By Homer Bigart
Special to The New York Times
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, April 6 - This capital of Oriente Province seemed relaxed today. But the rebels of Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement have done nothing this week, end to heighten tensions.

It was a lovely day in Santiago, sunny but not too hot. Except for soldiers popping away targets on a practice range at San Juan Hill, Easter passed without gunfire in this so-called hotbed of revolution.

Nor was there anything to indicated that the close of the Easter week-end would bring an outbreak of bloodshed.

Unless something happens tomorrow, the suspicion will undoubtably deepen that Señor Castro’s “total war” against Batista’s regime has fizzled..

A drive through the poorer districts along the waterfront was uneventful. It is in these districts, largely Negro, that Señor Castro has needed much missionary work to convince the laborers that his revolt is not solely a middle-class affair. Whether he has the support of there people is by no means certain. Tomorrow would seem a logical time for a nation-wide general strike. But no strike call has been issued this evening.

Many Santagueros are saying that the strike this time ought to start in Havana. They have painful memories of the general strike last August, which started in Santiago and was effective here but fizzled in Havana. Arrests that followed hit Chiefly Santiago.