Evening star., 1933-08-14
The Political Mill
By G.. Could Lincoln.


FALMOUTH, Mass, August l4.-In
the midst of the intensive drive to put
the Roosevelt recovery program into ef-
feet In this country an international
problem of major proportions and OF
especial interest to America interjected
itself-the Cuban problem. When Pres
ident MAchado quit the job of chief ex-
ecutive Of the island government Sat-
urday there was wild acclaim in Cuba
and a heavy sigh OF relief in Washing
ton.
As a matter Of fact, 1t looks now as
though the Roosevelt administration has
scored heavily again, has succeeded in
new kind Of Intervention in Cuba,
without the use of the armed forces of
the United States. Sumner Welles, the
American Ambassador, was the man of
the hour in Cuba, backed up strongly
by President Roosevelt and the United
States Government. That a revolution
was under way in Cuba was clear to
the man in the street, both here and
there, but that it could be brought off
without bloodshed and disorders that
would make the presence Of armed
troops Of this Government necessary
was the real surprise.
Il
Americans have big stake invested
In Cuba-about 81 500, 600 900. 1t is in
vested in sugar, in public utilities, In
Cuban government bonds and a host OF
other things. Cuba has been fiat on
its back in the economic depression. just
as has the United States and other ma
tons Of the world. Now that it has had
change of government, forced by this
silent and peaceful revolution-as revo-
lutions go-it is quite apparent that
steps must be taken as speedily as pos
sible to bring Cuba out Of the economic
depression or there will be more trouble
Secretary of State Hull, who is just back
from his labors at the London Economic
Conference, is expected to tackle the
problem, along with the new Cuban
government, to see what this country
can do to aid the Cubans. Undoubt-
eoly Cuba will find sympathetic friend
In Mr. Hull and new trade agreements
will be forthcoming.
1t was only a few days ago that Sen
ator Key Pittman of Nevada, chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, on his return to this country
from London, said that this country
would have to decide on one of two
policies-intervention under the ''Platt
amendment" or non n-intervention, leav-
ing the Cubans free to settle their
own differences and other foreign ma
tions at liberty to intervene in Cuba
to protect their nationals and their
interests If internal strife should
threaten them. AS a matter Of fact
Intervention Of a peaceful and diplo-
matte kind was already under way and
had been for some time, through the
good Offices of Ambassador Welles.
For q long time the determination
has been growing in this country &c
keep out OF Latin American troubles
Marines have been recalled from Mic
aragua. They are coming out Of Haiti
where they have been for years. And
now, just when this policy of with
drawal from Latin American countries
seemed well under way. along comes
this trouble in Cuba. 1t is rather
tough that the Roosevelt administra-
ton should have this added burden
placed upon 1t, when 1t Is exerting
every ounce of strength to get the
United States back on its feet econom-
ically. through a process that is utterly
amazing in some OF its implications
and which amounts really to a social
revolution-carried on entirely peace
fully-within the confines of the United
States itself.
The so-called Platt amendment
which was added to an Army appro-
priation bill back in March, 1901, was
sponsored by Senator Orville Platt OF
Connecticut, then chairman Of the
al Too
Eventually 1t was accepted by the
Cuban Constitutional Convention, which
regarded the Platt amendment as a
kind of ultimatum by the United States
Government The treaty Of Paris
which closed the war between the
United States and Spain, provided that
the United States should pacify Cuba
and protect private property in the
island country. The Platt amendment
went further. In effect. it pledged the
Government of the United States to see
to it forever that there should be stable
government in Cuba. While it contain,
eight sections, 1t Is to the third section
OF the Platt amendment that the ad-
ministration must look in connection
with the present situation in Cuba
This section says:
That the government in Cuba con-
sents that the United States may ex-
ercise the right to intervene for the
preservation Of Cuban independence
the maintenance OF a government ade-
quate for the protection Of life. prop
erty and individual liberty and fol-
to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris
on the United States, now to be as
sumed and undertaken by the govern
ment OF Cuba"
There are other important features
Of the Platt amendment. including a
provision that Cuba must make nc
foreign treaties which might impair her
independence, nor permit any foreign
power to ALLEVIATE her territory. There
Is q provision, too, that the Cuban
government must not incur debts be-
yond ordinary revenues, and another
that the United States might buy land
for coaling and naval stations. Incl
dentally a perusal of the Platt amend
ment may make many Americans wish
that something had been written into
their own Constitution to prevent the
Government Of the United States from
mourning indebtedness beyond the cur
rent revenues. But that is water over
the dam.
There is always the possibility that
the abdication OF a ruler IN Cuba may
not prove the panacea for the islands
ills that it Is expected to be. Cuba has
been hard hit by the depression. Ma
chado. the President in power at the
time, is blamed for the depression, just
as any President Of the United States
who happens to be in office when q
depression grips this country Is always
blamed.
Il X X
The chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, Mr.. Pittman. ir
an interview in New York, declared
that the Monroe Doctrine does not
apply so far as the Cuban situation !.
concerned, that the Platt amendment
was the governing document or policy
Indeed. he went on to say that the
Monroe Doctrine was an outworr
policy, that 1t was no longer needed
and that 1t should be scrapped. Such
a suggestion, emanatina from chair