Office of the Historian

839.00/7–2847: Telegram

The Ambassador in Cuba (Norweb) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent
niact
Habana, July 28, 1947—6 p.m.

410. Thoroughly reliable source in Cuban Government working with Dominican revolutionaries states:

1.
Due to outside pressure President Grau has given them until Wednesday, July 30, to leave Cuban shores. Failing this he will utilize Cuban Army for eviction.
2.
Although many prominent members Cuban Government are included in the movement they failed to approach General Genovevo Perez Damera chief staff Cuban Army. General Perez highly incensed and has made several trips to assembly areas. He also has approximately 50 trained soldiers at Las Chivas with others alerted.
3.
Sunday afternoon one small boat containing approximately 50 Dominican exiles departed for isolated port of Dominican Republic. This group to infiltrate and warn natives of impending revolution and enlist internal aid.
4.
(Cancelled).
5.
Five transport type aircraft from Venezuela are available for use on a moment’s notice. Some of these aircraft are expected at Rancho Boyeros this afternoon.
6.
The air operations are to be in charge of a former Dominican colonel Who answers to name of “Freddie”.
7.
The air operations section has procured “belly tanks” which will be used as incendiary bombs (possibly “nazalm”) also demolition bombs.
8.
Planes are to be manned by a group of 30 Americans.
9.
Groups need $100,000 at once to permit of its prompt departure. Mario Salabarria, Chief secret police, and Manolo Castro37 soliciting funds. Castro in Miami now. Believe aircraft crews demanding cash deposit prior to take off. Estimate venture has now cost between five and seven million dollars.
10.
Headquarters Habana announced this a.m. that no change in plans following newspaper revelations and Grau orders.
11.
Troops are being assembled in Holguín and transported to Antilla. Estimate 4,500 to 5,000 now. Group is exceedingly well equipped with rifles, machine guns and ammunition.
12.
Landings will be made on shore of Dominican Republic. Air attacks will be made on Ciudad Trujillo. Internal assistance heavily counted upon for success of the revolution. Approximately 20 days training has been given troops. Training has been for revolution, not military attack.
13.
Comment. This information substantially as received piecemeal other sources and given high rating as to accuracy. We are checking further on reports re aircraft. At 5 p.m. I am still awaiting a reply from Foreign Minister, who I am sure has seen President. He evidences increasing resistance and is critical of press stories headlined as “US probe”.

Inform War, Navy.

Sent Department 410; repeated Ciudad Trujillo and Port-au-Prince.

Norweb
  1. Manolo Castro del Campo, Cuban Director General of National Sports in the Ministry of Education.↩