Cuban Maneuvers

The State Department was apparently relieved of one of its major difficulties with Cuba--the Tarafa Bill for the consolidation of Cuban railroads and heavy taxation of the private railroads and ports (TIME, Aug. 27, Sept. 3). The confiscatory taxation of the private sugar railways and ports was reported to have been eliminated, and the bill was passed after five hours of debate by the Cuban Senate.

Thus were American interests safeguarded and Americans satisfied. But the objection of the Cuban Veterans' and Patriots' Association (that the bill will create a railway trust) was not heeded. That body protested vigorously against the "corrupt practices of the Government." While it asserted that it would employ only peaceful means, there was some talk of revolution. Perhaps the Zayas administration, which would like to silence the objections, suggested their revolutionary intent for an excuse to clap them into prison.

Shortly before the Cuban Senate passed the Tarafa Bill, General Carlos Garcia-Velez (son of the General Garcia of " message-to-Garcia " fame), President of the Veterans' and Patriots' Association, departed hastily from Havana into the lesser known parts of Cuba. With him disappeared General Manuel Despaigne, Treasurer of the organization, who was Secretary of the Treasury in the reform Cabinet until he was expelled last Spring by President Zayas. Dr. Oscar Soto, Secretary of the Veterans' Organization, also went into hiding.

The departure of these men was timely, for shortly afterwards 20 other leaders of the movement were arrested, charged with revolutionary utterances. The arrested leaders were released, however, and President Zayas promised that if the three men in hiding returned to Havana, they would be unmolested. If a revolution should develop, Secretary Hughes will find his attention again forcibly attracted to Cuba. For the moment, however, that prospect seems unlikely.