Evening star., 1935-12-11
Mendieta Steps Out as "Pa-
triotiC Duty" to Clear
Way for Vote.
JANUARY ELECTION
OBSTACLE REMOVED
Caffery Reiterates Non.Interfer-
ence Policy-Secretary of State
Barnet Assumes Office.
BACKGROUND

In May, 1902, Cuban Congress
took oUer Government from Amert-
can military authorities, embarked
on first attempt at maintaining in
dependent administration. Failure
brought establishment Of proUtSioH-
al government in 1906 under pro-
lection of United States, second
Cuban republic established in 1909.
Since then, island has been po-
Iittcdl storm center. Revolution of
1888 oUeTthretU rule of President
Mdchddo, brought quick changes in
administration iGtth Carlos Men
dietd becoming provisional presi-
dent in January, 1884. Recooni-
tioH of United States granted. Last
April, political leaders agreed upon
election, procedure Of trhich caused
present disturbance.
(CopyriEht 1885. by the Associated PressJ
HAVANA, December H. Cuba's
turbulent political situation precipi-
tated the resignation of President
Carlos Mendieta today and catapulted
Secretary of State Jose A. Barnet into
his Office, apparently clearing away
obstacles to the holding Of the January
national elections.
Mendieta. yielding to the insistence
of powerful political factions which
refused to participate in the elections
unless he first stepped down, presented
his resignation to the cabinet as a
patriotic duty"
Barnet, 7l-year -old veteran Of the
diplomatic service, automatically be-
came President-the republics seventh
since a revolution caused the down.
fall Of Gerardo Machado on August
13. 1888.
The possibility arose Immediately
that Barnet might be another Of
Cuba's Presidents for a day"
Cabinet TO Name Successor.
After reappointing all members Of
Mendieta's cabinet, he called the min
listers and the Council of State to meet
later in the day in a joint session
which the law provides must elect q
provisional president within 48 hours.
A background Of unsettled political
conditions, army activity against kid
napers and a raid on a radio station
accompanied the swift turnover in the
government.
The Cuban military headquarters
threw 4.500 police and soldiers and
800 army intelligence agents into a
search for Nicolas Castano, Havana
millionaire, held by kidnapers since
Monday for reported ransom of $780,
000-a fund which army leaders feared
might go to revolutionarieS.
Fourteen men, some reported reliably
to have been armed with submachine
guns, raided radio station CMQ last
night and caused equipment damage
estimated by authorities at $4,000.
This raid preceded by three hours a
schedule broadcast over station COCO
by Mendieta to the United States on
the political situation.
Mendieta abruptly Cancelled his talk,
called his cabinet into extraordinary
session and resigned, but officials said
the attack on station CMQ had no
connection with his actions.
Station CMQ officials said they had
been ordered by the Communications
Department before the raid to halt a
program sponsored by political party
demanding the resignation of Men,
dieta
With Mendieta's resignation clearing
the atmosphere and Barnet striving to
settle affairs of state until the pro-
viSional government could be Supplant.
ed by officers elected next month.
United States Ambassador Jefferson
Caffery said in a statement:
las the American Ambassador, Of
course, have no desire to interfere
with Cuba's domestic political processes.
My only hope at this juncture is to see
continued democratic development
in Cuba's political life"
MenOcaI Effects Crisis.
The strong MenocaliSta party, led
by Gen. Mario G. Menocal, twice
President of Cuba, was one which re-
fused to participate in elections unless
Mendieta resigned.
The Centristas, headed by former
President Carlos Manuel de Cespedes,
Joined in this stand.
The elections originally we're set
for December Is, to end the provi-
sional status of the government wAich
has prevailed since Machado fed the
island and Mendieta finally took Of
fee in January, 1884.
Major coalitions formed by some
parties for the elections we're OUT
lawed by the Supreme Electoral Court
in what some opposition circles called
a government coup d'etat to prevent
their victory at the polls.
The government called in Dr. Harold
W. Dobbs, president of Princeton
University, accepted his formula
which would have permitted presi-
Dental electors to renounce or con-
firm candidates nominated by the In
dividual parties, and reset the elec.
tionS for January 10.