The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-14
SITUATION in
CUBASAID TO BE
VERY PUZzLINC
WASHINGTON HAS MUCH TO
LEARN RELATIVE TO ms
AND OUTS OF REVOLUTION
AIRY PROBLEM
BY BYRON PRICE
(chief of Bureau, The Associated
Press, Washington)

ny pi MIN INV
(Chief of Bureau, The Associated
Press. Washington)
WASHINGTON has put on a
brave face as it contemplates what
is happening in Cuba. but under
meath there is much real concern.
Ordinarily, government over
turns in Latin America do not
greatly excite even the state de-
partment. They have come to
be accepted as a part of the natur-
al course OF events, like colds in
the head and minor traffic acct
dents. No one really hopes to
do much about them.
One cause for worry is that the
revolution which overthrow the
new de Cespedes regime, and the
events which have followed that
overthrow have taught the Wash
ington government that it knew
less than it thought it did about
the in sand outs OF Cuban political
currents.
This whole new phase OF Gu
ban affairs has been a terrific
shock to state department officials
who thought Ambassador Welles
had done a magnificent job in Ha-
vana and, with the old Machado
regime safely eased out, could
come home with everything rosy.
American military men were
surprised, too, to lind that the
Cuban army. which had acquitted
itself so well during the Machado
crisis, was so deeply permeated
with discomfort and even organic
ed revolt.
But the greatest shock OF all
was the realization that commune
ist groups had had and still have
so large hand in the situation,
A Neighborly Angle
There were other considera-
tons not mentioned in any Of
the Official announcements.
In everything they have done,
American officials have given the
impression o. thinking once Of
Cuba and twice Of the rest Of the
world-particularly the rest of
Latin America.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been es-
pecially anxious that his good
neighbor2 policy strike exactly
the right keynote in this first test.
On the one hand, the Presi-
dents advisers considered it ex-
tremely important that Caba's
sister republics understand the
big neighbor to the north would
conduct herself with restraint,
and would not cross their thre-
sholds sorci5ly except as public
order required it.
On the other hand. no one in
Washington wanted to give Latin
America the Impression that the
Roosevelt administrator had gone
pacifist. or that the United States
Marines had folded their tents
and disbanded.
1t has been a delicate task TO
steer a course which would give
these neighbors just the desired
notification that the United States
has its heart in the right place,
but packs punch Tor emer-
gencies.
ia An Eye To Japan
0ffniaLs ID not talk abaaf it,
but there Is no question they
also have been thinking OF the I'M
preston created as Ear away as
Tokyo.
Japanese statesmen, in infor-
nal discussions with American
diplomats, undertook during the
latest FAR eastern crisis to justify
what Japan was doing in Man
ehuria BY what the United States
had been doing in Latin America.
However open to dispute that
parallel may be. Washington has
been anxious to give no further
encouragement to such an argu-
ment Il il could be avoided.
All in all. the problem has
buiked SO large in official atten.
ton at Washington that nj times
it almost overshadowed the MIRA
and that il saying a great deal.