The Reluctant Democrat

By order of President Fulgencio Batista, Cuba prepared this week to take a turn toward democracy. The suspensions of constitutional guarantees that have deprived Cubans of freedom of speech, press, assembly and habeas corpus for virtually the entire 14 months of Fidel Castro's rebellion lapse this week, and Batista's Cabinet announced they would not be reimposed. Instead, all Cuba except rebel-ridden Oriente province is to retrieve its freedom, and even Oriente will recover one constitutional right--free assembly.

The reason was simple political necessity, not any miraculous conversion to democracy. The Cuban constitution required a regular presidential election; prevailing public opinion held that an honest election required restoration of constitutional guarantees for at least 90 days before the June 1 balloting. And the U.S. Government, whose approval and arms shipments are invaluable to Batista, put discreet pressure on him to observe the law and hold free elections.

How long would Batista be able to operate without his coercive apparatus? Widely circulated Bohemia magazine announced that its next edition would contain many facts and stories suppressed under censorship. The rebels said they would try to bring off a general strike in Havana. At week's end, emboldened rebel bands seized two Havana radio stations long enough to broadcast anti-Batista recordings, forcefully pointing out what a general strike had achieved in Caracas.

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