Messersmith, G.S., Havana. To Sumner Welles, Washington.
Date
1941-05-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Reports on foreign activities in Cuba; Government has stopped spreading of German, Italian, and Japanese propaganda by confiscating materials and by control of radio; problem of Communists, Falange, and attitude of Catholic clergy remains; movement afoot to make Communist Party illegal; public aroused because of Communist control of labor organizations and number of Communists holding high positions; activities of Falange have diminished because Spanish merchants in Cuba have become disillusioned with it and discontinued their support; considerable part of Catholic clergy in Latin America, particularly Cuba, is of Spanish origin, and has been influenced by Spanish Civil War; they are taught that Franco stood for maintenance and protection of the Church, and since Italy and Germany aided Franco in the war, they look on them as defenders of the Catholic Church; indications that directives to Catholic clergy coming more from Madrid than from Rome; Catholic discipline does not permit its clergy to preach political sermons or engage in political propaganda, but that is being overlooked; suggests Catholic Church in U.S. might send out informative literature in Spanish and Portuguese to clergy of Latin America.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.