The Ambassador in Cuba
(Welles) to the Secretary of State
HABANA, November 4, 1933 - 5 p.m.
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
427. Dr. Antonio Guiteras, the Communist Secretary of Gobernación,
made his resignation effective this morning. He gave it as his opinion
that the failure of the government was due to the fact that it did not
turn sharply to the Left, and announced his intention of working for a
government composed of soldiers, sailors, small shopkeepers and workers.
He made evident a definite break between himself and Batista, because Batista
was resolutely opposed to Communism and the disorder promoted by labor
agitators, and threatened to get rid of Batista in the near future. So
far as I can ascertain, the other Cabinet secretaries are uncertain whether
their resignations accepted yesterday afternoon still remain effective
in view of Grau's withdrawal of his won resignation.
A university student referendum is in progress this afternoon. The Student
Assembly meets tomorrow morning and the result of the votes on the following
two points will then be announced:
(a) whether the Student Directorate should cease all governmental activities;
(b) whether the students approved the activities of the self-appointed
representatives of the students during the past 2 months.
Torriente this morning informed me that he and the other directors of
the Unión Nacionalista Party were so incensed at the attitude adopted
by Colonel Mendieta in refusing to assume the responsibilities of government
when they were offered to him that they intend to withdrawal their support
from Medieta and leave the party organization as soon as a solution of
the present crisis has been reached.
WELLES