Sumner Welles

Sumner Welles took part in Washington's direction of trade negotiations with Cuba as under secretary of state. On December 17, 1941, he telephoned George Messersmith, the American ambassador in Havana, while officials were preparing a revised agreement. The following day, Messersmith referred to the call and promised to press the proposed exchange of notes with the Cuban government. ^{1, 2}

Welles had entered the Foreign Service in 1915 after attending Groton and Harvard. He specialized in Latin American affairs, rose to lead the department's division for the region, and left for banking in 1922. Franklin Roosevelt brought him back into government in 1933. That year, he served as the American ambassador in Cuba before returning to Washington. ^{3, 2}

As under secretary from 1937, Welles remained close to Roosevelt and helped draft the Atlantic Charter in 1941. He left the department in September 1943 after conflict with Secretary Cordell Hull. In retirement, he continued to publish on international affairs and the prospects for international cooperation. He died in 1961. ^{3, 2}