Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12
BY GERALD BRANDON.

BY GERALD BRANDON.
Special Dispatch TO The Star
HAVANA, october IL (NANA).-
President Machado was accused recently
in the District Court of Palma Soriano,
Of "inciting TO rebellion" following q
public address In which he dared his
enemies to start revolution In order
that he might prove his strength.
The accusation was serio- comic one,
but 1t shows the temper of the opposi-
ton that has tried every possible sort
of legal procedure rather than to ap-
peal to the supreme argument Of armed
revolution.
Leaders Of the opposition say they
are anxious TO avoid fratricidal strife II
possible, and they believe civil war can
be avoided II the United States would
come out categorically with a statement
that 1t does not stand Internationally
back of the Machado administration.
U. S. Envoy Takes Hand.
United States Ambassador Guggen-
helm attempted some months ago to
bring Gen. Machado and Col. Carlos
Mendieta, opposition leader, together,
but his persuasive powers failed to move
Machado from his resolution to hold
the elections that are scheduled for
November l. and that, so his opponents
insist, viii hypothecate Cuba's political
future for the next IL years.
Leaders of the Nationalist movement
believe pointed suggestion from Wash
ington that the elections be postponed
eight months, that the Crowder election
lay be re-established through the abro-
| cation Of its recent appointments, allow
| ing time for reorganization Of present
| political parties and the formation Of
new parties, and that q new census be
made, thereby erasing from the electoral
| register the names Of half million
allegedly imaginary voters, would end
the present unrest.
The Nationalist leaders are convinced
President Machado would be abandoned
by the army and Congress If 1t were
| shown that he did not have the I'M
| conditional support of the United States
Deny Intervention Charge.
According to Col, Mendieta. sugges-
| ton Of this sort would Aot constitute
Intervention" any more than has the
sending here of Grgsvenor M, Jones,
financial expert of the United States
Department of Commerce, to check up
| on the Cuban treasury.
| Col. Mendteta does not believe In
American intervention in Cuban affairs,
| but he insists that IS the Platt amend
ment exists, Cuba Is entitled to receive
| its benefits as well as its disadvantages.
! The lack of consistent interpreta-
/ ton of the last five articles Of the per-
manent treaty between Cuba and the
| United States is being misused by
! President Machado TO Cypress the
Cuban people. his opponents say. They
declare that clear and non-ambigu-
Gus declaration from the United States
State Department would certainly Inn
prove conditions.
What Opposition Asks.
It is not much that the Cuban people
ask for, say the Nationalist leaders-the
right TO vote for their public servants
| and the enjoyment of life and property
and free speech. They do not demand
that President Maehado be Immediately
removed, but they are willing to have
| him and other officials remain in office
until May 20, 1881. when the two-year
! prorogue granted them by Congress ex-
| pires, This prorogue, they say, was un-
democratic, but it was at least legal In
form and not unconstitutional in pro-
cedure
On the other hand, there will be in
! sistence on the notification Of the last
| presidential election and of the refer
! endum for constitutional amendments,
as well as the poStponement of the
congressional election scheduled for
next month.
| The writer has lived in Cuba many
years, and adnnires the qualities and
virtues Of Its people. He believes. how
ever, that nowhere else In the world Is
there professional political class more
versed IN the art Of defeating the true
| aims and desires of its constituencies.
Under the leadership of Gen. Machado
the most able elements of the three
political parties have formed a phalanx
that presents an unbreakable front in
all strictly legal efforts in defense of
what the Cuban people say are their
constitutional rights.
Many believe that only by bloodshed
can this phalanx be shattered, or else
by direct or indirect Intervention by
the United States, Revolution win be
the last resort.
(Copyright, 1880. by North American News
paper Alliancel