241. Telegram From the Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the Department of State1
286. Former Cuban Prime Minister Gonzalo Guell called on me this morning at request of General Batista to inquire about possibility immigration visas for Batista and 20 of his group.
[Page 384]Guell reviewed Batista’s record cooperation with US and mentioned Cuban assistance in World War II and Batista’s stand against communism. Referring Castro propaganda regarding atrocities of Batista government, Guell stated that he believed there were more atrocities on Castro side, violence breeds violence, it was impossible to control all individuals but what atrocities there may have been were not government policy.
Guell affirmed that in his presence Ambassador Smith had assured Batista that visas would in an emergency be given him and persons he named. Guell had worked on the details with Ambassador Smith but events overcame final arrangements. Guell stated that Ambassador Smith had said Florida would be an undesirable place for Batista to reside and Batista was willing to reside in any state US Government might designate. Smith also suggested an intermediate stay in another country. Guell said Batista had intended to stay here three to four months but this was now impossible because of the attitude of Dominican Government. He said Dominican Foreign Minister had asked Guell to inform Batista that, because of “delicate” relations between present Cuban and Dominican Governments, it necessary to ask Batista to leave Dominican Republic.
I inquired whether Batista and group had applied for visas for any other country. Guell replied that preliminary soundings had unfavorable results but he was seeing Spanish Ambassador this afternoon. He referred to reported recent admission of certain Cuban refugees including Masferrer on Texas border. Expressed his hope that Batista group could qualify for asylum as political exiles as Batista group is in desperate predicament.
Although Batista hopes to take with him about 20 persons, of primary importance are Batista, his son, his wife (who plans to return to Dominican Republic from the States), Guell, Ambassador Andres Rivero Agüero, Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Baguer y Marty and wives. Guell requested I inform my government of the foregoing and communicate with him promptly when a reply is received, to which I agreed.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/1–2759. Confidential.↩