837.00/4521: Telegram
The Chargé in Cuba (Matthews) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 2:20 p.m.]
517. At the request of several student leaders, after very careful consideration and in view of the breakdown of conciliation negotiations, I conferred last evening with Batista and three students, namely, Rubén de León, (see Embassy’s telegram 395 of October 24) Curtis and Maceo all formerly associated with the Directorate.
León who spoke for the students present emphasized the weakness of Céspedes and his Government, the increasing lack of control (mentioning Occident Sugar Mill troubles during its brief regime) and the growing rivalry thereunder of the “old political groups”. He expressed fanatically the determination of the students to continue fighting “for the aims of the revolution, which means not only a change [Page 542] of leaders but a change of system”. He said that the Grau government is “nationalistic” and aims to improve the lot of the Cuban people (in this connection he mentioned the 50 percent labor law) without, however, overturning the “capitalistic system”. He attempted to compare these aims to the “new deal” in the United States. Both León and later Batista emphatically denied any sympathy for or tendency toward “communism” and point to the communistic opposition to the present government to which element they laid the continuing nightly bomb explosions. They also emphatically denied that they or the present regime were either anti-American or anti-foreign.
Batista then told his story calmly and at length. He gave as reasons for engineering the September meeting, first, alleged intrigues going on among the Army officers particularly the partisans of Menocal looking toward a replacement of Céspedes; second, the desire of the younger officers to oust their elders in order to obtain immediate advancement and third, the danger of either complete disintegration or establishment of a military dictatorship similar to Machado’s. Batista expressed his grave regret at the National Hotel incident and emphasized his efforts to give the officers every opportunity to come to an agreement. He disavowed any political ambitions other than to support a government which would preserve the “ideals of the revolution”.
Both Batista and León naturally attempted to minimize the strength of the various opposition sectors asserting that the latter were composed chiefly of “front page photograph” leaders without substantial following but aided by the entire press. This opposition they claimed would rapidly subside once present regime were recognized by our Government. They asserted that the Grau government has been in power now nearly 4 months and has demonstrated its “stability”; that it is carrying on the normal functions of government, laying stress on the opening of normal schools and institutions and the prospective opening of the university in January. That Grau had any ambitions to continue in office after the establishment of a Constitutional Assembly they denied.
When they had finished I limited myself to expressing interest in what they had told me and to reiterating our position with respect to the question of recognition. I emphasized that we had no interest in any particular person or group and that our sole desire as Ambassador Welles had frequently stated was that the Cubans themselves compose their difficulties. I added that Mr. Caffery would be arriving within a few days and that I felt sure that he would be glad to see and talk with them just as he would be equally anxious to meet leaders of the various opposition sectors in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of the Cuban situation.
[Page 543]Batista and the students, particularly León, seemed to be on very friendly terms. Our interview was most cordial throughout. I transmit the foregoing brief factual outline of what was said for what it may be worth. Ambassador Welles will upon his arrival doubtless fill in the necessary background and interpretation.