The New York Times
August 2, 1957. p. 1,5.
By R. Hart Phillips
Special to The New York Times.
HAVANA, Aug. 1—Constitutional guarantees were suspended throughout Cuba today for forty-five days as violence flared against the Government.
Censorship of press and radio including foreign correspondents, went into effect immediately under a decree by President Fulgencio Batista. All publications entering Cuba from the United States and other countries were made subject to censorship.
Meanwhile, Santiago de Cuba was paralyzed by a general strike as anti-Government feeling mounted there.
At the same time, the displeasure of the Cuban Government with Ambassador Earl E. T. Smith of the United States was indicated by a communiqué from the Presidential Palace.
The statement quoted Senator José Gozales Suente, leader of President Batista’s National Progressive party in the Senate, as having said:
“In relation with events in Santiago de Cuba and statements by the American Ambassador, the Republic of Cuba rejects and repudiates any interference in matters of Cuban sovereignty and laments that under the protection of a situation created by criminal, terroristic and politically ambitious elements, the functions of a diplomatic representative in a country which enjoys full sovereignty may become confused.”
Reports circulated persistently that the Minister of State, Gonzalo Guell, had urgently requested Ambassador Smith to visit him in regard to statements made by the Ambassador in Santiago de Cuba. The Ambassador is now in Santiago de Cuba and expects to return here Saturday.
Mr. Smith in a press conference at Santiago de Cuba Wednesday deplored “excessive action of the police,” who dispersed a demonstration while he was receiving the keys to the city. About 200 women demonstrated against the Batista Government at the City Hall. The police and soldiers broke up the demonstration and arrested more than thirty women.
The women, many dressed in black chanted “freedom! freedom!” They were drenched with fire hoses.
Santiago de Cuba is the center of rebellious activity against the Batista Government. Seventy miles west of the city Fidel Castro, rebel leader, and his band of insurgents are operating in the Sierra Maestra.
The insurgents came down from the mountains early this morning and attacked military posts at Bueycito and Minas, south of Bayamo, in the foothills of the Sierras, according to reports form there.
At Bueycito one soldier was killed and four were wounded. The sergeant heading the post was taken prisoner but later released. The rebels took arms, ammunition and supplies form the post and set the building afire.
Later they burned two bridges on the highway between Bayamo and Manzillo. They attacked the army post at Minas several miles to the southeast as they withdrew into the Sierras. At Minas they killed one soldier and wounded seven.
With business and industry closed and the streets deserted the strike in Santiago de Cuba appears to be spontaneous. It was engendered by anger over the killing by the police of two youthful insurgents of the 26th of July Movement headed by Señor Castro. One of the dead youths, Frank Pais Garcia, had led the Castro group in Santiago de Cuba.
Policeman and troops in pairs patrolled the streets there tonight. Gunfire was reported in various places, but no information was obtained as to its origin.
Thousands turned out in Santiago de Cuba yesterday for the funeral of the two rebels and business houses closed. None opened this morning.
However, the authorities forced some business concerns to open in the afternoon. Customers stayed away.
Employees of Santiago de Cuba airport walked out and the Army took over the terminal. Officials of the Cuban Aviation Company were loading and unloading mail and baggage from planes. Railway workers joined the strike and bus employees were operating only a few vehicles.
Col. Ramon Cruz Vidal, military chief of Oriente Province, called a meeting of leaders in business, industry, civic, patriotic and professional associations in an attempt to halt the strike movement.
The suspension of constitutional guarantees today was the fourth since Señor Castro landed on the south coast of Oriente Province last Dec. 2. At that time guarantees were suspended in four provinces. Last Jan. 15, the end of the forty-five-day period, President Batista suspended guarantees throughout all six provinces of Cuba for another period of forty-five days.
On March 2, at the end of that period, the President again suspended guarantees. They were automatically restored April 15.
According to statements on today’s decree issued by the Presidential Palace. “National interest makes it necessary to suspend guarantees owing to present circumstances.”