Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
U.S.PARTLY BLAMED
FOR CUBA TROUBLE
Feel Government Has Not
a Shown Enough Interest
in Neighbor.
BY WILLIAM H. FORT.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
HAVANA, August 1.-The United
States is not held entirely blameless
in the present chaotic condition in
Cuba. It is the opinion both Of inhuen-
tial CubanS, and also of Americans hav-
ing large investments IN the island, that
too little attention has been paid by
the United States Government to the
affairs of this little republic which looks
to the United States as its sponsor, and
1t is even more strongly felt that the
American legislative bodies acted with
small foresight in imposing q 2-cent
tax on Cuban sugar, at the same time
allowing Hawaiian, Philippine and Por-
to Rican sugar free entry.
It is a characteristic gesture these
days for Cuban, remarking upon his
freedom, to accompany the remark with
an expressive motion of his hand as
though he were passing knife across
his throat.
1.-THE island is Free" one prominent
Cuban banker said, "but'-with an ex-
pressive shrug-"freedom comes high!"
By this, he explained. was meant the
2-cent tariff on sugar, to which he
attributed much of the islands econom-
ic woes. "A 2-cent sugar tariff means
strangulation," he said, and added the
opinion also expressed in various other
quarters here that 1.-The people in the
United States either are not interested
In Cuba or, what Is more likely, they
have no conception Of what is taking
place here"
Government Blamed.
This Is not meant to infer that there
Is either antagonism or resentment felt
against the United States, for that is
not true. What resentment there Is.
is directed by the Cuban against his
own government rather than against
the United States, in the belief that
had the Cuban government taken the
pains to present the true condition OF
the republic to the State Department
in Washington, no such sugar handi-
cap would have been imposed.
There is no question that little Of the
truth about Cuba has ever reached the
United States, partly due to clever
publicity maneuvers on the part of the
Machado government, which frowns
sternly upon any report which gives
anything but q rose-colored tint to
Cuban conditions. Even the banks,
fearful of the rigid censorship, find it
data of conditions to the United States,
and confidential communications from
branch banks in the interior to the
home Office in Havana are made by
personal agents, not by mail.
There is still some resentment ex-
pressed, however, and not a little I'M
easiness on the part of Americans here
over the slight activity Of the United
States in protest against the killing
of an American soldier on police duty
in Havana. This American, named
Tagle, was standing on the prade, al
most directly across from the American
Club According to the story Of eye
witnesses, a group of men with clubs
and blackjacbs suddenly started a dis
turbance, setting upon every one within
striking distance.
Shot Dead in Street.
Tagle objected, stating that he was
an American, whereupon a soldier shot
him through the back and killed him.
The soldier was not arrested at the time
and, although this event took place sew
eral months ago, all that has happened
was an order for his court-martial and
an order for his arrest, issued some nine
weeks ago by the courts, but by that
time he was not to be found. 1t was
this event which contributed largely to
the feeling which is now apparent, that
the United States is not particularly
interested in Cuba or what Cuba does.
Nevertheless 1t Is generally recognized
that whatever answer is found to the
islands problems must be found with
the help of the United States. AS to
what form this answer" will take
there are various opinions, although
1t Is the unanimous opinion that what
ever plan is adopted must include draS-
tic revision of the republics financial
structure.
Seek United States Guidance.
For the Cubans themselves admit
that a change in Government, which is
being so loudly demanded, would have
little effect ultimately on the Islands
economic future, and that any new
governmental set-up would be faced with
the same problems which now confront
their present President. Gen. Gerardo
Machado And although they are
anxious for United States aid, the aid
wished for Is in the nature of economic
counsel, not actual intervention. They
are not av6erse to a supervision of their
economic structure, for this, they recog-
n12e, Is necessary in order to restore
come sort Of order out of the economic
mess in which the island is now in
volved. They would also welcome a
revision Of their taxation system which
would divide the assessments on q more
equitable basis. But when it comes to
home politics, they wish to be let alone,
with the right to govern themselves,
elect or unSeat presidents as they choose,
and the right to argue about 1t as much
as they please.
(Copyright. 1917