Date and number CUBA POLITICAL AFFAIRS-Continued Subject Page 1920 Aug. 26 (143) To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Aug. 27 (194) Aug. 30 (197) Aug. 30 (148) Sept. 16 (400) Instructions to urge upon President importance of making public the purport of Department's June 4 and thereafter to issue to press statement on U. S. position with respect to approaching elections. From the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Nomination of Zayas as coalition candidate. Report that Publication of statement by President in form suggested by To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) 18 19 19 20 Disapproval of sending commission of Liberals to Washing From the Minister in Cuba 21 ton. Interview with President regarding coming elections and U. S. suggestion for presence of General Crowder as observer thereat. From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Refusal to supply officers from Marine Corps for intelligence duty. Inquiry as to basis of request for additional protective troops. From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 22 Request for increase in marines for protection and for intelligence duty, to be centrally located at Camaguey. Necessity for additional marines at Camaguey during election period to protect U. S. sugar interests. Sept. 27 (171) To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 23 Instructions to discuss with President advisability of increasing Cuban or U. S. forces at Camaguey. Sept. 27 (228) From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 24 Upholding by Supreme Court of Zayas as legal Presidential candidate of Conservative Party. President's belief that additional marines are unnecessary, and reluctance to consent to augmentation unless quietly done. From the Minister in Cuba Appointment of military supervisors to supersede police chiefs in certain municipalities; Liberal charge that such acts constitute intervention by National Government for political advantage. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Request for Minister's personal views and those of owners of plantations regarding need for additional marines during elections. 25 25 27 27 Date and number CUBA POLITICAL AFFAIRS-Continued Subject 1920 Oct. 13 (241) Oct. 20 (212) Oct. 20 (196) Oct. 22 (202) Oct. 25 (207) Oct. 26 (490) Oct. 29 (505) From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Recommendations for additional marines at Camaguey. To the Minister in Cuba Instructions to request of President assurances that election returns will be published as received and that public announcement to that effect will be made. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) President Wilson's opinion that additional marines or warships sent to Cuba at this time would be inadvisable. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Recommendation for measures to prevent voters being fraudulently deprived of cards of identity and for issue of circular instructions by President Menocal urging strict impartiality on part of military supervisors during elections. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to urge President to issue further proclamation detailing procedure in elections and innovations under the new law. From the Minister in Cuba President's willingness to issue statement recommending fair play in elections; defense of appointment of military supervisors and comments on traffic in cards of identity. From the Minister in Cuba Statement issued by President to Cuban people (text printed) in regard to coming elections, in accordance with U. S. suggestions. Nov. 10 (535) Nov. 11 From the Minister in Cuba 38 Preliminary information regarding tardy election returns and number of electoral colleges which have failed to report. 39 From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Resolutions passed by executive committee of Liberal Party (text printed) charging unlawful methods in elections and announcing decision to present case in Washington. Nov. 17 (239) Dec. 31 Dec. 31 (276) To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 40 Refusal to receive Liberal commission since responsibility for fair elections rests with Government and people of Cuba. To the Judge Advocate General, War Department 41 Appointment as President Wilson's personal representative on special mission to Cuba. Instructions on electoral and financial situation. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Information that Crowder will depart for Cuba as President Wilson's personal representative on special mission. Instructions to inform President Menocal and arrange for early interview. 43 CUBA FINANCIAL AFFAIRS FINANCIAL STRINGENCY AND HEAVY WITHDRAWALS FROM THE BANKS-MORATORIUM DECREED BY PRESIDENT MENOCAL VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES-MR. ALBERT RATHBONE RETAINED BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AS ADVISER IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LOAN-REPORT BY MR. RATHBONE TO PRESIDENT MENOCAL Date and number 1920 Oct. 10 Oct. 12 (449) Nov. 22 (246) Subject From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Suspension of payments by Banco International; heavy runs on other banks; proposed moratorium to relieve financial stringency. From the Minister in Cuba Page 44 44 Executive decree no. 1583, Oct. 10, 1920, establishing a bank moratorium (text printed). 47 To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Views regarding cause of financial stringency, statement of opposition to moratorium, and recommendations regarding sound currency and sugar market, for presentation to President. To the Minister in Cuba Dec. 10 49 Instructions to facilitate work of Rathbone, retained by Cuba as adviser in connection with proposed loan to be floated in the United States. Dec. 10 (342) Dec. 14 (266) Dec. 17 (631) Dec. 21 (645) From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Submission to Cuban Congress of Dolz bill designed to effect economic restoration. