837.51 Public Works Debt/294
The Chargé in Cuba ( Beaulac ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 7.]
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 2899, of March 1, 1940, I have the honor to report that I inquired of Senator Casanova yesterday what steps had been taken toward obtaining passage of the senate bill for completing the service of the public works debt and he replied, somewhat evasively, that he was having conversations on the subject and was seeing the Cuban Ambassador to the United States that afternoon. I asked him if that meant that there was no immediate plan, and he said that as yet there was no specific plan.
During a conversation with the Secretary of State this morning, I told him of my conversation with Senator Casanova and expressed apprehension lest Cuba might pass over the present opportunity to place its economic relations with the United States on a much stronger basis by completing the service of the public works debt. The Secretary of State said that he was to see the President in a few minutes and he would again bring up the subject with him, in the hope that the President, himself, might take the lead in the passage of the senate bill.
Respectfully yours,