837.51/1584: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 p.m.]
182. In conversation with President Céspedes this morning the latter indicated his very strong desire that American financial experts be sent as quickly as possible to Habana. He again requests that these experts be sent as financial advisers to the Embassy in order that the discussion of helpful measures may be undertaken officially between this Embassy and officials of the Cuban Government. He fears that if a commission be sent to deal directly with the Cuban Government it would be impossible to avoid the interpretation of direct financial intervention by the United States in Cuban governmental affairs. It is undeniable that the radical elements in Cuba would at once attack the Government if the appearance of financial intervention were permitted and I have no doubt that such attacks would have immediate repercussion in the rest of Latin America.
I beg to request advice from the Department as soon as may be possible as to its decision in this matter and if experts are to be sent [Page 582] how soon they may be expected here.15 In my judgment their stay need not necessarily extend beyond a period of a week or 10 days and if the United States bears the expense which would necessarily be relatively small a very helpful effect of a generous gesture would be created.
- On August 31, 1933, A. A. Berle, Jr., special counsel for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, John G. Laylin, special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Treasury, and James H. Edwards were requested to proceed at once to Habana in order to make certain studies in connection with Cuban economic and financial matters and to report to Ambassador Welles upon arrival.↩