Evening star., 1933-09-18
Better Outlook at Havana.

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The best news that has come out
Of Cuba during the past few hours is
the disclosure that the rival groups
which are struggling for power at Ha-
vana have established contact and are
cropping for a basis of agreement. A
climax Is believed to be imminent. The
motive behind recent discussions Is the
realization on the part of all concerned
that the recognition of the United
States is essential to the maintenance
of any Cuban government that aspires
to live. To that end negotiations have
aimed at the formation Of coalition
ree...le more representative of the
whole country than the present gov
ernment headed by Prof. Grau San
Martin and supported only by the stu
dents and soldiers. together with such
other elements Of the masses as these
have contrived to drum together and
keep in line.
Yesterday Ambassador Welles con-
ferred at length in the private home of
a mutual friend with President Grau
San Martin. The Ambassador did not
disclose the result of the interview but
seemed optimistic. The President Is
conscious of the necessity Of organizing
a more united national front for his
government than it now commands.
trH irl hof
DR.. Grau San Martin realizes the hope
lessness of conciliation efforts on the
only lines that would be agreeable to
the United States, and is ready to step
down in favor Of resumed De Ces-
pedes presidency or some entirely new
deal at Havana.
Last week in Washington Secretary
Hull clearly, though briefly. made
known the conditions necessary to
American recognition of a Cuban gov
ernment 1t must be one which Q) is
plainly representative of the people of
the whole republic and which (lD Is
demonstrably capable of preserving
public order and generally stable rule
throughout the island The San Mar
tin junta government manifestly meas
ures up to neither of these require
ments. 1t must be conceded that, bar
ring the amazing episode of the be-
seiged former army officers in the Hotel
National fortress, Havana remains more
or less normal and calm, but in the
provinces numerous excesses have oc-
rights of American citizens have been
violated in many cases, and, in some
instances, their lives have been endan-
gered It is evident that the sway of
President Grau San Martin does not
effectually extend into the interior Of
Cuba and to remote coastal points.
Current peace negotiations at Ha-
vana include meeting which Ambas-
sador Welles has had with authorized
representatives of the Students Direc-
torate, the power behind the Grau San
Martin throne. The meeting, held on
private premises in Havana, was mainly
for the purpose of enabling the Ameri-
can envoy to explain the United States
attitude in the pending Cuban turmoil
Mr. Welles took occasion to point out
! that many of the problems the Roose-
welt administration is attempting to
solve in this country are identical with
those which the students want to solve
in Cuba. Mr.. Welles sought to make
clear that no American Government
had ever been less imperialistic in mo-
tives and tendency than that Of Presi-
/ dent Roosevelt and that intervention
in Cuba's own affairs is remotest from
the Presidents mind.
Unfortunately, none of these devei-
opments so far has proved capable OF
curbing radical anti-American senti-
ments rampant in Havana, chiefly
among striking workers, who, there is
reason to fear, are under Communis.
influence. These elements are now de-
manding a boycott of American goods
and threatening violence to sugar mills
and other business properties in which
American capital is interested "Dowl
with Yankees!" is the cry with which
agitators are seeking to rally radica
groups at isolated points in the island
At Santiago a concentration of Ameri'
! can citizens seems to have been or.
dered, with view to emergency evacua'
I ton by nearby United States nava
! forces.