837.00/3970: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:15 p.m.]
285. My 279, September 17 [19], 4 p.m. Dr. Santos Jimenez, chief political adviser of Miguel Gómez, advises me that certain of the leaders of the Student Council are in conference with Gómez for the purpose of having him serve as intermediary between the government and the leaders of the opposition groups to attempt to work out a solution for a national government based upon the ultimatum presented to Grau San Martín by the opposition leaders. In view of the very strong stand which Gómez has now taken against the government and of his support of the attitude taken by the other political leaders this move is significant. All evidence seems to point to a general weakening on the part of the students with the exception of two or three of the most radical members.
It has been very noticeable during the past 3 days that the members of the government and of the students themselves have ceased entirely their attacks upon the United States and upon this Embassy. A demonstration consisting of about 3,000 persons, many of them ordinary street loiterers and the rest university and high school students and members of a few heterogeneous groups such as the Lithographers Union and the women revolutionists, marched to the palaces yesterday afternoon as a sign of their support of the government. Grau San Martín and several of the students made speeches to the crowd but in none of their speeches was there shown any hostility to the United States. The same change is noticeable in the radio propaganda speeches emanating from governmental sources.
In the interior evidence of armed and concerted opposition to the government is increasing. All evidence I have been able to obtain in spite of the strict governmental censorship tends to confirm the fact that the revolutionary government started by Bias Hernandez is gaining force and that the number of men now supporting him has increased to over 500. Two other local leaders in Santa Clara Province affiliated with the Unión Nacionalista have come out in revolt with approimately 50 supporters each.
The American Consul at Antilla informs me by telephone that he is advised Major Balan has risen in revolt in Oriente Province with approximately 800 men and apparently sufficient arms; that he took possession of the town of Gibara yesterday and is marching on Holguin today.
To the great relief of the more moderate residents of Habana the economic corporations comprising all of the financial and business interests of Habana which have organized during the last few days in [Page 451] determined opposition to the government have agreed to postpone their threatened lockout. It is my belief that had the lockout been declared immediate sacking would have taken place and a general strike would have been declared which unquestionably would have played into the hands of the Communist leaders.
My general impression of the situation this morning is that the prospects of a national provisional government are decidedly more favorable. The revolutionary outbreaks, while bad in themselves should the movement be long continued, have the effect of weakening the attitude assumed by the students and of breaking down resistance on the part of the disorganized Army, many of whose units were forced into the mutiny against their better judgment.