Moratorium & Grove Park

Festooned with trivial amendments from both House and Senate, an important bill went back to President Machado for signature last week. It provided a two-year moratorium (until July 1, 1935) for principal and interest payments on bonds or mortgages of Cuban public services, railroads, sugar mills, farms and other real estate. More important was another bill passed by Parliament empowering President Machado to default any part of Cuba's foreign debt, $15,000,000 of which must be paid by June 30.

Perhaps prematurely, jubilant anti-Machadoans hailed this as the beginning of the end. Ever since El Gallo (The Rooster) has been in power he has been scrupulously careful to see that Cuba's government debts to U. S. bankers, and the pay of his own soldiers, were paid on the nail no matter how long school teachers, or government contractors might have to wait for their money. Cubans insist and most U. S. bankers agree that the June 30 debt payment cannot be met. Despite feverish scouring of the treasury Army pay is already in arrears.

All this caused vast activity in Miami where U. S. householders and Cuban exiles were busily cultivating their respective plots. Political exiles from the Machado regime have gravitated to four cities: New York, Miami, Tampa and Merida in Yucatan. Most important of these groups is in Miami, for here in a comfortable, unpretentious little house in residential

Grove Park lives bearded, socialite ex-President Mario Garcia Menocal, veteran of one unsuccessful revolution against Rooster Machado and still considered the one man able to displace him now--despite the fact that during Menocal's two terms (1913-21) he was accused of almost every crime now charged against President Machado.

More than 1,000 exiles are now living in Miami in quarters ranging from the gardened cottages of Grove Park to the four Campos or barracks that the less fortunate have taken over in different parts of the city. Campo No.1, in downtown Miami, bears a huge sign: CUBAN EXILES, and at the entrance to its living quarters an unarmed but husky sentry is always on guard. Among the Exiles are representatives of a half dozen different parties joined for the most part by nothing stronger than a common hatred of President Machado. To work more effectively they met fortnight ago and formed a new revolutionary Junta in which each party will have one vote. It numbers:

Nationalists: Col. Carlos Mendieta, Col. Roberto Mendez Penate, Col. Aurelio Hevia.

Menocalists: General Mario G. Menocal, Dr. Santiago Verdeja, Dr. Pedro Martinez Fraga.

Professors: Dr. Carlos de la Torre, Dr. Raymond Grau San Martin.

Students: Willie Barrientos, Luis Barreras.

Political Adviser: Dr. Miguel Mariano Gomez.

A. B. C. (secret terrorist organization) : Carlos Saladrigas, Alfredo Botet.

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