837.00/4194: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:35 a.m.]
361. I had a conference with Finlay tonight. He stated that the reports attributed to him had all emanated from Marquez Sterling and that the sudden change in attitude on the part of the Student Directorate was due solely to them.
He requested my opinion as to the desirability of further efforts for conciliation expressing the belief that an immediate common accord between all the political parties was urgently necessary in view of the danger presented by the attitude now adopted by the Army. He added that this belief was shared by the students. I assured him that I felt such a move was of the utmost interest to the Republic and that I had been repeatedly assured by the leaders of all parties of their readiness to agree to any reasonable compromise.
After long discussion he said that he would request full powers from the government for a delegation composed of himself, Dr. Irizarri and Dr. Portela to negotiate with the political leaders. He requested my assistance which I said I would gladly give provided my participation in the negotiations was maintained completely confidential since the utter lack of discretion displayed in previous conferences had been the primary cause of their failure.