The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-15
Responsibility for Cuba

Responsibility for Cuba
There can be no doubt that the
Roosevelt administration in this
country is responsible for the down
! fall of the Machado regime in Cuba
Everything points to it and the fact
that Ambassador Welles, in his role
of unsought mediator, suggested
Machado's resignation shows clearly
enough that the influence of the
United States was exercised on behalf
of the "oppositionists."
TO understand why this should be
50 it is necessary to appreciate the
attitude Of the present administra-
ton toward down trodden humans
and the situation which existed in
Cuba.
Under Machado there had grown
up in the island the tradition OF
rule by the iron hand. He was one
of those who cared little for consti-
tutional liberties, less for the i'm
portant essentials Of human rights
+. The government OF Cuba was some
thing to be operated for his own
benefit and that Of his friends and
supporters. Opposition was quelled
! after much the same manner that
Hitler has forced all Of Germany
into Naziism. It was distinctly un-
healthy not to be supporter of the
Machado government. This situation
was carried to the polls, with the
result that every election testified to
Machado's popularity"
{ One Of the principal instruments
for spreading terrorism and enforc-
ing obedience was the "Porra" OF
secret police. In its methods thi,
force was fully as ruthless as the
famous Russian OGPU. Political pri-
soners, while under their charge, van
ished and were never heard from
again. The bodies of others were
found dead in the streets, the Porrs
explaining that they had tried te
escape from custody and were shot
down.
The climax came last winter wher
a university student was found rid.
died with bullets and the usual ex.
PLANTATION was made. It didn't hole
water because, when the body wa.
found, the hands and feet were tied
Cubans made repeated requests tt
the Hoover administration for actor
to bring peace back to the island
They were ignored. Revolutions wert
attempted and failed, largely be.
cause this country forbade the ex.
portation Of arms. Newspaper read.
ers in this country will remember
the abortive revolt of less than 8
year ago in Camaguey province, IL
which a number Of American soldier,
of fortune figured.
Under existing conditions in Cubs
honest elections were impossible. Thu
president was empowered to suspend
the constitution whenever he felt lik,
1t. He did so whenever it served hi!
own purposes. Within a few hun.
dred miles of Americas MAINLAND
there existed a nation under dictator.
ial government. This probably wouls
have been none of our business ex.
cept for the fact that this countr!
is responsible for Cuba's identity a.
an independent nation and is charged
with the duty of keeping the peac,
there il the islanders cannot do i
for themselves.
This duty exists under the so-callet
Plat amendment to the treaty be-
tween Cuba and the United State
and which is, by inference, a par
of the Cuban constitution. Unde
that pact the United States has tn
right to step In and take contro
whenever we think we are needed
The decision is up to us.
This Is the club which Welles use,
to force out Machado.
We are fortunate that we wer
not compelled to use 1t. We will b
further blessed II we do not have t.
intervene before peace finally
rstored, for the situation still exist
ing is an ugly one and almost any
thing can happen.