Evening star., 1933-09-03
BY GASTON NERvAL

which repealed the 1928 con-
wv stttutional reforms, re-eStab-
lished the 1901 magma charta,
dissolved the Machadista
Congress and called general elections
for February next year, the first chap
ter of the Cuban revolution seems to
be over. Now begins the period of re-
construction, from a clean slate. The
preparations for q return Of the coun-
try to a normal political status shall
soon be occupying the Cuban people
above all other problems.
Last weeks decree really paved the
way for this return to normalcy. The
Cespedes regime had been established
under the provisions Of the constitution
as reformed by Machado. In order to
conform to them and to give the whole
process an appearance Of legitimacy
a common whim Of most Of the recent
Latin American revolts-Carlos Manuel
secretary of state by Gen. Herrera, to
whom, In turn. Machado had resigned
the reins Of power and, only a few
hours later, upon Herrera's swift with
drawal, he had become the provisional
chief executive, "in accord with the
laws and the constitution of Cuba" as
had been carefully explained in gov
ernmental communiques.
Revolution Completed.
But all this 'legalistic" maneuvering
to save the form was bound, after the
first outburst Of enthusiasm for the
oustlng OF Machado, to provoke discon-
tent among the masses and the politi-
cally Independent groups which had been
instrumental in the change. The mere
appointment Of de jure government
after Machado's withdrawal, was a rec
ognit1on, If not tacit Endorsement. of
the Machado reforms to the constitu-
tion. 1t meant that the whole juridical
system implanted by Machado was to
be upheld. And that the Congress
elected under Machado and, naturally,
made up of Machados friends, was to
be continued and to pass upon the acts
OF the new regime. It meant that all
the public employees, also Machadistas
were to remain in their posts, except
those who had deemed 1t safer to keep
themselves in hiding or take a con-
venient, and indefinite, leave Of absence
abroad.
Was the Cespedes provisional gov
eminent. then, to be. from the legal
point OF view, prolongation of the
Machado regime? Members of the
A G and Of the Directorio Estudian-
til began to ask themselves this uues-
ton. Instantly. an insistent, and at
moments menacing, public opinion be-
gan to agitate for measures which
would entirely eliminate the last YES
tiges Of the overthrown Machadista
system.
The provisional governments answer
was last weeks decree. which auto
matically changes its own status-from
de jure to de facto regime Now.
ana only now. 1t may be said that the
revolution has been completed.
1t was absurd, indeed, to try to pre-
serve the legitimate appearances Of a
government which everybody knew had
been brought about by force. A govern
ment which. after all, only force could
have brought about. No one was ex-
pected to believe that Gerardo Machado
after eight years Of arbitrary and die
tatorial rule, had suddenly and "mutuo
propio' decided to step aside graciously,
disinterestedly. that his countrymen
might have an opportunity to select
more popular leader No one was
expected to forget that several years
OF passive rebellion and, from time to
time, outbreaks of armed resistance
which cost many lives had been neces-
Sary before the autocrat ruler even
considered the possibility of surrender
ing. And that, even then, he did not
give in until his own army, his last
bulwark, turned against him and
threats Of American intervention made
him realize that Washington had
turned thumbs down on his regime.
Outspoken Of Aid.
Nobody In Cuba made a secret of
these facts Machado's exit was wildly
celebrated throughout the island as the
success Of 'the revolution" a revolu-
tion which had been on for years. The
army officers, who apparently caused
his withdrawal, were acclaimed as ma
tional heroes. The American Ambas-
sador whose role far exceeded that
of mere friendly curiosity" as inter-
preted here at the State Department,
was hailed as the savior Of Cuban
democracy. Public opinion, always per-
ceiving the real causes behind the ap-
pearances and always unconcerned
with technicalities, was outspoken In
its acknowledgment of the great as
sistance rendered by the United States
The Cubans, just as well as the Amer
leans, knew that without the very ac-
tive part played by Ambassador Welles
and without the unqualified support he
had received in Washington Machado's