File No. 837.00/765.
[Untitled]
Habana, June 11, 1912.
Sir: Referring to my telegram of June 9, and to subsequent correspondence in regard to the racial disorders in Habana, I have the honor to report as follows.
[Page 262]A little after 9 o’clock Saturday evening a number of negroes were attacked by crowds of whites armed with revolvers. At least one was killed in the center of town and two or three more in various parts of the city and suburbs, the disorders having spread with great rapidity. Large numbers of negroes were beaten and the receiving hospitals were kept busy until a late hour of the night. Although warning had been given the Government of these outbreaks, it had failed to take adequate precaution, and it was some time before sufficient forces were on the ground to clear Central Park and hold the largest crowds in check. On hearing of the trouble Mr. Gibson and Mr. Bell, the two secretaries of this legation, went to Central Park, where they met Colonel Aguirre, chief of police. At his invitation they remained with him in a café on the square, where he established himself to receive reports from his subordinates. He remained there until after 2 o’clock in the morning, receiving frequent verbal reports from his subordinates as to occurrences in various parts of the city, and it was from this source that I gained the information contained in my telegram of June 9.
It was fully expected that serious disorders would occur on Sunday evening. As it happened, however, torrential rains began on Sunday morning and have continued almost constantly. In spite of this the Government had large forces patrolling all the principal streets. It may be said without exaggeration that a large number of the various foreign colonies and a large number of Cubans were in a state of apprehension closely bordering upon panic. The amount of feeling aroused by the disorders of Saturday night and by the reports of outrages received from Oriente had also produced a very dangerous state of mind which entailed, and undoubtedly still entails, great potentialities of trouble. For these reasons and in view of the importance of the American colony in Habana and its suburbs, containing many American women, it seemed to me that a very heavy responsibility rested upon the American Government and upon me in the event of serious racial disorders.
Therefore, after much thought and careful consideration of the possible effects of the step, I decided that the only course open to me was to ask for the sending of a warship to Habana for moral effect and to calm the general feeling of apprehension. From what I am able to observe, since the arrival of the ships yesterday, the effect has been all that could be desired. A general feeling of relief is evident in the foreign colonies of Habana and apparently a large part of the Cuban population expresses decided satisfaction at our action in sending the ships here. Strange to say, none of the newspapers have expressed pronounced disapproval at the sending of the ships, and those Cubans who are not relieved by their arrival have apparently accepted it apathetically. The only expressions of apprehension or disapproval which I have heard emanate from the Cuban Government itself, which evidently entertains grave fears that the American Government is deliberately seeking pretext for an intervention.
In summing up, I beg to express my thorough conviction that the sending of the ships was fully warranted by the situation, that the effect of their visit has been salutary, and that their withdrawal at this time would be a serious mistake.
I have [etc,]