Evening star., 1932-10-10

Political aSSaSsinations in Cuba
arouse special concern in this country
because of the obligation that rests on
, the United States to maintain order
there under the provisions of the Platt
amendment, adopted in connection with
the Cuban constitution. Attention is
given to the charge that President Ma
chado employs some of the methods of
a dictator. but a measure of justifica-
ton for his actions is found in the
record of disorder in the island during
recent years. Hope is expressed that,
as in past years. the government will
recover its equilibrium.
"The continuance of political assas-
sinations in the island" according to
the Roanoke World-News, has caused
many people to believe that this coun-
try has been too slow in acting to pre-
serve order there" The World-NewS
quotes a statement by Secretary OF War
Root at the time of the constitutional
convention that intervention in Cuban
affairs will take place only to protect
the independence of the Cuban Republic
from foreign attack. or when veritable
state of anarchy exists and reviews
the several occasions that had called
for action by the Washington Govern
ment That paper concludes: There
are many indications of unrest, includ-
ing open rioting and series of political
aSSaSSinationS. that indicate that some
form of intervention in the affairs of
the troubled island is not wholly out of
the picture if order is to be preserved
and the United States is to keep the
obligation it assumed when treaties en-
bddying the Platt amendment were en-
tered into"
"Under a tight lid in Cuba, politics
stirs and boils," says the Oakland IT'D
une. with the remark that more than
once the lid has been lifted, and one
of these days it may be blown oil.
Reviewing the "open revolt of about
wear ago, the Tribune adds: The
leaders were captured and the revolt
put down. That it has been stirring
under the surface is made evlcent by
the events of the past few days and IN
the fact that most of the causes re-
main" That paper sees political sig
nificance behind the acts of terrorism,
and offers the explanation: Political
opposition to President Machado has
contenGed that the constitutional
amendments of 1928, and consequently
Machados second term as President,
are illegal. Machado, denying this, has
admitted he has been forced by the
necessities to assume the powers OF a
dictator Upon a number of occasions,
notably at the beginning of this year.
he has declared martial law, imposed
a censorship, silenced the newspapers
and put critics of the administration in
prison. When the President offered
proposals for constitutional reform and
agreed to terminate his Office in 1888,
instead Of 1885, a Legislature accepted
and then dropped the whole matter tc
consider new economic program which
came from the executive"
President Machado," records the
San Antonio Express, lis supported by
both the Liberals and Conservative
faction that follows Senator Wilfredo
Fernandez. The United States is watch
ing Cuban affairs. but does not con-
slider that the situation demands inter-
vention. Ambassador Guggenheim
called upon President Hoover and an
nollnced that he would return to Ha-
vana in mid-OctOber. Most Americans
in Cuba are observing strict neutrality
toward the conflict between the govern
ment and its adversaries, who denounce
Gen. Machado as a tyrant and a vir-
tual dictator, not constitutional Pres
ident.'
While conceding that "the natives are
reconciled toekfhe regular arrival Of
political rebela,ons," the Boise Idaho