Evening star., 1952-03-12
Prio Accuses Baiista
|0f Treason and Asks
Mexico for Asylum
BY The Assoeiotsd Pres.

| HAVANA, Cuba, Mar. IL. -
Ousted President Carlos Prio
Socarras in letter to newspapers
today charged Cuba's strong man
Fulgencio Batista with treason
and said he was confdent the
country would mot remain long
with q military boot on its neck. "
Mr.. Prio, who quit the presi-
dental palace Monday after
former President Batista had
seized control Of the army and
police by a swift and almost
Ibloodless coup. remained in ref
Iuge in the Mexican Embassy.
He nervouSly awaited compile
|tion Of arrangements for his de-
lparture into exile in Mexico.
possibly this afternoon. The En-
lbassy has asked the Batista gov
Iernment for a safe conduct for
MFR. Prio.
Tells Of Military Switch.
In his letter, Mr.. Prio said he
raced to Matanzas Monday to try
to raise a military defense against
Gen. Batista, but found the regi-
|ments there already had gone over
Ito the revolution.
Without troops it was impos-
|sible for me to resist" he said.
He charged that Gen. Batista
was impelled only by ambition
in breaking "the constitutional
rhythm of Cuba" attained after
years Of struggle against military
lrule.
"There is on you, Batista, the
immense responsibility of your
treason" he wrote.
A note attached to the letter
by friends of Mr.. Prio said it was
written before he sought asylum
in the Mexican Embassy.
Agramonte Released.
/ Another Batista opponent, Ro-
berto Agramonte, candidate of
the Orthodox Peoples Party in
the now-canceled June / elections,
was arrested yesterday but re-
leased after three hours. q
Mr.. Agramonte said he was ar
rested because he refused to dis
perse a group of friends in his
home. He also declared defiantly
that he could not accept suspen-
sion of constitutional guarantees
as dictated by a de facto govern
ment which has usurped power" !"
Gen. Batista's Office announced
he would go to the presidential
palace today to preside over the
first formal meeting of his hand
picked cabinet.
A general strike, called against
the government Monday, was
Cancelled today by labor leaders
who blamed its failure on the
"cowardice" of the Prio govern
ment.
Pledged to Oppose Communists.
Gen. Batista, who has pro-
claimed himself the custodian of
all executive and legislative DOW
er. pledged in q press statement
today that his revolutionary gov
ernment would devote itself to
repression OF Communist infil-
|tration"' and "pseudo-revolution-
|ary gangsterism.
The Prio government was under
heavy fire for failing to end
fgangster killings, 80 Of which
have taken place since 194s.
In some quarters, the state
ment about fighting communism
was regarded as a shift from the
policies Of the deposed govern
ment. Some of it's opponents
charged 1t tolerated many Com
munists from the Caribbean area
who sought refuge here.
Laughs OFF Native Reds.
There was no indication whether
Gen. Batista meant to outlaw the
party. Earlier. Gen. Batista told
reporters he did not regard native
Communists as a serious danger to
Cuba, and laughed off reports that
Cuba was the central Communist
headquarters for Latin America.
"The best way to fight commu-
nism is to maintain good stand
ard of living for all classes" he
said.
His new Labor Minister, Jesus
Portocarrero. told reporters Com
muniSts would not be allowed to
inflltrate into leadership in Cuban
labor unions.