800.8836/8–2844
The Chargé in Cuba (Nufer) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 31.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s air mail despatch no. 7575 of August 3, 1944,73 in which I quoted, in translation, an extract from a memorandum received by Ambassador Braden from the Minister of State74 summarizing the opinion of Dr. Gregorio del Real, the Cuban Maritime Commission’s Legal Counsel, on the points raised in the Embassy’s note no. 143 of February 23, 1944,73 protesting against certain measures adopted by the Cuban Government which it was felt tended to impair or nullify the concessionary rights of the several American-owned terminal companies operating in Cuba.
I have now received the Cuban Government’s note no. 2035 of August 11, 1944, enclosing the full text of Dr. del Real’s opinion,75 which the Cuban Government apparently makes its own. The gist of this opinion, as mentioned in the extract of Dr. Mañach’s memorandum quoted in my despatch no. 7575, is that the final decision should be left to the Cuban courts to which the terminal companies have already appealed. Copies and translations of note no. 2035 and its enclosure are attached and I would appreciate receiving the Department’s further comments and instructions in the matter.
In the meantime copies of Dr. del Real’s opinion have been furnished the three terminal companies involved, which in turn have requested their lawyers to prepare a reply thereto for the Department’s and the Embassy’s information.
Respectfully yours,