837.00/4227: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:05 p.m.]
372. Developments of the past 12 hours are disquieting. It appears that the issue between the students and Batista will be joined in the case of the Chief of Police of Habana. Batista some 2 weeks ago appointed to that office Captain Franco who is understood to be loyal to him and who has improved materially the discipline and authority [Page 492] of the police force. The students 2 days ago decided to remove Captain Franco and have appointed in his place a member of the secret society affiliated with the students known as “Ley y Justicia”. The name of the individual selected is Labourdette, some 27 years of age. The society to which he belongs committed most of the acts of terrorism and assassinations sponsored by the students during the last years of the Machado Government. He and his associates are the equivalent in Cuba of the American gangster.
The announcement of the desire of Dr. Grau to appoint Labourdette to this position created general consternation in Habana and open opposition both from Franco and Batista. Last night the Student Council met to determine its attitude and voted by a majority of one to insist upon Labourdette’s appointment being made effective. Batista until the present moment has refused to permit such action. If he is overruled he will necessarily lose prestige and influence as well as control of the Habana police force amounting to approximately 2,000 men.
Batista’s position seems to have weakened materially during the past few days. He has been forced by the sergeants most closely associated with him to remove the three commissioned officers who joined him after the mutiny and upon whose advice he had largely depended. It is probable that the weakening of his position is the principal motive for his desire, as I informed the Department in my No. 370, October 18, 1 p.m., to resume negotiations with Mendieta immediately.