Imperial Valley press., 1933-08-08
CUBA AWAITS
NEXT ACTION
BY MACHADO
President Not Disposed To Re-
sign Though Pressure Being
Used Upon Him.
DISORDERS ON INCREASE
Reign Of Terror In Capital Fol-
lowing Summary Shootings By
Police.
BY LAWRENCE S. HAAS

BY LAWRENCE S. HAAS
United Press Staff Correspondent
Copyrighted, 1888, BY United Press
HAVANA, Aug. 8. = A terrorized
capital today awaited the decision
of President Gerardo Machado,
who was confronted with the choice
OF giving up his office or plunging
his country into bloody revolution.
Twenty persons were dead as
the result of slaughter in front
of the presidential palace. Twenty
more were dying. One hundred and
thirty suffered from gunshot
wounds.
Sporadic shooting by police oc-
Cured throughout the suburbs
during the night and this morning.
There was no authentic check of
total casualties.
Sumner Welles, American ambas-
sador, viewing the situation as one
OF deepest gravity, has proposed a
solution that involves Machado's
retirement, possibly under the guise
OF a leave of absence. Machado
was expected to speak today, prob
ably before congress.
At the moment he was sole die
tator by virture of the action of
congress last night in suspending
civil liberties for 80 days.
The army control led the city
but there were reports there was
dissatisfaction with Machado with
in its ranks. Trucks waited at the
principal street corners to take
soldiers to any spot where dis
order broke out. Machine guns were
mounted around the presidential
palace and at all government
buildings.
Ordinary life was paralyzed
Shops were closed. There were no
mails. Not even private motor cars
were being operated. Most citizens
remained indoors, fearing more
slaughter by police or the dreaded
Porristas, the secret service men.
Machado Belligerent
Machado, tall, heavy set, spec
tacled, was in fighting mood. His
own political leaders were under
stood to have advised him to &C
cept Ambassador Welles' pronoun-
cement that the only alternative
to war was his relinquishing of
the office in which he has made
himself a dictator.
But his first answer was not
encouraging. Though 1t was indirect
it gave little hope that he was
ready to give up his high office
without fight.
In speech over the interior
departments new radio, Machado,
without mentioning the possibility
of resignation, asked Cubans to
unite to defend their independence
and the Sovereignty of their
country. 1t was necessary, he said,
to maintain order and to pre-
vent further bloodshed. He urged
workers on strike to return to their
jobs and appealed for cooperation
based on patriotism against any
movement which would deprive
Cuba of her sovereignty.
This seemed an abvious thrust
at Welles and American inter-
ference in Cuban affairs.
HAVANA, Aug. 8. W.H The
threat of famine added to Havana IS
perils today and the government
broadcast appeals for merchants to
reopen their doors and for striking
transportation employees to return
to work.
The city was abnormally quiet
after yesterdays riots in which 20
persons we're killed and $50 wound
ed. Twenty we're reported critically
wounded, but no more had died.
Stocks of food were almost de-
pleted, and the shortake already
was noticeable. NO additional food
supplies were being brought to the