The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday NOVEMBER 14, 1933. CUBAN UNREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday NOVEMBER 14, 1933. CUBAN UNREST.

Majok events are moving quickly in Cuba. In August last, President Machado who had ruled ruthlessly, faced an uprising, and made good his escape. Then the De Cespedes regime followed the dictatorship. The leader was, however, regarded only as a provisional president, and was a former member of the Machado cabinet. Also he was identified closely with the old ruling class against which the revolt was directed. But at the same time he was acceptable to the American business interests which are considerable in Cuba. It was not long before tiie masses began to express dissent. De Cespedes was of the conservative class, and he did not move quickly enough against his old associates of Machadist rule. The constitutent assembly was delayed, and nothing was done to solve the hard problem.,The President did not sympathise with the labour element, but left wing influences in his cabinet prevented positive action against the workers.,A correspondent has put it : ..“His regime planned for property interests, instead of hearing the cry of the people in their misery.” A revolutionary leader said: “The De Cespedes government does not represent the workers, the women, or the national elements.” So, not holding .the popular confidence, lie was within three weeks of taking office, overthrown. Both revolts were J accomplished with a minimum of viol- I ence—-that against De Cespedes being j almost bloodless. This restraint- was considered a good omen for the future. Professor Martin became the new President, and as the revolt was led by the troops, two sergeants, one of the navy and one of the army, became chief of the National Navy and Cuban A’nny, respectively. Now There has been a further revolution, started by the “student” section, and there has been heavy loss of life, but the latest revolution was ineffective. The United States e-ver since the Cuban war in the first Roosevelt’s time, has had an effective interest in Cuba, and when war broke out internally, there was a- strong naval showing by American ships, but actually no intervention has resulted so far. The CoolidgeHoover administration have not been popular with the Cuban people, but more trust is placed in the present President, who has offered, to assist Cuba as a “big neighbour” and not as a “fiig brother,” and the distinction rather pleases the Cubans. ! The people desire to work out their own problem in their own way, and they do not mant an enemy at their door, as they would interpret American intervention. Cuba, however, must settledown before it can hope to mend the nationa 1 situation. Representative administration is desired, and trust must be placed in the constituent assembly which has yet to be formed. The republics in Central America each have their internal troubles, and from the unrest in Cuba it is manifest the situation is very unstable. It remains to be seen what will be the outcome of the present broil. The insurgents have surrendered after a desperate fight, and it is remarkable how the arms are assembled for these frays in such quantities. Cuba must be sadly in need of a reign of peace, to enable industry to be restored and the lot of the workers improved. Revolts are the popular method of the endeavour to reach the political haven where they would be, but the history of Cuba does not indicate such n royal road to tranquillity and prosperity.