Notes

Cuba's Week. President Machado signed last week a bill reducing the present sugar crop 10%, with penalties up to $2,000 a day for sugar producers who start grinding their crops before the late set by the government. Cubans hope by this stratagem to keep the price of sugar from slumping because of overproduction.

On the same day in the House of Representatives at Havana, Representative Urquiaga accused Representative Acosta of "provincialism." A moment later both men, brandishing revolvers, were separated with difficulty.

Later, a serious railroad strike was called; excitement spread.

Tacna-Arica. The Chilean Senate voted unanimously last week to demand fulfillment of the plebiscite to determine the sovereignty of Tacna-Arica (TIME, April 19 et ante) which is being desultorily proceeded with in that nitrate-pregnant region lying, as everyone knows, longitudinally between Chile and Peru and latitudinally between Bolivia and the Pacific Ocean.

The Chilean Senate's vote was interpreted as a polite rebuff to Secretary Kellogg, who has been attempting to mediate as to Tacna-Arica between the Chilean and Peruvian Ambassadors at Washington. The only other incident of note was President Coolidge's polite but firm refusal of a request by President Siles of Bolivia that that nation be admitted to the diplomatic wrangle over Tacna-Arica which has proceeded since 1883, the U. S. having been called in as mediator during the Harding Administration.

State of War. Revolutionists affiliated with the Liberal party of Nicaragua entered last week the Bluefields branch of the National Bank, which is incorporated in the U. S., and carried off $161,000.

The Nicaraguan Congress at once declared the nation in a state of war, and President Chamorro proceeded to put 3,000 men under arms as quickly as possible. Meanwhile the revolutionaries captured El Bluff. The U. S. cruiser Cleveland was thereupon ordered to Nicaraguan waters.

Civilians Up! The military triumvirate which has administered Ecuador since last July, announced last week that the government has been returned to civilian hands. Meagre cables carried no details.

The Bath. President Serrato of Uruguay was made a knight of the British Order of the Bath as a mark of appreciation for his entertainment of Edward of Wales (TIME, Aug. 24). Not long ago President de Alvear of Argentina was similarly knighted.

Santa Ysabel. Senor Rodrigo Octavio, the Brazilian President of the U. S.-Mexican Special Claims Commission, held with the support of the Mexican Commissioner, Fernando Gonzales Roa, that no indemnity shall be paid to the relatives of 15 U. S. mining operatives massacred in January, 1916, near Santa Ysabel, Chihuahua, Mexico. Judge Ernest B. Perry, the U. S. Commissioner, being thus outvoted, rendered a dissenting minority opinion. The commission forthwith adjourned until September 2.

Poppies, Churches. President Calles of Mexico decreed that all poppy plants shall be destroyed in the state of Sonora, the intention of the government being to wipe out the production of opium.

Pursuing its policy of wiping out the non-Mexican clergy (TIME, Feb. 22, et seq.), the Calles Government notified Archbishop Ruiz of Michoacan that all churches in that state will shortly be seized by the secular arm for use as schools, libraries, etc.