810.20 Defense/814/12: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Messersmith) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Dear Sumner: Supplementing my letter of June 8th34 with regard to the conversations to take place on the question of cooperation, I am glad to be able to tell you that the conversation took place between the [Page 96] President35 and Colonel Pedraza, and the two officers from the Army and Navy, and myself, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon of June 8th at the President’s Finca. I am unable because of immediate pressures to get a full report to you by this airmail, but am getting this word to you to say that the conversation went even better than I expected and we ended with complete agreement in principle on all the points raised by the two officers under their instructions, and there was agreement to immediate staff conferences to work out details.
Del Valle and Randolph will, of course, report directly. I saw them this morning and at my suggestion they have prepared a statement of what took place in sufficient detail to cover all major points, and del Valle is typing this out this morning, and we will all three initial it so that Army, Navy and State may have a copy. We were in full agreement this morning on the report to be made.
I will comment to you later today or tomorrow in full on the memorandum of the conversation and shall transmit this comment with the memorandum to you.36
Colonel del Valle, Colonel Randolph and I were in agreement that a further conversation with the Cuban authorities was not necessary at this time on their part as full agreement in principle had been reached. The way is now open for staff conferences whenever we take the initiative. The only reserve which the President made was that, of course, the decisions of the staff conferences would have to be approved by the respective Governments.
When Colonel Batista and I talked over this matter first, it was our understanding that if he wished to see me after the first meeting, even though no further conversation with the two officers from Army and Navy was necessary now, I would be glad to see him before he left on his trip through the Island should he wish to see me. Not wishing to leave anything undone, I therefore communicated with him yesterday and said that in view of the agreement reached, of which Colonel Pedraza and the President had undoubtedly informed him, I did not consider a further conversation with these two officers necessary at this time. I also said that I saw no further need of he and I talking together before he left on this trip unless he wished to see me. He sent me back word later yesterday afternoon that he would like to see me at three o’clock today.
I would not be surprised if, in his conversation with me today, he may not wish to raise this question of material aid in various forms and, if he does so, I am going to say that I think this can best be raised during the staff conferences which are to be held.
[Page 97]You will be interested to know that Colonel Pedraza took a very helpful attitude during the conversation on June 8th. I shall send you the details in the next day or two.
With all good wishes [etc.]