837.00/3584: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 3:20 p.m.]
115. The general amnesty bill has now passed both houses of Congress and will be promulgated by the President this morning. It will take effect upon publication. The law as finally passed contains all of the amendments suggested by opposition leaders and is all-embracing. As a result all political offenders, whether those convicted or those awating trial, will be immediately released from prison and their civil rights restored. Furthermore, all political offenders in exile abroad may return since any charges that might lie against them are automatically quashed. The terms of the amnesty bill, of course, likewise whitewash all officials of the Government responsible for crimes committed in the political turmoil of the past 6 years. Certain non-political sectors of the opposition have protested publicly against the passage of this bill but have confidentially informed me that they favor it because of the benefits accruing to the members of the opposition and because of the fact that it made immediately possible a return to more normal conditions.
The President assured me last night that simultaneously with the promulgation of the amnesty bill he would proclaim the reestablishment of constitutional guarantees which latter measure consequently should become effective tomorrow. The resulting abolition of martial law, the elimination of courts martial and military tribunals and the placing of the responsibility for the maintenance of order in the hands of the police and of the civil courts will necessarily tend immediately to create a favorable atmosphere for the successful outcome of the mediation negotiations. It is, of course, highly probable that the sudden change from military repression to constitutional liberty will result in sporadic attacks upon the authorities but I am personally confident that every important faction of the opposition is making a [Page 328] sincere and determined effort to prevent disorder and to maintain discipline within their ranks. The gravest element of danger in my judgment lies in the utterly irresponsible attitude pursued by portion of the press. The editors and proprietors of all of the Habana newspapers of their own initiative assured me that they would refrain from the publication of inflammatory or seditious material during the mediation proceedings. This voluntary obligation has, however, been broken by one or two of the newspapers and while a severe press law will be passed within the next 48 hours it is very probable that this portion of the press will succeed in stirring up public opinion to an altogether unwise extent against the Government and the existing Congress.
Immediately after the definite reestablishment of constitutional guarantees I shall call the first meeting of the Mixed Commission, composed of members of all of the existing political parties represented in Congress and all representatives of the opposition sectors, to reach an agreement upon the constitutional reforms proposed by the opposition. The project of reform proposed by the latter embraces permanent reforms and on this basis I anticipate a very speedy agreement on both sides.
Once an agreement is reached I shall make an effort to obtain an agreement on the so-called transitory reforms which, of course, involve the solution of the existing political problem. The present tendency on the part of the opposition, although opinion has not as yet crystallized, is to suggest that inasmuch as the 4-year Presidential term is to be reestablished in the new constitution and the Vice-Presidency reestablished President Machado agree to shorten his existing term so that the Vice-President now to be selected will replace him until the end of the present Presidential term of office and further to suggest that the existing Congress consent to shorten its term to the period ending May 1934. The exact manner in which these suggestions will be proffered, however, still remains to be determined and I have stated that I was not willing to discuss the transitory reforms until a final agreement had been reached on the permanent reforms.