Messersmith, G.S., Havana. To Felix Frankfurter, Washington., 1940 April 11

2 copies. Will be glad to see [Samuel Eliot] Morison when he comes in June and will do all possible to assist him and make his stay pleasant; comfortably settled in pleasant house with plenty of room; hopes Frankfurter and Mrs. Frankfurter will visit; Cuba passing through difficult period, but developments seem in right direction; Cuban people generally conservative and realize necessity for return to constitutional government to insure political and financial stability; doing all possible to help them along right path, but must not appear to be meddling in their internal affairs; [Fulgencio] Batista [y Zaldivar] and [Mario Garcia] Menocal have made bargain, which assures peaceable election; passing no judgment on merits of arrangement; Batista is intelligent and learns rapidly; Constitutional Assembly in session but having its problems producing satisfactory document; convinced recent German activity result of their necessity for winning early victory; lack of resources, especially oil and iron will prevent their carrying on war for sustained period; fearful for a while of pressure on President and Secretary to send Ambassador to Germany; would serve no good purpose and would be misinterpreted all over world; there can be no peace as long as present German government is in power; no question where U.S. interests lie; should give every possible help to England and France without delay.