seriousness of the matter demands. Congress also can make use of its prerogatives, and the President—of this I am sure—will be as respectful of the exercise of that right by the Congress as the latter is of the right exercised by the head of the nation.
“As far as I am concerned I shall respect those decisions, maintaining as I have said before, the same opinion and the same will as heretofore.”
A part of the press states that Colonel Batista has already taken steps to endeavor to induce the Congress to override the President’s veto. It is not generally believed, however, that proponents of the bill have a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Congress and there is a good deal of doubt, therefore, that an effort actually will be made to override the veto.
If the bill is not to be passed over the President’s veto, there are two possible courses open to the Congress: (1) to endeavor immediately to pass a bill which will be more pleasing to the Executive Power, or (2) to postpone a solution of the question by the enactment of legislation which would further delay mortgage foreclosure proceedings until such time as the problem can be adequately dealt with. From the point of view of Cuba’s credit, of course, it is preferable that the problem be solved at once.
As stated, both the President and Colonel Batista have made it clear that the former’s veto of the bill does not involve any estrangement between the two. Last night they and their wives, together with the Secretary of State and Mrs. Campa, attended the opera together, and their photographs, taken in a box at the National Theatre, adorn the front pages of this morning’s press.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