Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21
Cuban Editor Appeals
To the American Press
70 the EDITOR Of The star:

On January 8, last, the President
Of Cuba executed q decree prohibiting
the publication of all newspapers, week
ly magazines and periodicals In Havana,
except the Heraldo de Cuba, which IS
controlled by him and sustained by
| illegal contributions from the lottery
and forced subscriptions of the Office
/ holders under his administration. Many
| other papers and magazines IN various
parts of the republic were also pro-
hibited from publishing.
And two American papers were not
spended-ns ely, Havana Post ana
| Havana Telegram. Both of these news
papers are dominated by the admin
istration and print only such news as
has been previously approved BY the
administration.
The more important papers affected
/ by this illegal decree are FL Pals, 81
MUindo and Diario de la Marina; also
the Havana American, which Is and
was the only independent American
Newspaper in Cuba.
Ell Pats, Fl Mundo and Diario de b.
Marina are members Of the Associated
| Press and are the most dominant
papers ON the Island Of Cuba. OF
these, Fl Pals has the largest circula-
| ton, in fact the greatest Of any Cuban
newspaper.
The purpose of closing these papers
was to deny to the Cuban people and
the rest of the world news of the active
agitation and righteous indignation
against the present government Of
Cuba, which has continued in power
by an utter disregard for the existing
laws; It rules and Is maintained In
power solely through the protection
that the army and police afford
Owners and editors Of newspapers
have, during the present administration,
been intimidated, jailed, exiled, assas-
sinRted and their papers have been
Illegally censored for assuming to pub
liSh the actual news Of the day and
for attempting to express their opinions
upon current political events. The
present government demands only
praise and then more praise. It pro-
hibits the publication Of news and facts,
The decree suSpending the publica-
ton of newspapers is 8 violation Of
Article IS of the Constitution Of the
Republic Of Cuba and is not justified
by any precedent or any existing laws
since the foundation Of the republic;
it is archaic and wholly without prece-
dent. No despot ever dared assume
such power.
Your own publication has undoubted-
ly received news recently that perfect
order reigns throughout the republic
And that Notwithstanding that al
newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
have been suspended; that all guar.
antees Of citizenship have been sus'
pended; that the radio, the telephone
and the mail are under strict censor
ship: that the police and soldiers arC
patroling the streets Of every city Il
the republic; that the University o.
Havana, all normal schools and inStt.
buttons of learning have been closed By
Official decree; that the students arr
constantly uprising and that the labor
ing men are constantly striking; thai
business is stagnant and that business
houses and residences are vacant b.
the thousands; that citizens are ar
rested and jailed without warrant o.
due process of law; that Cubans arr
myster1ously slain in the prisons anC
upon the highways constantly; tina
nominations and elections for public
Offices are made at the presidential
palace instead Of at the polls; thai
political parties have been prohibited
from meeting or organizing; that thu
! local banks are without legal super
vision and the government Is unable Il
meet its current obligations; that al
government works have been suspended
for lack of funds; that the government
has no credit and the President and hi
administration are discredited at hom,
and abroad; that intelligent thought
culture, education and public news arr
denied to the citizens Of Cuba.
And still perfect order = reigni
throughout the republic" Is the new
that the present government Of Cubs
gives to the world through the press
agencies.
| 1t is my opinion that the world ir
general, and the United States in par.
ticular, is vitality interested in the pres.
ent conditions in Cuba. With billion
and half dollars invested and many
business enterprises dominated and
should be and are entitled to be advised
Of the progress of current and politica
happenings.
I can find no better method to voicC
my opinion of the situation than X
borrow the statement of Mr.. Lawrence
w. Murphy, director of the School o.
Journalism of the University of I'LL
nois, who recently said:
ANY censorship of the press in Cubs
IS an insult to the people. That {
free people should be denied news oi
the world-or any news or opinion
Is to make freedom q mockery. Thic
is more than a problem of the press,
1t Is a problem of the rights Of the
people. The press is denied the right
to print, but the people are denied the
right to read. Every lover of freedom
in the United States resents any gov
eminent O6icial tampering with thu
press"
Mr.. Alfredo Hornedo, the publisher.
owner Of 81 Pals, is a disciple of that
type Of free press for a free people
My interest is aroused not only because
am the editor of FL Pals and demand
freedom of the press, but because
am and have for some years been pro-
lessor Of law at the Havana University
and have for many years been q mem
J speaker until March, 1927, when I re-
! signed the speakerShip because Yigor-
ously opposed the passage Of thu
J Prorroga (Which extended the tern
and powers of President Machado) law
which was then pending in Congress
have also been Cuban delegate Il
the League Of Nations and to othel
international congresses. My experienced
has taught me the benefits to be &C.
compiished and the human progress *
be achieved from q free and franl
press.
This Is not the FIRST instance O
interference with q free press undel
the present administration. The pres
of Cuba has been for the past Nv
years frequently haraSSed IN its duty
to the people by various forms d
censorship and political interference.
For the past six months all provincial
: and municipal autonomy has beer
eliminated and provincial and munlci.
pal authorities have been superseded BY
military control