New-York tribune., 1921-04-12
Harding First
Phone Cuba
Over New Line
Creets President Menocal,
Who Responds Over 500
Miles of Wire, Laid as
New Engineering Triumph
Radio Relays Messages
Pacific Coast Hears Talk:
Newspaper Men Catch Il
Weird Popping, as of Wine

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 11.--The formal
opening of telephone communication
between the United States and Cuba
was signalized here to-day with an ex-
change of greetings between President
Harding and President Mcnocal of
Cuba. Cabinet members then talked
with Cubans holding similar positions
IN Havana. The opening took place
in the Pan American Building, under
the auspices of the National Press
Club. Besides the President and Mrs.
Harding, members o the diplomatic
corps and the army and navy were
present. The Marine Band furnished
muse. The conversation was carried
on over $500 miles of wire.
Each person was given a telephcne,
with the result that virtually a thou
sand here heard the greetings between
the two Presidents and the talk from
the Pacific to the Atlantic. A similar
party was held at the Cuban end of the
line, whore President Menocal was host
to a brilliant gathering Of Cuban gov
crnment officials. A feature of the oc-
caslon was a roll call of cities by tele-
phone, beginning with Havana and end
ing with the wireless operator at Cata-
ma Island, who sent his answer
through space to Los Angeles and
thence by wire and cable. Colonel j. J.
Caity, vice president of the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company.
called the roll for the benefit of Presi-,
dent Harding. 1t included eighteen
states and twenty-siX cities across the
continent.
Text of Harding's Greeting
President Menocal was punctuated with
expressions of gratitude from Presi-
dent Menocal. The Cuban President
could be heard plainly and distinctly.
President Harding said:
Il want you, President Menocal, and
the government and people Of Cuba to
know how gratifying it is to participate
with you IN this ceremony, which signi-
iles so much in the establishment of
more intimate and unders nding rela-
tions between Cuba and the United
States. This time is especially auspi-
cious for the exchange of assurances
that our two republics are bound to-
gether by indissoluble ties of sympa-
thy and interest. Our fortunes have
been linked together already in two
history making struggles, and to-day,
when Cuba stands under the shadow
to know that the United States is de-
termined as always to prove itself the
true and helpful friend of your nation"
The national misfortune referred to
is the announcement made recently by
the Bank Of Cuba that it must suspend
all payments for the time being
President Menocal was profuse in his
thanks in replying to President Iiar
ding.
Other Officials Use Wire
Following the conversations between
the two Presidents, Secretary of State
Hughes talked with Secretary Of State
Desverninies Of Cuba; Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon spoke to the Cuban
Secretary of the Treasury Hernandez;
and the Cuban Minister at Washington
spoke to the American Minister at
Havana. Boaz Long. General PersAing
then exchanged hearty greetings with
Major General Crowder, who is in
Havana Secretary of War Weeks
talked with Secretary Marti, and Cuno
Rudolph,s president of the Board of
Commissioners of the District of Co
'umba, spoke to General Agromonte, OF
the Cuban Cabinet
Following the official conversations q