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to notify Rathbone and President Menocal of U. S. opinion that Dolz bill is unsound and would make loan impossible. From the Minister in Cuba President's defense of Dolz bill as based on plan proposed by bankers, and request for Rathbone to submit recommendations for substitute measures to be taken. From the Minister in Cuba Rathbone's report to President Menocal (text printed) regarding economic situation, with recommendations for solution of difficulties. CABLE CONCESSIONS TO THE COMMERCIAL CABLE COMPANY OF CUBA, THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, AND THE ALL AMERICA CABLES, INCORPORATED 1920 Mar. 19 To the Minister in Cuba (39) June 3 (166) June 3 (89) Instructions to support application of Commercial Cable Information that desired permission has been granted Com- To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to lend assistance to representative of All Date and number CUBA CABLE CONCESSIONS, ETC.-Continued Subject Page 1920 June 19 (202) From the Chargé in Cuba 59 Interview with Secretary of Interior, who seems inclined to accede to projects of All America Cables. To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) 60 July 10 (253) Inquiry regarding reported concession granted Western 60 Concession to Western Union Telegraph Co. (text printed) for cable from Cuba to Barbados. Aug. 13 (333) From the Chargé in Cuba 61 Oct. 14 Nov. 11 (232) Nov. 13 (298) Nov. 29 (326) Dec. 2 (254) Dec. 14 (346) Presidential decrees, nos. 1197, 1200, 1201, and 1202 of July 20, 1920 (texts printed), granting certain concessions to All America Cables for lines along Cuban coast and to mainland. From the President of the Commercial Cable Company Executive decree no. 857, May 27, 1920 (text printed), granting concession to company to lay another cable from Miami to Habana. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to report if any of Barbados-Cuba cable has been laid and to investigate possibility, since application to land Miami end of Barbados-Brazil cable has been withdrawn, that Western Union may attempt to tap cable to Habana beyond U. S. territorial waters. From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Preparation by Western Union to lay cable under permit; Assertion by representative of All America Cables that To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to inquire informally if Western Union has been granted privilege of connecting at Habana proposed Barbados-Habana cable with Habana-Florida cable. From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 69 Probable immediate action by President, should the United States request that suspension of Western Union concession be made. Dec. 14 (347) From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 69 Ability of Western Union to connect Barbados-Habana cable with Habana-Florida cable only by virtue of latter concession; impossibility of preventing relay of messages through Habana office. Dec. 24 (360) From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) 69 President's suspension of Western Union permit for landing of Barbados cable at Cojimar. CUBA RICE IMPORTATIONS REFUSAL BY CUBAN IMPORTERS TO ACCEPT AMERICAN SHIPMENTS OF RICE AT PURCHASE PRICES; REPRESENTATIONS TO THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT MENOCAL'S Decree of sePTEMBER 6, 1920, RESTRICTING AND REGULATING IMPORTATIONS; DISSATISFACTION OF THE UNITED STATES-PRESIDENT MENOCAL'S NEW DECREE, NOVEMBER 19, 1920 Date and number Subject Page 1920 June 26 (97) To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) 70 Instructions to call attention of Government to serious situation caused by refusal of Cuban merchants to accept shipments of rice bought by them. 70 June 28 (232) July 12 (109) From the Chargé in Cuba Interview with secretary to President on rice situation. To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Protest of Rice Association of California against repudia- 71 Instructions to 72 Proposal to restrict importation of rice to Cuba as solution agreed upon by exporters and importers. Request for instructions. To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) 73 Department's approval of plan for restricted importation of rice. To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) U. S. dissatisfaction at delay in reaching solution of rice problem; instructions to stress urgent need for definite action. From the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Efforts to secure settlement of rice situation by Presidential decree. From the Minister in Cuba Executive decree of Sept. 6, 1920, regulating importations of rice (text printed). Unsatisfactory nature of decree because of deviation from plan agreed to by exporters. From the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Anti-American character of decree, making more difficult solution of rice problem. Proposed plan of price fixing. Recommendation for firm statement by Department. To the Minister in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to make representations to President regarding nature of decree of Sept. 6. Inquiry regarding new plan of settlement by price-fixing. From the Minister in Cuba Letter sent to President Menocal (text printed) expressing dissatisfaction with decree; confidential agreement between California Rice Association and Cuban Government for remedial measures following elections. From the Minister in Cuba Proposal of local representatives of California Rice Association that Department urge Cuban Government to take over rice in connection with pending financing and thus assist Cuban merchants in carrying out contracts. |