The Washington times., 1934-03-27

opposed Dy the very 1acC1OnS
threatened rebellion is checked
ing interests in the island rep
These facts, in essence, form
the report of Prof. Cyrus F.
Wicker, noted authority on inter
national law and Pan-American
relations, who has just arrived
in Washington after a trip in
Cuba made following conference
with Judge John Barton Payne,
head Of the American Red Cross.
Starvation Exists
It was decided to determine the
truthfulnesS of newspaper re-
ports, apparently originating in
Cuba, that the country needs no
food.
Accordingly, says DR.. Wicker,
these questions were asked Judge
Payne:
"Does starvation exist in
Cuba?
''Is there need for the sur
plus food we have in the United
States?
IF 50, is there any agency in
Cuba which can be trusted to
receive, store and distribute the
supplies Safely?"
The answer to all these ques-
tions, states DR.. Wicker IS an
emphatic Eyes"
During the past two weeks ne
reports, he has personally W.T.
messed such scenes as these:
Women with babies in their
arms begging on the street. not
for money, but for a can of con-
densed milk.
Many Deaths Daily
Strikes everywhere, increasing
daily. ..----
publication Of all newspapers
stopped for five days.
Cessation Of train service 10
the interior.
Twelve to 20 dock workers
killed every day in labor troubles.
Doctors and drug stores on
strike.
Hospitals closed.
workmen throughout the island
taking possession Of sugar mills,
mines and other commercial en-
terprises in true Communist
fashion.
DR.. Wicker states:
eff something is not done in
the way of relief in Cuba, our
30 years of altruiStic purpose
and humanitarian work in the
republic will be frustrated. II
not entirely swept away In q
tide Of Communism.
"The destitutiOn is beyond de-
scriptiOn."
S1O,OOO,OOO LOAN
What can be done about it?
DR.. Wicker suggests a plan re-
Gently tried out between the
United States Government and
the Marking government Of China.
Let the Reconstruction Finance
CORPORATION lend the Cuban gov
ernment about $1O,O00,OOO, to be
used in buying food in the United
States.
This food, to consist Of the
sorely needed lard, wheat flour,
rice and condensed milk, would be
given to the Cuban Red Cross,
now a unit Of the Cuban army.
Fulgencio Batista, former SER
geant, but now colonel and chief
of staff of the army since the
recent revolution, has guaranteed
success Of the scheme, says DR..
Wicker. Colonel Batista, whom
DR., Wicker describes as the real
power in the republic today. is
said by DR.. Wicker to have spoken
as follows:
eff food is sent, my army will
unload it, store it safely. in bar
racks, and distribute it without
waste, theft or graft"
WRITTEN PLEAS
Behind the plan also stand
documents now in the possession
of DR.. Wicker which prove the
need for the food.
The documents include a reSo-
luton from the National. Wom-
ems Party" of Cuba, which has
over 100000 members; a plea from
the Cuban Red Cross, and an Off
cal act taken by the governor Of
tie province of Havana and "a of
the 26 "alcaldes," or mayors, in
his jurisdiction.
These documents, addressed to
PRESIDENT Roosevelt, are supple
mented by DR.. Wicker's report
that Carlos Mendieta, president Of
the republic, asked DR.. Wicker to
inform President Roosevelt of his
approval of the plan.
Dr. Wicker states:
"The scheme would not only
benefit Cuba, but prove a boon
to the American farmer, whose
tremendous surplus of food pro-.
ducts is one of the stumbling.
blocks in the path Of economic
recovery.
"Yet the opposition to the
plan comes from certain of the
vested interests Of Cuba and the
United States.
A TRIPLE ALLIANCE
"The fault lies entirely with
the ann0ront krinIe alliance he.