837.24/7–1744
The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 20.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s confidential instruction no. 3351 of June 26, 194434 transmitting, for my confidential information and the files of the Embassy, copies of notes sent to the Cuban Embassy at Washington on December 16, 194234 and on June 26, 1944, concerning the schedules and accounts of, and payment for, defense articles made available to the Government of Cuba under the Lend-Lease agreement signed on November 7, 1941.
[Page 910]In the course of an interview which I had with the Minister of State38 on July 14, 1944, he inquired how pressing it is to make payment of the sum of $1,400,000 due as of July 1, 1943, covering Lend-Lease materials furnished the Cuban Government.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that President Batista intends to discomfit the incoming Administration in every way possible, particularly financially. A systematic raid on the Treasury is in full swing with the result that Dr. Grau39 will probably find empty coffers when he takes office on October 10. (Reference despatch no. 7433 of July 15, 1944.40) It is blatant that President Batista desires that Dr. Grau San Martín should assume obligations which in fairness and equity should be a matter of settlement by the present Administration.
When I next see the Minister of State I propose to point out that, technically under the Lend-Lease agreement, $2,100,000 was due from the Cuban Government as of July 1, 1944, although no bill has been presented for the full amount; that the United States Government is only seeking at this time payment of $1,400,000 due as of July 1, 1943. I shall say that as my Government has now presented the account for a portion of what is due, it naturally hopes that payment will be made as promptly as possible.
I shall be grateful for any suggestions or recommendations which the Department may wish to make in the premises.
Respectfully yours,