and Congress will ask for our forcible intervention. It 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."

The State Department at Washington replied to this on September 10th:

"Your cable received. Two ships have been sent, due to arrive Wednesday.
The President directs me to state that perhaps you had not yourself
appreciated the reluctance with which this country would intervene.
President Palma should be informed 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 effort in a serious
attempt to put down the insurrection and has made this fact evident to
the world. At present the impression certainly would be that there was
no real popular support of the Cuban government, or 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. It is, of
course, a very serious matter to undertake forcible intervention, and
before going into it 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 are unable to hold their own with them in the field. Until such
efforts have been made, we are not prepared to consider the question of
intervention at all."

On September 10, Consul-General Steinhart cabled again:

"Your cable received and directly communicated 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 the insurrection, but if unable to conquer or
compromise, Cuban Congress will indicate kind of intervention desirable.
He appreciates reluctance on our part to intervene, especially in view
of Secretary Root's recent statements. Few, however, understand Cuban
situation, and a less number are able to appreciate same. This, of
course, without any reference to superior authority. Palma applied
public funds in public work and public education, and not in purchase of
war materials. Insurrectionists for a considerable time prepared for
present condition, hence government's apparent w