Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-05
WAS URGED BY PALMA
Cuban Intervention Not Initial
ed by This Country.
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE
American Naval Vessels Were Asked
For.
ROOSEVELT WAS RELUCTANT
Considerations That Finally Forced
the Action That Was Taken by
This Government.
ROOSEVELT WAS RELUCTANT

Secretary Root has made public the cor
respondence leading up to the Intervention
in Cuba. The correspondence took place
between Consul General Steinhardt at Ha-
vana and Acting Secretary Bacon of the
State Department. An important feature
developed in the dispatches that in
PREVENTION was asked by the Cuban gov
eminent as early September 8, and as
long ago as September IA President Palma
had determined to resign as president of
the republic. and that the vice president
and cabinet ministers had also determined
to no longer continue in office it is also
shown that Intervention by the United
States has long been planned by the Palma
government and was communicated to the
State Department in letter by Consul
General Steinhardt as early Septem-
Der ). The correspondence follows:
Intervention Asked.
HAVANA, September 8, 1906.
Secretary of State:
Absolutely confidential Secretary OF
State Cuba has requested me in name of
President Palma to ask President Roose-
Welt send Immediately two vessels; one
to Havana. other to Cienfuegos: they
must come at once. Government forces
unable to auell rebellion. The gov
eminent is unable to protect life and
property President Palma will convene
congress next Friday. and congress will
ask for our forcible intervention 1t must
be kept secret and confidential that Palma
asked for vessels. No one here except
president, secretary of state and myself
know about it. Very anxiously awaiting
reply. Send answer to
"STEINHARDT Consul General"
HAVANA. September 10, 1906
Secretary of State Washington:
president here worried because re-
ply received to my message. and asks
war vessels be sent Immediately.
'STEINHARDT. Consul General"
Intervention Reluctantly Accorded.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON. September 10, 1906.
"Steinhardt, Havana:
Your cable received. Two ships have
been sent due to arrive Wednesday. The
President directs to state that per-
haps you do not yourself appreciate the
reluctance with which this country would
intervene. President Palma should be in
formed that in the public opinion here it
would have a most damaging effect for
Intervention to be undertaken until the
Cuban government has exhausted every eff
fort in serious attempt to put down the
Instruction. and has made this fact evil
dent to the world. At present the i'm
preston certainly would be that there
was no real popular support of the Cuban |
government else that the government |
was hopelessly weak. As conditions are |
at this moment we are not prepared to !
say what shape the intervention should |
take. 1t is. of course a very serious thing |
to undertake forcible intervention and be- |
fore going into 1t we should have to be |
absolutely certain of the equities of the |
case and of the needs of the situation.
Meanwhile we assume that every effort |
is being made by the government to come |
to a working agreement which will secure !
peace with the insurrectos provided they
a. N oh n fhaI (.u.n wit
in the field. Until such efforts have been
made We are not prepared to consider the
question Of intervention at all.
BACON. Acting Secretary"
Palma's Request.
HAVANA. September 10. 1906
Secretary of State. Washington:
Your cable received, and directly COM
municated to the president. who asks ships
remain for a considerable time to give |
security to foreigners In the Island OF
Cuba. and says that he will do as much |
as possible with his forces to put down |
Instruction. but if unable to conquer or |
compromise. Cuban congress will indicate |
kind of Intervention desirable. appre- !
ciate reluctance on our part to inter-
vene. especially in view of Secretary Roots |
recent statements. Few. however. under |
stand Cuban situation and less number |
are able to appreciate the same. This |
is. of course. without any reference to su- !
funds in public works and public edu- /;
cation. but not IN purchase war material. !
lnsurrectOnistS for considerable time
prepared for present cond ton, Ecnce gov
ernnient's apparent weakness at the COM
mencement. Yesterdays defeat of rebels
gives the government hope. Attempts USE
less from the starr.
''STElNHARrT. Consul General"
Palma Urged to Act.
Department Of State. September II. 1906.
'Steinhardt, American Consul General,
Havana
Your letter of September 9Th has had thu
careful consideration OF the Pre- sident. who.
for your private Information believes ac- |
tual, immediate intervention 10 be ont NJ |
the question. We are considering however
and would like your opinion as to whether |
or not to send word OF emphatic warn
ing as to the certainty that intervention
will come in the end unless the people OF |
Cuba, for the sake OF their country find |
some way 10 settle their difficulties ire
spective OF personalities. cease their con-
tentions and live in peace. This you NAV
convey conEdentallE 70 President Palma |
but not for publication. You will urge
President Palma to use in the most ef- |
fective manner all the resources at his |
command to queli the revolt. BACON"
The Rebellion Described.
HAVANA, September IL. 1906.
Secretary of State:
Secretary Of state the Republic of Cuba |
at $40 today delivered to me memora ndum
In his owr handwriting, translation of |
which follows. and Is transmitted, notwith-
standing previous secret instructions on the