837.51/792
The Representative on Special Mission in Cuba (Crowder) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 15.]
Sir:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
… The Department has been advised in my No. 32, June 10th, 5 p.m.,40 that the resignations of all the Secretaries were very shortly thereafter placed at the disposal of the President.
President Zayas’ first step in carrying out his agreement was taken yesterday afternoon when he submitted to me a list of names which he was considering for appointment to the reorganized Cabinet. I was not impressed by his list. Accordingly I addressed him a communication acknowledging receipt (copy hereto attached marked “A”40) and reiterating my understanding of the results of our conferences and furnishing him a list of names that had been mentioned to me and which I thought it would be appropriate to include in the discussion of eligibles for appointments to cabinet positions. I am holding conferences today seeking advice as to individuals on both lists and others. It seems probable that a conclusion, as to the reorganized Cabinet, will be reached at an early date. I have suggested to President Zayas the propriety of bringing Céspedes here as Secretary of State and substituting [replacing] him at Washington by a man who could carry on just as well as he that part of the negotiations which must be carried on in Washington.
His next step in carrying out the agreement was to send to me an attorney in his confidence to assist in the preparation of a Decree to be issued on July 1st, reforming the lottery. I had an extensive conference with him and I think we shall have little difficulty in writing a final draft. I regret that we cannot proceed in this task with the cooperation of Congress and bring about complete reform by securing much needed amendments to the lottery law. It is certain that Congress will not coöperate and it is also certain that if asked to do so, the effect would be to defeat the pending projects of budget reduction and tax revision.
Meantime, I am having conferences with representatives of the “Camara.” I had a most important one yesterday with the Speaker of the House, Mr. Verdeja, and the leader of the “Liguistas,” Mr. Santiago Rey. They left the conference pledged to a reduction in the Fixed Budget, (Legislative Power) reducing the expenses of the Congress of Cuba by one-half million dollars. They also pledged [Page 1033] themselves to incorporate in the pending budget bill a provision appropriating the surplus of the Budget for the next fiscal year to the payment of the floating debt, thus preventing any wasting of this surplus by Executive Decree.
The tax bill is meeting with unusual opposition and the charge is freely made that Mr. Hord’s work will not stand analysis.41 There is some foundation for this charge in certain complaints that have been brought to my attention and which I have analyzed and presented to the President, recommending changes in the Hord project. If upon further study we find that a satisfactory law can be framed, I believe that its enactment at this Session of Congress can be secured notwithstanding the formidable opposition that is organizing to prevent its enactment.
I think it important to invite the attention of the Department to the fact that the public press has aligned itself almost unanimously with my Special Mission in the demands for reforms and that there has been a wholesome change in this regard. Not a word has appeared in the papers during the crisis thus far anti-American in tone, or objecting to the intervention which I have had in affairs which they regard as of exclusively domestic concern. I attach hereto marked “B” copy of an open letter to President Zayas appearing in El Mundo of June 10th.42 I also attach two other translations, marked “C”42 and “D”42 which tend to illustrate the tone of the comment by the public press.
I am [etc.]