837.00/3563: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 7:15 p.m.]
97. I have been confidentially advised that the Council of the University Student Group is planning to send a delegation to visit me to inform me that the group wishes to accept my good offices provided that representatives of two Latin American Republics join with me in the mediation proceedings. Should this develop I shall state that I should be extremely glad to have representatives of two Latin American Republics join with me in the effort to promote a peaceful solution of Cuba’s political problem but that of course it must be understood that the initiative in this regard cannot come from me; that it must on the contrary be a suggestion acceptable both to the Government and to all of the other factions in the opposition who have accepted my good offices and furthermore that the Latin American Governments selected must likewise express their willingness to have their representatives act in such capacity.
I see no theoretical objections to the proposal. While it is possible that the need for the United States to consider its responsibilities and obligations under the permanent treaty may be contingent on the success or failure of these present negotiations such a decision must necessarily rest on the United States Government itself. In other words should the present efforts at mediation break down and a revolutionary condition obtain in Cuba to such a degree as to make it necessary for the United States to intervene, such decision cannot be influenced by the cooperation at the present juncture with me of the representatives of other American Republics. The objections that I foresee are entirely practical in their nature. Many of the opposition factions would be unwilling to agree to the proposal to be made by the University Student Council because of their realization that other Latin American Governments have no influence whatever with President Machado while he, on the contrary, would only be willing to agree to the tender of good offices by the representatives of Latin [Page 316] American Governments such as those of Venezuela or the Dominican Republic which are dictatorial in their nature like his own. Consequently I believe that the possibility of the suggestion being adopted is remote but I think it is wiser for me to take the position that I would welcome such cooperation should it be agreeable to all concerned.