New York Times
March 15, 1957. p. 11.
Round-Up of
Batista Foes Is Under Way—Regime Drops Idea of Partial Elections
By R. Hart Phillips
Special to The New York
Times
HAVANA, March 14—Havana recovered quickly today from yesterday’s unsuccessful uprising by youths against the regime of President Fulgencio Batista.
About forty were said to have been killed and sixty wounded in the fighting. Authorities said five members of the Presidential guard had been killed and eighteen wounded in fighting off the attack on the palace.
Tanks were removed from around the palace at 6 o’clock tonight. But detachments of soldiers remained, and traffic was barred from within two blocks of General Batista’s residence.
Airlines resumed flights into and out of Cuba this morning, and the tourist flow was undiminished.
Havana’s streets were filled with automobiles, and business was operating normally.
Meanwhile, a round-up of Opposition elements was under way. Hundreds of arrests were expected.
It was also announced that the Government had abandoned the idea of holding partial elections. The President had proposed that additional members be elected to the House of Representatives and that the mayors and municipal councils throughout the island be renewed.
But this move, intended to placate General Batista’s political foes, was rejected by the Opposition. Now, it was announced, the Government has decided that no elections be held until the general elections of November, 1958.
Also today, the Opposition Ortodoxo party accused the Batista regime of having slain the party’s president and founder, Dr. Pelayo Cuervo Navarro. His body, riddled by bullets, was found near the country club lake last night.
The slain leader had served in the Cabinet of President Carlos Mendieta in the Nineteen Thirties. He had been a member of the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1940 Constitution now in effect, and had served as Senator for two terms.
It was becoming clear as the bodies of attackers of the Presidential Palace were identified that yesterday’s revolt had been mounted by university students and some followers of former President Carlos Prio Socarras. Dr. Prio, who was deposed by General Batista in 1952, is now living in exile in Miami Beach.
These university students were said to be collaborators with followers of Fidel Castro, rebel leader who has been fighting Government troops in the Sierra Maestra of the eastern Oriente Province since last December.
The national police, who yesterday occupied Havana University, remained in possession of that institution today. Authorities said that about 10,000 machine gun bullets, 200 hand grenades, nine machine guns, seven large bombs and other explosive material had been found there.
The police also occupied the School of Arts and Crafts, and soldiers stood guard at ministries here and at some industrial establishments.
Classes were suspended in all high schools and private schools today. But they were expected to resume tomorrow.
In another development, General Batista denounced as “basically Communist” the revolutionary movement of Señor Castro.
In response to written questions submitted to him, the President wrote that his Government had proof of Señor Castro’s alleged links to communism.
Connections with the Soviet Union, according to the President, are maintained through Señor Castro’s brother Raul. General Batista asserted that this youth had attended various conferences of juvenile rights in Iron Curtain countries.
Referring to interviews with Fidel Castro by Herbert L. Matthews of The New York Times, General Batista declared:
“It is not important whether or not Fidel Castro is alive, but it is important that Mr. Matthews has stated that he heads ‘anti-Communist and pro-democratic groups.’ This is entirely erroneous.”
On economic matters, the President said:
“Unemployment in Cuba is today much less than in previous regimes. Since the population is increasing as rapidly in Cuba as in the rest of the world there is bound to be a considerable number of unemployed. However, the economic conditions of Cuba have never been better.”