Evening star., 1952-03-12
Botisto's S Comeback

General Batista has relived chapter from
his past in overthrowing President Prio's, gov
ernment in Cuba. He has also shown that his
country, like many another Latin American re-
public, has yet to achieve the internal stability
and political maturity needed for faithful and
steady adherence to the democratic process.
In self-justifcation, General Batista has
declared that he has staged his coup for the
good OF Cuba. Disavowing any Idesire for per-
sonal power, he has described his action as being
necessary, among other reasons, ~ to put an
end to growth of gangsterism-as expressed in
numerous unsolved killings-that has become
national menace and (2) to prevent the Prio
government from setting of a fake revolution
calculated to insure victory for its presidential
candidate in the elections scheduled for June.
This explanation, however, must be taken
with more than grain Of salt. Although gang
sterism-much Of it politicians developed into
serious Cuban problem, it can hardly be upheld
as good reason for overthrowing the legally
constituted government. Further, General
Batista appears to be on anything but strong
ground in accusing that government of plotting
phony revolt because of fears that its presi-
dental candidate would lose in the June cleo
tions. Actually, according to most observers,
DR.. Hevia--the man backed by President Prio's
party-seemed, prior to the coup, heavy odds
on favorite to win
Thus, although the country's politics are
too complicated for black-and- judgments,
there is at least some reason to suspect that
General Batista-himself q candidate for the
presidency-has seized power to make sure Of
his own election. To that extent Cuban democ-
racy has suffered a diSheartening setback. The
only mitigating circumstance Is that the coup
has been almost bloodless, that, it has led to no
disorders Of consequence and that the man re-
sponsible for it. although he has done violence
to the legal processes of sef-rule has in the past
demonstrated many good qualities of leadership
and has pledged himself in this instance to
restore normal freedoms in due course.
All of which may mean much or little, de-
pending on how General Batista now translates
his words into deeds. Back in 1888, when he
was only 80 years old and mere sergeant, he
staged q coup that enabled him to hold sway as
strong man" and maker and breaker of
Presidents for more than decade. In the last
four years of that period of power, he served in
the presidency, bowling out gracefully with praise
for democracy after his defeat in the free elec-
tions of 1914 The records show, too, that he
governed well on the whole, doing many fine
things for Cuba and its 5 million people.
In fact, discouraging as is any such viola
tion Of the democratic process General Batista's
coup detat-in relation to others we have seen
or may yet see in the free world scarcely JUS
titles real sense Of alarm. This IS so because
the man himself, besides having been q firm
friend Of the United States, has rendered good
service to Cuba In the past. Viewed in that light
his comeback, even though by force. must be
regarded as something less than an unmitigated
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