837.00/3583: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 6:40 p.m.]
117. I had an interview with the President this morning in the course of which he informed me that he had already promulgated [Page 329] the amnesty bill and the decree reestablishing constitutional guarantees referred to in my telegram 115, July 26, 11 a.m.
The President emphatically assured me that the success of the mediation negotiations was his own success and that inasmuch as that was the case he would at all times and in every way facilitate the reaching of a fair agreement. He urged me to do what I could to expedite the return to Cuba of Colonel Mendieta and of Colonel Mendez Peñate. He expressed the belief that it was essential for them to lose no time in organizing their political strength and that in such effort now that constitutional guarantees had been reestablished, no hindrance of any kind would be put in their way for the issuance of political propaganda, for the holding of political meetings, and for any other legal form of activity desired by them. He likewise assured me that Miguel Mariano Gómez would be offered exactly the same facilities although for personal reasons (the President being convinced that Doctor Gómez was directly involved in an attempt to assassinate himself and his family) he would decline to have any personal relations with him which attitude he will likewise adopt with regard to General Menocal should the latter return.
Finally the President emphatically stated that once the permanent reforms to the constitution had been agreed upon the leaders of the opposition should agree upon five or six essential points comprising the transitory reforms and reach an agreement through me with the leaders of the political parties upon them and that once such agreement should be reached he himself would interpose no obstacle to the carrying out of such agreement.
I have obtained the impression in conversations with leaders of the Liberal Party, the President’s Party, that they are looking to the future rather than to the present and that should they find a candidate who had strength among the opposition factions they would agree to almost any compromise. A portion of the party is considering the possibility of supporting the candidacy for the Presidency of Miguel Mariano Gómez and there is very considerable sentiment among the rank and file of the party in support of the candidacy of Colonel Mendieta.
If the President’s frame of mind as made evident today in my conversation with him were to continue unchanged there would be no possibility of an unsuccessful outcome of the present negotiations. The chief difficulty is, however, that the President changes his mind with the utmost frequency and it is impossible to foretell what his opinion may be when the transitory reforms are brought up for discussion.