CUBA’S TROUBLES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18205, 28 September 1933, Page 3

CUBA’S TROUBLES

NOT ONLY POLITICAL .BUSINESS ANARCHY HAVANA, Sept. 15. Tho weapons in the latest siege that has developed here are students ideals on the ode side and dollars and cents on the other. Their conflict » as deepseated as the older and continuing one between the deposed army officers, ana their sergeant supplanters. Cuban, American, and other foreign business men have not entered into a general strike, but their enforced obedience to tbe law of supply and demand is having that effect. President. San Martin may issue decrees and the factions opposing him may issue manifestos and arm, but these do not make the people buy, even in Cuba, and unless they buy—no business, and no taxes.

During the last 24 hours' the new Government’s worst worry has not been about the effort to overthrow it, but whether the American oil companies and other American and foreign concerns will decide whether they are warranted in paying taxes to a Government which may be declared illegal. Since the Workers’ Committee sent out notice's to all customers of the Compania Cubana do Tslectricidad,_ which supplies all the island's electric light and power, not to pay further bills, about 50 per cent, have refused to.pay. The unionist employees refuse to shut off the current from those who do not pay and the company finds that a- continuance of the present attitude will mean eventually insufficiency of funds for operation, especially as municipalities and the National Government also are refusing to pay. The only' alternative is to cut the wages of employees and discharge unnecessary employees, while still serving the municipalities so that tho streets will not be in darkness. Street car operations might also cease. About 25 per cent, of the sugar null managements have now signed the agreements required by the workers’ committees, and 50 per cent, of their output is affected. There is no disorder, though tho workers’ committees are practically in possession of many mills. The test will come in December when the crushing season begins. At _ tho present price of sugar, many mills insist that they must operate at a loss, and in some eases they are without reserve funds. Cases are increasingly frequent where a student wearing the badge “Directorio Estudiantil TJniversitario” will walk into an office and give directions, though ho bears no written official authority. There are instances, however, where satisfied employees of a. concern have refused to join other concerns in the same business in extreme syndicalist demands.

Americans and foreigners who have or manage property in Cuba say tho coun--Iry is the; Cubans’; but if they want to nationalise industry their method is too abrupt, and some provision should bo made for payments for the property thoy are proceeding to control, in fact, if not in name.