Evening star., 1933-08-10
BY RALPH McGILL.

BY RALPH McGILL.
HAVANA. Cuba (by AirmaiD While
the general strike paralyzes Cuba, the
A. B. c. is preparing for the removal
from office of President Gerardo Ma
chado.
There is little else left for the Presi-
dent to do. Failure to control the
situation will necessitate intervention
by the United States, situation the
United States does not desire, but one
which will be necessary under the terms
of the Platt agreement. 1t Is practical
ly assured Machado will step down
within the very near future.
The strike. which now works to re-
move Machado, who is tyranny person.
flied to 80 per cent of the Cuban peo-
pie, began as a strike by bus drivers.
The A. B. c. saw in it the possibilities
of passive revolution and the move
ment is sweeping the island.
It was just few days ago tnat !
was introduced to one of the heads OF
Cubas A. B. c. secret society, most
powerful of the opposition groups:
offer of Ambassador Sumner Welles to
set in the mediation meetings. The
A. B. c. would never have accepted
that invitation had it not believed the
United States would see that Machado's
government did not trick them.
One wonders what is this powerful
society which can bring about revolu-
ton and balk the efforts of the most
powerful President Cuba has ever had,
dictator with a large and powerful
army of soldiers and national police at
his cali
Leader Explains A. B. C.
was escorted to the Office of one of
and successful lawyer. He was edu-
Gated in the University OF Havana and
in one of the leading universities in the
United States. He is an authority on
international law and an astute student
of government.
We sat in his cool Office with its high
ceiling and with a breeze coming in
from the garden in the patio, and ne
told one of the most amazing stories
of modern times, a story Of how 10 men
began a movement which today occu-
pies the attention of the entire world.
The A. B. c. was formed during the
revolution of 1881, the unsuccessful
movement LED by former President
MelIOCdl. SulCe LIldG IlIIle IL lids Ico
the opposition forces.
I'VE started with 10 men," said the
lawyer 1T was a cellular organiza-
ton. The first 10 men were the "A cell.
Each of these 10 men got 10 more. They
we're the B. cells. Each of these got
10 more. They were the C. cells. And
so on. The b men knew only the man
who had obtained them as members.
The c. men knew only the B. men
who had got them to join.
That was the origin. We went on
with the D. E. and other sections.
We have thousands of members all over
Cuba.
I'VE frankly have done much to stop
the flow of tax money to the govern
ment The Cuban government is bank
rupt, and it can not edure. The A. B. G.
is largely resposible."
Explain Machado's government and
the reason back of your movement to
remove him." asked.
Machado Mere Incident.
He answered quickly. 'Machado Is
merely an incident" he said. "The
thing goes deeper. He represents what
our system of government produces. He
is tyrant. He has been more corrupt
than our past governments, and the
government of Cuba has always been
filled with graft"
"Machado," said. points to his
public works program and says that he
public buildings; that other presidents
appropriated money to build the central
highway and capitol building but did
not"
"Yes," said the A. B. c. official But
Machado and his men made the public
works greater opportunities for public
thievery. But we lose sight of the point.
Machado is only a political incident.
"You see, when our government was
formed its constitution was copy Of
the one Of your country. It has been
amended since, but it is still copy.
It was a great document for the United
States. But it was made after IL years
of study. It fitted a particular coun-
try. It does not fit ours
THAT is why the A. B. G. regards
Machado as an incident The A. B. c.
is not aligned with the old political
leaders in the opposition. They would
merely be other Machados as we have
had in the past, not as vicious, not
as cruel, not as corrupt, but still merely
Machados.
I'VE are asking the United States
Ambassador to help us strike at the
deep-rooted and fundamental ills OF
our government. We must have q new
constitution, one which changes rad
ically our form Of government, one
which takes away the power which the
President has"
Machado Charge Repeated.
I told him Machado had charged
that the A. B. c. was group OF ter
rorists.
THE A. B. c." he said, "has fought
terror with terror. II was all we could
do. Our members are the leading pro-
fessional and business men Of Cuba.