Office of the Historian

File No. 837.00/1254

[Untitled]

American Legation,
Habana, March 23, 1917—1 a.m.

Urgent. Persistent rumors of intervention by the United States in favor of and response to appeals from rebels circulating here today. This is intended, doubtless, to encourage continued opposition to Government at the time of most discouraging conditions of insurgents in the field.

I think this is the psychological moment for another unequivocal declaration by the Department along lines of earlier messages especially that of February 18, 7 p.m. It would probably result in a general and immediate collapse.

Gonzales