Evening star., 1933-09-08
Sober Sense at Havana.

SerSe Is prevailing at Havana among the
radical counter-revolutionary element
that displaced the De Cespedes govern
ment earlier In the week. The five
man junta that seized power announced
last night that 1t would step out Of
Office 'in five minutes'' at the peoples
command and make way for such q
government ss they desired. The latest
indications were that President de
Cespedes might be returned to authority
as abruptly as he was deposed.
There are signs that this latest whirl
Of the Cuban kaleidoscope is the direct
result of the undisguised preparations
the United States is making for grave
eventualities in Cuba. While President
Roosevelt's declared purpose to refrain
ffon Intervention represents the de-
tefmifled md definite policy Of the
Washington Government, its pfoclama-
ton Is nevertheless and necessarily
accompanied by certain naval arrange
ments required in case Of sudden
emergency. These arrangements-the
concentration of ships of the Atlantic
feet In the Caribbean area, the actual
presence Of war vessels In Cuban waters,
the mobilization Of Marine regiment
at Quantieo- o-afl these moves ere, Of
course, being made with . view to
ultimate possibilities. though for the
moment trey sre Of pfeiy precautionary
nature.
70 m6ny CubanS all such actitities
carry but one meaning, and to the
extremists. Ike the Con1munist group,
they denote an already adopted pro-
gram BY the United States to intervene.
The Associated Press hears ct Havana
that the Communist Central Com
mtttee' hes secretly agreed TO ire on
American forces, should these land, in
order, BY provoking bloolshed. ito
demonstrate to the entire world that
Cubs IL an American colony"
Al these developments prove chat
conditions at Hav&ns are stfH asftated
and h q state of hux, from which al
most s1y tfhd q situation may ensue.
There h encouragement IN the news
that former President Menocal and
Col. Mendieta, veteran statesman, Both
Of whom returned TO Cuba sitter exile
Ii America, following Machado's over
throw, are sitting IN with the fadical
junta for the purpose OF studying the
nations problems ana arriving at IN
carly solution Of them. The prospect Of
civil war remains . serious and even
imminent possibility, with the hot
heads of the A. b. o. Revolutionary
soeiety md the irresponsible student
elements apparently ii position to IN
fucnce policy and precipftate sudden
decisions u 10 both men and measures.
All the circumstances in the in-
calctilabie situation Justify the far
reaching Measures taken " the United
States for the protection Of the seven
thousand-odd American lives ID Cubs
and tie b4liion dollxfs of American
property on the klSfid. The waning
ton Governments continues properly 10
sttes tiaat between sdequate Stsps 10
safeguard American lie ma property
ahd Ii armed intervention there Il 4
vide stlf. We shall not cross that
gulf e1cept IN direct emergency. The
most encouraging development Of the
hour seems 10 be 4 consciousness on tie
part ef the temporary power wieldefs
1t f1avafa that reluctant - America
would b to resort to extremes. HI
fuf1llment 81 ~ flatt amendment
obiisAHons tii&t course WI be pursued
II, - af,d wien necessary, afid tiSat
ways and means are atfeady It hand
for the purpose.