FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1942, VOLUME VI



response to a definite request by the Cuban Government which had
originated with that Government and had not been promoted or stimu-
lated by us. He also expressed some doubt as to how much good it
would do to send a member of the Mission even if a request should
be received. Such a person could actually do little but stand on
the Mission's reports. The Cubans, however, might try to maneuver
him into acquiescing in serious departures from the Mission's
recommendations.

837.516/399
  The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State

No. 961                              HABANA, September 9, 1942.
                                        [Received September 16.]
  SIR: I have the honor to refer to my despatch no. 513 of July 20,
1942, and to acknowledge the Department's instruction no. 499 of
August 15, 1942, on the subject of proposed banking and monetary
legislation for Cuba.
  The Department's instructions have been noted and will, of course,
as always, be meticulously followed.
  Hearings in Congress on the proposed legislation are scheduled
to begin shortly. The Habana Clearing House has submitted to
tne appropriate Senate Committee a 261/2 page objection to several
fundamental aspects of the draft law and has suggested alternative
procedures. Two copies of this document are enclosed herewith.70
  I very much appreciated the opportunity afforded me to discuss
this matter with Lieutenant Southard during his visit to Habana,, and
since he and I, in airgrams nos. A-8T and A-90 of August 19,71 fully
outlined what my thoughts have been and are with respect to the
proposed legislation, it appears unnecessary for me now to extend
my views to any great length. Moreover, I trust that on Lieutenant
Southard's arrival in Washington, his more detailed verbal account
of my opinions and my conversations with him may clarify both the
Department's and the Technical Mission's understandings in the
premises. I do wish to emphasize, however, that my despatch under
reference was entirely in consonance with the Department's instruc-
tions-"to assist Cuba in every appropriate way".
  As Lieutenant Soutbard informed me here, the Technical Mission
did not study the political aspects of this matter, and therefore it
did not go into the repercussions which the widespread prevalence of

'0 Not printed.
7' Neither printed.



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