Evening star., 1922-09-27
Situation in Cuba Deeply Concerns
the United States.


The Endorsement by the State De-
partment of Gen. Crowder's ultima
tum" to the Cuban government 10
looked TO by American editors to
bring matters 20 a head in Cuba. but
whether either Gen. CrowGer or the
state Department is justified in TAX
ing such a stand is matter OF con-
siderable dispute in the press.
The situation grows out of Crow
der's demand for the passage OF leg
islation which the Springfield Repub-
lican summarizes thus: Changes In
the present civil service law to en-
able the executive quickly and ehec-
lively to reorganize the executive de-
partments. especially the parts nav
ing 10 do with the revenues: pro-
vision for better system Of account
ing; creation Of a special commission
TO Investigate and define the govern.
ment's floating debt; change IN
judicial procedure and facilitating OF
the removal of judges: provision for
contracting and liquidatlng a 1oreign
loan for the settlement of the hoat1ng
debt and the initiation OF public
works.
None of these measures. in the
view of the Brooklyn Eagle. concerns
-
of the Platt amendment, under which
the United States operates in Cuoa.
American supervision extends only 10
disorder, and Cuba is today peace
full. There is no intimation OF dan
ger to American property or Ameri. .
nor are foreign rights imp".!' d."
Crowder's insistence that the bills be
made law within . specified time be.
cause "he had reached the limit OF
his patience" as quoted by press
dispatch was. the New fork eau
sui ruling subject province :, and
subsequent Endorsement; by. ihe sac
Department "can have only one In
terpretation: Obey Crowder. the
voice Of the State Department. or we
will take measures to make you oney. ,,
In such a situation, asks the Caii.
"what Is left Of any sovereignty IN
Cuba when the latter is thus humiil-
ated by a demand that the govern
ment shall comply with an oiu-
matum? For Cuba to comply Is for
her to recognize the United States
as her imperial boss. ,,,v
In the opinion Of the Eoium11te a.1t
tOhio) Dispatch. however. "the 1ude-
ment Of Con. Crowder is not to be
dismissed as that of an interfering
tryant," and at is certainly poor
policy to denounce the peaceful enort
that is being made to TO- presene rev ,,han Am
government is making mistakes they
ought to be corrected by law ne1ore
there is need to correct them oy
force" "Gen. Crowder. who has peen
the personal representative OF ooIn
President Wilson and asSa;snd rres,Hem1 1i pain
Dealer "to have done his work wen.
He has been deliberate and cautious;
but at the end he acted decisively;
He has struggled hard, the buneio
News adds, ITO set right govern..
ment which is permeated, Ssn Win wh;rn
agriculture and business generally
have become more or less disor9an-
ICED" The very nature Of the reforms
he demands, the Springfield Repuo
'ican thinks, present 2 picture o.
and lack of effective system. all con.
tributing to financial embarrassment
threatening the safety Of the state.
Failure to pass the laws essenual 70
the correction of these Ills does noe
appear to be due to any honest ais.
necessity. but partly to sheer IN.
dolence and partly to the willingness
Of an embittered political minority
to make the way as difficult a. pos
sible for the Cuban administrators.
which seems to mean better thAn IL
KNOWS no" 10 uo.
The Manchester Union also is Of the
opinion that the reform program TO
being thwarted "by a group Of peanut
obstructionist politieians." but 1t 10
assured that the Crowder program.
backed by the fullest Endorsement
of the Harding administration. will
be pushed speedily to conclusion"
with the result that "the orgy Of mis-.
management and political plundaring
which has made a perfect mess Of the
Cuban government will be brought to
a stop and the nation given at least a
decent chance to rehabilirate itself"
II 1t fails, this country must step in
and carry forward the reforms needed.
as much 40 we dislike doing se,',, de-
clares the Lansing (Mich.) state
Journal. for while under the self
determination idea the small lands re-
sent outside interference. yet the
United states o largsly rsspensible
for Cuba ana her liberties. and We
must see she behaves ana rssDecss her