811.34537/390: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26—6:22 a.m.]
339. Department’s telegram No. 286, May 21, 10 p.m. A memorandum based on the above instruction was handed to President [Page 267] Batista this afternoon and he readily agreed in principle to the establishment of the proposed training unit. He added that in view of his own forthcoming trip to Oriente Province, he would immediately direct the Minister of State to undertake with me the proposed negotiations. I see no reason, therefore, why a representative of the War Department should not proceed at once to Habana.
The only departure from the Department’s telegram No. 286 in my memorandum to President Batista is in regard to acquisition of land areas. My memorandum suggests that these be made available without expense (instead of on a reimbursement basis) in view of the Cuban Government’s keen interest in the development of San Antonio de los Baños and the extensive installations which will revert to the Cuban Government at the end of the arrangement. However, in order to insure all improvements being made by United States and not by the Cuban Government as Batista had planned, it may be desirable for United States to assume expropriation cost of the land required.
He [We?] explained to the President the possible complications relative to giving this advanced instruction to Cuban trainees at the proposed center, adding however that we would hope to make such training available elsewhere, as indicated in the last paragraph of the Department’s telegram.