Evening star., 1933-09-18
PRESIDENT Of CUBA
HINTS He WILL QUIT
Says Solution of Serious Sit
uati0n in Island Is Ex.
a pected Today.
Continued From First Page.)

(COntlnueQ from FlrSC FdSe.)
The Bayamo Labor Federation also
called a general strike.
Thirty-seven business groups threat-
ened q 24-hour cessation of business to-
morrow to protest against workers vio-
lence and the growing number OF
strikes.
Communists in Santiago threatened
to seize American mills and banks and
all American women were taken for
safety to Rente, across the bay from
Santiago.
5000 in Anti-U. S. Parade.
American-owned manganes, mines
at Cristo remained storm center. In
Havana 5000 persons paraded. shout
ing Down with Sumner Welles,"
American Ambassador, and Down with
American Imperialism" Unrest grew
in number Of other places.
Those who believed a solution was
in sight found great significance in the
conference between Mr.. Welles and
DIR. Grau San Martin. The Ambassador
recently conferred with committee of
the student directorate. stanch support
ers with enlisted men Of the President.
Wives Drenched at Hotel.
Added to all these troubles was the
problem Of 500 army and navy officers
barricaded and besieged in the Ma
tional Hotel for a week. They insist
Grau San Martin step down in favor
of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. who in
mid August followed Gerardo Machado
in the presidency.
Serving ro keep this problem before
the public was the visit last night Of
100 officers wives to the hotel. demand
ing permission to enter. They were
drenched with water from fire hoses
and were forced to turn back. they said,
by students and the soldiers guarding
the hotel.
A merchants manifesto asking imme-
diate action against workers; violence
called forth this statement from the
President: !
Employers and merchants have rea-
sons for feeling alarm, but they are
acting irreponsibly and are conspiring
against the only government in Cuban
history which is curing the ills Of past
regimes.
"The ills described in the merchants
manifesto are the logical consequence
of the former dictatorship and the abb
surd inactivity Of the De Cespedes gov
| ernment, which allowed the people full
| liberty to carry on their vengeance"
Asks Business Support.
He called upon merchants and indus
trialists to let the government solve the
problems scientifically.
The government plans to act with
justice by raising the standards Of liv-
ing and labor and accepting the just de-
mands of workmen. Employees should
help support the government.
The government does not want to
use force. but warns it is ready to de-
fend constructive systems, social JUS
tice and the country's economic life"
-Four hundred members of the Cuban
Medical Federation agreed to call d
strike within "a hours unless the ad-
ministration comedies their demands.
! which include the liberalization of all
doctors, and the abolition of Spanish
regional societies.
The strike. if invoked. would paralyze
all government and private hospitals
and the Public Health Service
In Santiago. agitators speaking at 8
workers meeting said they had the
backing Of the Cuban army in a plan
to sovietize several sugar mills settle
ments. Workers threatened general
strike against possible American inter-
vention.
Thomas S. Mederos, a Cuban born
American citizen. said he cabled Presi-
dent Roosevelt that three million Gu
bans are desperately hungry because
Of the indifference of American finan-
cial interests, causing restriction Of the
sugar crop from five to two million tons
annually"
OhiciaIs Held Prisoners
At the Baguanos Sugar Mill, Off
cials were held prisoners, supposedly
until they meet workers demands.
American-controled low-price stores IL
Santiago were closed because of strikes
Soldiers installed 10 machine guns in
MatanZas and distributed rifles to high
school students as unrest grew
After a talk with Mr.. Welles, Gull
lermo Belt. DR.. de Cespedes' secretary
of public instruction, said: president
Grau San Martin is frightened not SO
much at the opposition as at his own
support. He rides in the armored car
Machado used"
Offer Vote to Women.
The administration countered with a
threat to dissolve the old political par
ties and announced preparation of a
decree allowing women to vote for dele
gates to a forthcoming constitutional
assembly.
A commission of four former army
officers headed by Emilio Laurent, prex-
ent chief of police announced formula
designed to end the impasse involving
the belea guered officers, by which
Laurent would become army chief OF
staff reDlacinQ former Serpt F1llpencjo
against De Cespedes.
One hundred of the defiant officers
those without stain," would besrecalled
to duty. The others would return to
their homes.
Members of a service club visited the
hotel to treat with the officers. They
did not reveal the results.