Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-09-14
DEMAND FOR SHIPS
RECALL IS RESISTED.
Pacifists' Pleas Ignore Grave
Threat to Lives of Island
Americans.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

While the news from Cuba indicates
a continued state of uncertainty pre-
vailing since the coming into power OF
DR.. Grau San Martin, supported by
soldiers and young radicals, the Amer
lean Government is under constant
pressure from American paciflst organ
izationS and from South American re-
pubics to withdraw its warships from
Cuba for the sake of Fastening the re-
establishment of law and order there.
Appraisal of the situation, however,
indicates the American Government
uld be in danger of facing charges
of neglect of the interests of its citizens
and other foreigners who live In CUBA
by yielding to this pressure.
Army Dissension Grows.
There are growing signs of disSatis-
faction in the ranks of the Cuban army.
In Havana itself the army is fairly
loyal to its selected government, but in
the provinces the Situation is distinctly
bad There are many strikes going on
and as a matter Of fact, business is at
a complete StandStill throughout the
island. Tens of thousands of workers
are on strike, in many cases without
reason The idea of a new deal in
Cuba seems to be plenty of food and
drink and no work.
The government shaky as it is. is
endeaVoring to gain the support OF the
people by encouraging this idea and
promising the fulfllment of the utopian
ideals of the happy state without taxes,
without compulSlon to work and yet
provide the people with all the neceSsl-
ties of life 1t is the same system which
brought about the success of the Boil
shevist revolution in Russia in 1917.
Observers of the Cuban situation,
however admit that the idle people are
now talking instead of working and as
soon as they begin to feel the pangS
of hunger, the Grau San Martin ad-
ministration will be as much hated as
its predecessors. The bourgeois ele-
mentS are endeavoring TO rally under
their flag the thinking clements OF
Cuba. but so far, with little success.
American Hate Famed.
To give the people something to think
about. the demagogS OF the republic are
tanning the hatred against the Yam
kee" subversive propaganda against
America and the Americans is being
carried on throughout the island: The
Americans who live in the island are
described as bloodSuckers and to them
Is
have befallen the Cuban republic in
the last five years. The presence OF
the American men-of-war Is described
as the definite proof that all that the
American Government is thinking about
is to lay hands on the republic and eX-
plot it for the benefit OF the Amerl-
can capitalists.
Under these circumstances incidents
which are likely to have most serious
consequences may be expected at any
time.
The position of the American Gov
eminent is difficult and precarlouS.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull
have taken advantage OF every posslIe
opportunity to tell the world that the
last thing this Government wants to
do is to land any American force In
Cuba. But. as the Cuban newspapers
and the radio are under the strict
control of Col. Battista, these state
ments receive scant publicity, II any, In
the island. On the contrary, the pres
ence of the American warshlps IN the
Cuban waters gives definite proof 10
the Cuban people that the United States
is eagerly waiting the moment when 1t
could throw into action its formidable
forces.
Possibilities Are Grave.
The possibility of outbreaks which
may threaten the lives of Americans
are still considered as grave.
If the warships were not In CUBAN
waters or if they had been ordered
away, as certain sections OF the Amer
lean public seem to desire, there Will
be nothing to prevent the massacre OF
some of the 5000 citizens who live on
the island.
The administration receives almost
daily appeals from various American
organizations to withdraw the Meet from
Cuba. The Latin American repuoHcs,
even those who sympathize with the
American point of view, are urging the
United States Government to Withdraw
its ships because their presence IS
looked upon with suspicion by the pup
lie of almost every Latin American
country.
The respective governments realize
that the only way to protect the llVes
of the Americans and the other lor-
eignerS is to MAINTAIN the SHIPS "here
they are, but the students, who are the
leaders of public opinion IN the Latln
American republics, have started a
propaganda move with the object OF
forcing the American Government TO
Withdraw its men Of war, and the Soutn
American governments are poWerieSs
against such moves. Their own exist
ence may be jeopardized if they went
against this element.
Want Stability Assured.
The American Government has re-
oeatedly stated that it is willing TO
Withdraw every gunboat if it can OBJ
tain the assurance that the present
Cuban government is stable and In
position to guarantee the safety OF all
foreigners When the South American
governments are asked whether II IS
their opinion that the most recent
Cuban administration is liable. their
answer is non-committal. and IN private
they admit that this is not the case.
Consequently under these crcum-
stances President Roosevelt thinks that
a premature withdrawal OF the Amerl-
can forces would be grave error. be-
cause should anything happen this Gov
ernment would be justly accused OF
gross negligence in not taking the
necessary precautions to protect its ma
tionals abroad 1t is argued that every
time a situation like the present one
occurs there are always we'll meaning
groups in the country which plead the
case of the alleged underdog. But when
trouble breaks out and Americans are
killed there is still stronger outcry
against the Government which has not
had the foresight to adequately protect
its nationals.
Consequently in spite of the obvious
disadvantages caused by the presence
of the American warships in Cuban
waters, the administration is determined
to keep them where they are until the
situation in Cuba is sufficiently straight