The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-16
FATE OF CUBA
RESTS IN U. s.
COFFEE CUPS
Unless Sugar Can Be Made
TO Pay Profits, Island
Faces Anarchy.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIAIMS
Srrfpps-IIouard ForeiFn Editor


WASHINGTON, Aug 16-The
fate OF Cuba today hung upon what
President Roosevelt decides to do
about the sweetening that goes into
your cup OF coffee.
Cuba is sugar Unless sugar can
be made % pay in the hunger and
terror ridden island across the Flor
ida straits. not only will 1t be i'm
possible TO establish lasting peace or
economic stability down there. but
the national defense Of the United
States seriously Will be crippled.
President Roosevelt's problem,
therefore. is domestic as well as for
eign. The people Of the United
States consume about six million
long tons Of sugar annually. 1t pro-
duces domesticauy a little over one
million tons The other 5000 900
must come from overseas.
Sugar Is Indispensable
In war. sugar is indispensable.
Not only is it vital TO the national
diet. but II is essential 10 the war
industries. in chemical compounds
and otherwise.
Puerto Rico. producing about 6O0.-
600 tons OF sugar annually, probably
could be defended in war time, and
so could be counted upon for
supplies
Hawaii producing about 800 900
tons a year. is too far away TO be
certain, while the Philippines, pro-
ducing a trifie more than Puerto
Rico. likely would be cut of entirely.
Cuba. so close by that she would
be as safe in war as Florida, yields
about 100000 long tons a year.
This crop. with the domestic yield
and Puerto Rico yield, would make
the United States secure in time of
conflict as well as in time Of peace.
Puzzle Old as Country
President Roosevelt's quandary is
almost as old as the country. II has
been the policy of the United
States to protect domestic sugar
producers ever since 1873. The act
of 1890 admitted sugar duty free
but paid domestic producers a
bounty Of cents a pound.
Today. duty on sugar is 2.5 cents
a pound. Cuban sugar, with a 20
per cent differential due to the
Cuban-American treaty of reciproc-
ity. pays ? cents a pound. 1t Is
estimated that the tariff adds $780,
600 900 a year TO the sugar bill OF
the American consumer.
II further is calculated that the
duty increases the cost of SUI
gar to the American farmer about
SIS 100000 a year and that those
raising sugar benefit only s50000,000.
Thus. the farmer nets loss OF
S25 900. 900 a year on the deal.
Cuba Faces Starvation
Many economists claim it would
be less expensive to return TO the
2 cents a pound bounty paid TO do
nestle producers 140 years ago and
let sugar in duty free. For the
United States. including dependen-
cies. produces only about half its
normal requirements.
In any event. Cuba today virtually
is in state of starvation because
OF the American sugar policy.
Unless it is changed. observers
admit. anarchy soon will take the
place OF political disorder. and
American Intervention will be forced
upon this country whether we like
II or not.
Cuban cane fields used to pay
from $3.50 to $3.50 day for labor
Then there were 1000 important
sugar centraleS. Cuba was one Of
Americas best customers.
Today. there are about 200 CEN
trales. Hard times have starved out
the others. and wages sometimes are
as low as 3 cents a day.
Cuban purchasing power has all
but completely disappeared.