Evening star., 1933-09-06
The New Crisis in Cuba.

With disconcerting suddenness, tur-
moil has broken out in Cuba again, Gre
ating a situation which at this writing
Is fraught with literally incalculable
possibilities. A counter Revolutionary
movement represented by junta OF
five men of reputedly radical tendencies
seized power at Havana Monday night
and yesterday dispossessed President
Carlos Manuel de Cespedes and his gov
ernment in less than a month after
they had supplanted the deSpised and
discredited regime of former President
Gerardo Machado. The government Is
now in control of the junta selected by
soldiers and sailors after revolt against
their officers in a bloodless coup d'etat.
While the origin Of the uprising
against the Cespedes government on It's
face suggests the methods and the pur-
poses of Communism, spokesmen OF the
new government deny that the move
ment. though supported by the extremist
revolutionary elements, is Communlstlc.
They insist it is directed mainly against
adherents of Machado and springs from
dissatisfaction with the slowness with
which Senor de Cespedes proceeded 10
stamp out the old regime.
Thus far the latest upheaval at Ha-
vana has not led to violence or blood
shed. Troops are preserving order and
business appears to be going on un-
molestedly How long this appearance
of tranquility can be preserved is more
than problematical AS matter OF
course the possibility of American IN
tervention has again to be envlsoned.
President Roosevelt has lost no time in
sending warships to Cuban waters in
preparation for any eventualities that
might imperil American lives and prop
erty. But. as Assistant Secretary OF
State Caffery explained over the radio
in The Stars National Forum last
night these precautionary steps are IN
no respect interventionist in nature;
they are purely protective. "Interven-
tion," said Mr. Caffery, who is desig-
mated to succeed Ambassador Welles
at Havana, "is not under considera-
ton" This country would be loath, he
added, to exercise its privilege" under
the Platt amendment. Our role in
Cuba, according to Mr.. Caffery's au-
thoritative statements, is mot to die
tate" in the island "but to assist vari-
GUS factions to work out their own solu-
ton of their troublesome and complex
problems"
For the moment the United States
can only stand by in Cuba and hope for
the best. All elements there must be
conscious that if matters drift to
crisis that threatens or produces an
archy and the hopeless dissolution OF
conditions that safeguard law and
order, the United States would be con-
fronted by the alternative of interven-
ton or connivance in a situation that
might we'll spell the islands doom.
Even in the worst of circumstances, the
presence of American forces would be
limited to such a period as the Cubans
themselves might require for setting up
a constitutional and stable government
of their own Our interest in their az
fairs is based entirely on Cuba's own
welfare Pending the establishment OF
authority capable of guaranteeing the
safety of life and property, the United
States has a palpable and inescapable
duty. The American Government and
,,eopIe will hone tn the last that it NAV
not become necessary to resort to any
thing but the precautionary and pro-
tective measures already taken. Inter
vention will come only as an extreme
resort. and for it the Cubans themselves
will bear exclusive responsibility.