The Washington herald., 1921-01-08
Senate and House Agog
Over Situation Not
Fully Diyulged.
KNOX URGES VISIT
TO DECIDE ACTION
Politics Thought Basic
Factor-Gen. CrOwder
Now There.
BY ROBERT BARRY.

Congressional inquiry into Cuban
affairs appeared likely yesterday.
Representations of such strength
have been made to leaders at the
Capitol that personal study of the
situation is being considered. Con-
.ditions on the island republic were
reported to have reached a more
acute stage than heretofore dis
closed.
There were numerous informal
conferences among Senators as to
the proper thing for Congress to do.
Senator Philander c. Knox. of Penn
sylvania, urged Senator Hiram w.
johnson, OF California, chairman OF
the Senate Committee on Cuban Re
lations, to have the Smmittee visit
Cuba to obtain information at first
hand for possible action by Con-
gress.
Representative Horace w. Towner.
of Iowa. chairman OF the House
Committee on Insular Affairs. de-
Clared that he had been requested
to name a subcommittee to make
the trip on behalf of the House.
That he declined TO do, but said that
several individual members had dis
Cussed the advisability OF going.
Senator johnson will call a meet
ing OF his committee to determine
whether a resolution ordering the
IN 1rN he
Senate.
Ask who VIII Cor
The Cuban Relations Committee
has but five members. They are
Senators Johnson. Knox and Medin
Mccormick, of Illinois, Republicans;
Oscar W. Underwood, of Alabama,
| and Nathaniel B. Dial, Of South
| Carolina, Democrats. Mr.. McCor-
mick is in Europe. 1t is not likely
Knox would make the trip. Tn
derwood's duties as minority foor
leader would prohibit his taking the
/ journey.
I Agitation in the Senate cloak
| rooms over Cuban affairs was not
explained, except that urgent rep
/ resentatiOns had been made that
/ affairs had reached a very acute
| stage. Senator Underwood declared
/ he was not advised as to any spe-
cific occurrence or report which
was responsible for the obvious
fears OF sensational developments.
Mai. Gen. Enoch H. Crowder, sent
to Cuba by President Wilson in be-
half of a peaceful adjustment of
the political and financial difficulties
| of the republic. was believed to
Z
| day. 1t is known that prior to his
with prominent Republican Sena-
tors, including Knox. Whether
| Crowder has Cabled any report as
to the outlook as he found it yes
| terday could not be ascertained.
but his name was linked with the
/ increased concern OF the Senate.
Politics Acute.
Although it is realized that spe-
cial committees Of the Senate and
House would have no authority to
intervene in Cuban affairs, until
conditions had reached the point
where the PIatt amendment might
become operative, there was
strong sentiment at the Capitol
that the presence of such informal
i observation committees would
have a salutary effect upon the
cIashing political groups. Cuba's
financial troubles are held TO be
Influenced in large measure by the
existing political bitterness grow
ing out of the November elections.
Sofne sort Of a show down is looked
for on February l when the e&-
tended moratorium expires. Ad-
justment of the controversy over
the presidency. it is felt, would go
far toward aiding a satisfactory
settlement Of the financial prob
lem.
DR.. Manuel R. Angulo, r"presen-
tative of the Cuban liberal party
in Washington, declared last night
the liberal party would be espe-
cialIy pleased to have a visit of
inquiry made by a Senate commit
tee.
Copyright, 1891, Public Ledger Co..
: ~ UITsII nLrs