Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-25
CUBAN STATESMEN
CAUTIOUS ON VIEWS
|OF u.S.A AND LEAGUE
Decline to "Take Sides"
Monroe Doctrine Held
Sacred" to Americas.
BIZ GEORGES c. BRIGGS.

BIZ GEORGE G. BRIGGS.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1879.
HAVANA, Cuba. October s5.-Cuban
statesmen studiously avoid taking
sides in the political controversies
now uppermost in the minds Of
Americans. Whether the Emitted
States should swim cautiously around
the league of nations covenant or
swallow il, hook, line and sinker, is
the particular question upon which
the man high in public affairs in Cuba
particularly diSlikes to be questioned.
DR.. Rafael Montoro. who may safely
be said to be the business head of the
island republic. was engaged in a dis
cussion Of Cuban affairs with this
correspondent when the Monroe doc
trine was mentioned.
The Cuban people favor the Monroe
doctrine, which has been most i'm
portant for all American nations.
said DR.. Montero.
The next question was inevitable.
Refuses to Be Quoted.
us the Monroe doctrine considered
enters the league of nations with the
covenant unchangedr'
Now; now" DR.. Montoro warned.
you are asking question which al
fects in the most direct way the policy
Of your great republic and its govern
ment. shall not permit myself to
give any opinion"
DR.. Montoro holds the Office Of sec
rotary to the president of Cuba. He is
as. immense in body as he is in au-
thority. He is member Of the cab
met with jurisdiction over the execu-
His Office is in the palace just across
the marhle-walled. palm Allied soldier
pafrolied patio from the quarters occu-
pied by President Menocal and his
family.
The doctor talked of many phases
Of Cuba.s affairs and national aspira-
lions. Of aversion to American inter-
vention. of road building. Of President
Menocars opposition to the national
lottery. of the dangerous tendency OF
Cuba to become a one-industry coun-
try as an ever-increaSing concentra-
ton on cane raising is recorded. He
also discussed the nations financial
condition and the need Of modern
banking laws. Inquiry on that score
was based upon the moratorium re-
Gently decreed by. President Menocal
because of the precarious situation
into which several large banks had
been plunged by in-sdvised sugar
loans. .--~-
How may Cuba's financial condi.
ton best be stabilized - DR.. Montorc
was asked. Would not adequate
banking laws and federal examina.
ton of bank securities accomplish
the desired end?"
Sene u Cubais ProAleias.
These are problems which must be
studied by congress-" was the reply
President Menocal has on different
occasions addressed messages to con.
gress making important recommends
tons in that respect, but nothing has
been done as yet in connection with
those matters" .-.'
Concerning the appeals made by
proponents Of the liberal party doc.
trines for American supervision OF
Cuban elections. DIT. Montoro had this
to say:
"The government is opposed to all
appeals for American Intervention, NO,
only because it desserts the sovereignty
of the republic, but also because there
is no occasion for such unpatriotic
procedure, The government is firm IN
it's decision to see that the coming
elections are legal and perfectly fair
in 20 far as it depends upon the gov
eminent to make them 30. In fact
the new code prepared by Gen. Crow
der and approved by the Cuban, con-
gress guarantees that.
TT is important, however. to know
that in the new code the government
is deprived of all intervention. even
of a simple inspection. 1t is restricted
to reporting to the electoral boards
and competent courts any violation OF
the Law, and to supplying these boards
and courts with the material support
they may require to redress public
wrongs. Then the government must
leave them at liberty to act as they
may deem advisable" s~,