Evening star., 1933-08-08
The Crisis in Cuba.

While the United States adheres 10
its desire to refrain from intervention
In the turbulent affairs OF Cuba, II Is
plain that events there are developing
on a scale that plainly may divert the
WASHINGTON Government from its pre-
vious purpose and eventually make the
fulfillment of American obligations
Under the Platt amendment no longer
escapable. Last nights sanguinary
clash before the presidential palace at
Havana. resulting in casualty list OF
twenty killed and one hundred ana
twenty wounded, indicates that matters
have reached a highly critical stage
between the Machado government ana
the opposition forces so determined
mon It's dethronement. Reports that
even officials of government depart
ments are rebelling are of specially
ominous significance.
The battle at Havana was preclpl-
tated by reports broadcast by Ma
chado's foes that his resignation from
the presidency was imminent. The
reports also had it that the American
Ambassador had presented to the rival
Cuban factions peace formula 1nvolV-
ing Machado's retirement. Gathering
In their thousands to celebrate this
prospect. the Presidents reply was TO
turn the guns of his police ana
soldierv on the crowds, with resultant
wholesale bloodshed Earlier in the
day the Machado- dominated Congress
at his instgation voted to resuspena
constitutional guarantees and to sane
ton a virtual reign OF martial law.
All this having occurred in the MIDST
of the general strike which has para
lived Cuba last week, Havana and
the whole island are plunged INTO
a state of incalculable chaos bordering
on revolution.
Word comes from Hyde Park that
President Roosevelt, while keeping
closely In touch with the Cuban situa-
ton and fully approving Mr.. Welles'
procedure, retains hope that salts
factory solution. without American
intervention, may yet be achieved by
peaceful means. There is ample evil
dence that Senor Machado Is disposed
to capitalize for his own purposes any
semblance of foreign interference IN
what he calls the independence OF
Cuba" Machado has not concealed
his dislike of the mediation efforts
latterly carried on by the United States
Ambassador. Sumner Welles. with the
full support OF the Roosevelt admlnls-
tration. Authorized spokesmen OF
President Machado have sat in with
delegates of the opposition at the medi-
alton conferences presided over by MI
Welles. but whatever progress these
negotiations were making has obviously
been wrecked by the developments OF
the past two days.
Senor Machado says he is willing 10
Leave Office if the Cuban people so WILL
but will not be driven out at foreign
behest," yelled reference to the Welles
mediation. The Cuban President
claims to be the victim Of purely per-
sonal vendetta of hate, famed by op-
position political agitators who have
found it easy to foment antagonism TO
the government because of the catas-
trophic economic conditions long preVa-
lent in the island. mainly on account OF
the sugar situation -Shrinkage OF the
eli important American market and de-
cline Of prices to q point below cost OF
production. Machado insists he has
only resorted to such Progressive" tao
tics against his enemies as his official
duties required him to invoke for the
preservation of law and order.
Be all this as it may, 1t is painfully
evident that a state of revolution has
come about in Cuba that now cOmpeb
this country to consider its response
biNties under the Platt amendment.
Under the amendment. which Is part
Of the Cuban constitution, the Havana
government consents that the United
States may exercise the right to inter-
vene for the preservation Of Cuban in
dependence and to maintain q gov
ernment capable Of protecting life,
property and individual liberty"
The American people meantime may
be assured that President Roosevelt will
countenance no premature intrusion by
this Government in Cuba'S internal af-
fairs. He is represented as confident
that, the turmoil can be ended without
any resort to extremes. He will be the
less inclined to sanction them because
h b conscious Of the complete extent
to which American energies at the mo-
ment are concentrated upon an Inter
vention" on the home front-upon the
revolution" in progress here against
the forces OF depression and economic
disorder. We may have billion-dol-
lar financial stake in Cuba which Is we'll
worth safeguarding-a our interest
in the islands welfare and tranquility
h abiding-but it remains the United
States lively preference that the Cuban
people b given every possible op-
portunity to work out their own prob
laans and destiny.