Evening star., 1933-12-23
.CUbA|NTERVENT|ON|
REQUEST SECUTED.
U. S. Has No Intimation That
Spain Will Ask Action
for Nationals.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The State Department has received
no official intimation, either from the
American embassy in Madrid nor from
the Spanish embassy in Washington, re-
garding the purported report that Spain
intends to ask the United States to
intervene in Cuba to protect the Span
ish citizens living there.
These reports, it was stated, are un-
likely to be correct, although it is ad-
mitted that this matter has been the
subject of discussion in Spain.
The Phtt amendment IS the only
instrument which would entitle this
country to intervene in Cuba.
1t is well known that the adminiStra-
ton is most reluctant to use it, since it
is considered by the President as no
longer answering the requirements of
our policies toward the Latin American
countries.
A Spanish request for an American
Intervention on behalf of the Spanish
citizens could have for basis only the
latt amendment and it is up to the
Government of this country to interpret
that document. Judging from past
events, it appears highly improbable
that the United States Government,
which in the most critical days of unrest
in Cuba refused to use the Platt amend
ment for the protection of its own citi-
zens, would now at the request of fol
eign power change the Interpretation
heretofore given to that act.
None Is MoIested
Furthermore, there is little evidence
that the Spaniards in Cuba have been,
physically, more molested than any
other nationals. including Americans.
What irks the Spanish government
is the new law passed by the Grau San
Martin government whereby it is Or
dered that at least so per cent of the
| employees in Cuba must be Cuban citi-
ZenS.
The Spaniards have a large popula-
tion in that island, and these have been
particularly hit by that new law. A
large proportion of the Cuban Span
iards are now unemployed. They be-
lieve that an American intervention
would be beneficial to their citizens in
Cuba.
As a matter of fact, 1t is recalled
that during the Spanish American
peace negotiations in Paris after the
Spanish American War the Spanish
government insisted that Cuba should
| become an American colony.
The reason for this was the convic-
|
Spaniards would have happier lot
! than under the rule of an independent
Cuba. This proposition was fatty re-
fused by the United States.
! The Platt amendment, which is in
/ corporated in the Cuban constitution.
was the next best thing the Spaniards
| obtained. Now, when they see the writ
! ing on the wall, that even this last YES
! tige of protection of their citizens by
a big power is by way of disappearing,
! there is naturally desire on the part
oil the Spanish government to at least
! delay this action of the American Gov
/ ernment.
Request Doubted Here.
The whole matter is not treated very
seriously in responsible quarters in
| Washington. To begin with, there is a
great deal of doubt as to whether the
Spanish government will actually ask
this country to protect its citizens in
Cuba.
But even if it did, confronted with a
negative answer, the Spaniards are not
| likely to take any action on their own
| initiative, such as sending warships or
| troops to Cuba.
OF course, the situation would be
somewhat more complicated If SINH
| lar request was mace on tne part OF
Great Britain. There have been ru-
mors in Washington that the British
were considering such step, but these
rumors have been repeatedly denied.
1t appears improbable to high Ameri-
can officials that the British should at
this time endeavor to embarras the
American Government with such a
request. The majority of British citi-
zenS who are employed in the sugar
refineries and other industries in Cuba
are mostly West Indian laborers who
could eventually find employment III
their own country if under the so per
cent employment law they became job
less. The other British citizens are
mostly business men, that is to say,
their own employers. The compare
lively few who are clerks and engi-
| neers in the service of Cuban or fo--
eign firms, are either maintained in
their jobs or, if unemployed. their case
is not serious enough to prompt the
| London government to ask America to
reverse its new policies toward the
Latin American countries for the sake
| of these men.