The Politics of Intervention

180 THE POLITICS OF INTERVENTION

Masso Parra's major interest, and that his conspiracy involved
the Negro associations of Havana and Pinar del Rio.^45
By mid-September Masso Parra's contacts had narrowed to
two distinct groups, Spanish and Cuban businessmen and
representatives of the Negro associations.^46 Rumors of an
anti-American rising grew in western Cuba. The Havana press
reported fresh plots every day, and several intelligence reports
linked Masso Parra with the Tobacco Trust.^47 The Military
Information Division alerted Magoon that the plans for a
revolt were set, arms were cached and that only last-minute
complications kept violence from beginning in Pinar del Rio.
The major complication was Pino Guerra, who was persuad­
ing the Cubans involved that a revolt would mean annexa­
tion. Guerra's own interest, Captain Furlong believed, in
quelling the revolt was to win favor with the government,
perhaps even to being named commanding general of Cuba's
armed forces.^48
Magoon's own conviction was that Masso Parra was the
agent of financial interests fomenting revolt to bring on an­
nexation. Masso Parra himself admitted this much to a secret
service agent.^49 On the basis of the intelligence reports of
September 22 and 23, Magoon acted to break the conspiracy
before the rising, supposedly scheduled for September 27,
could begin. Among his first moves was to cable Frank Stein-
hart, who was in New York negotiating another Cuban loan
with Speyer and Company. Magoon told Steinhart that revolt
was imminent, that he must return at once. Steinhart wired
back: "Coming soon as steam can carry me. Keep stiff upper
lip. We will lick them sure." In another cable, Steinhart sent
advice rather than encouragement: "Tell Hill [George S. Hill,
a Havana financier] name of Steinhart that he is making
trouble for himself."^50 Magoon wired back that some eleventh
hour negotiations in Havana promised success:

Have had several interviews with party you name. He is active and

believed honest efforts counteract movement. Chiefs both parties active

and energetic. News received this afternoon encouraging. Efforts behalf

Government producing good results.^51