837.51/1580: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:45 p.m.]
176. In an interview with the President yesterday evening Dr. Céspedes stated to me that he anticipated the better part of this week [Page 581] would elapse before he or his Secretary of the Treasury had been afforded a definite and detailed understanding of the financial situation of the Government. He advised me that as soon as he had ascertained the necessary facts he would go over them with me and with Dr. Martínez Saenz and would then request that my Government undertake the discussion of measures of helpful cooperation with the Cuban Government through this Embassy.
He stated that he felt it was very desirable that a commission of practical American financial experts be sent to Cuba both for the assistance they could give the Cuban Republic and for the moral effect it would have upon the Cuban people. He stated, however, and I fully agree with his opinion, that it would be desirable that such commission be officially attached to the American Embassy and be not sent to undertake discussions directly with the Cuban Government. If the latter course were adopted the opinion would presumably prevail that the Government of the United States was undertaking an idea of financial intervention in the affairs of the Cuban Government but if the commission were sent here to be attached to and advise the American Embassy such misapprehension would be avoided.