THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY  631



stand that and not be influenced by radical partisans who assert that
President Wilson is undecided because he refuses to declare his pur-
pose or to authorize an act of war against Germany. They want
him to usurp the powers of Congress and are trying to force him
to do so.
  The people should not tolerate criticism of this sort.

763.72/3759b
            The Secretary of State to President Wilson

                                   WASHINGTON, March 26, 1917.
  MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: There is a policy which it seems to me
should be determined upon without delay as preliminary arrange-
ments will have to be made to carry it out. It is presented by the
question, If a declaration of war against Germany or if a declara-
tion of the existence of a state of war is resolved by the Congress,
what ought the Governments of Cuba and Panama to do?
  It seems to me that we cannot permit Cuba to become a place of
refuge for enemy aliens. It would give them great facilities for
plots and intrigues not only against this country but against the peace
of Cuba. I have in mind the possibility of submarine bases, the
organization of reservists, the use of cables, etc., which would be to
my mind very serious and possibly disastrous. In addition to this,
if Cuba remained neutral, we could not use her ports for our war
vessels and that might result in a renewal of the rebellious activities in
the Island, which would be abetted by the Germans there. To pre-
vent this situation there seems to me but one policy to adopt and that
is to have the Cuban Government follow our action with similar action.
  Both the Minister here and Minister Desvernine 29 have stated that
they will do whatever we wish them to do. But we ought to be pre-
pared to tell them exactly what we want.
  The Panama situation is not so easy to handle as the Government is
less amenable. I feel, however, that it would be perilous to permits
Germans to be at liberty to go and come so near to the Canal. It
would be almost essential to have the Germans expelled from the Re-
public. Furthermore, the laws of neutrality would seriously em-
barrass our people. These conditions could only be avoided by
Panama entering the war, if we become a party.
  I think that I can influence the Panama Government to do what-
ever we wish in the matter, but it will take a little time and requires
preliminary work to accomplish it.

' Pablo Desvernine, Cuban Secretary of State.