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The Cuban Elections of 1936*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Russell H. Fitzgibbon  and
H. Max Healey
Russell H. Fitzgibbon
Affiliation:
Hanover College
H. Max Healey
Affiliation:
Ruston Academy (Havana)
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Extract

May 20,1936, was a date of importance in Cuban history. Not only was it the thirty-fourth anniversary of the birth of the Cuban Republic; it marked the first time in seven years (as many Cubans maintain) that a completely constitutional government had control of the island's political destinies. On May 20 of this year occurred the inauguration of Miguel Mariano Gómez y Arias, sixth “regularly elected” president of Cuba, son of the Republic's second president, and the man who, at least nominally, will be at the helm of the Cuban ship of state in the immediate future.

Type
Foreign Government and Politics
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , August 1936 , pp. 724 - 735
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1936

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References

1 Cf. Buell, Raymond Leslie, et al. , Problems of the New Cuba (New York, 1935), pp. 9–10Google Scholar.

2 Thomson, Charles A., “The Cuban Revolution: Fall of Machado”, Foreign Policy Reports, Vol. 11, No. 21 (Dec. 18, 1935), pp. 254–59Google Scholar.

3 Fitzgibbon, Russell H., Cuba and the United States, 1900–1935 (Menasha, Wis., 1935), pp. 197–198Google Scholar; Thomson, Charles A., “The Cuban Revolution: Reform and Reaction”, Foreign Policy Reports, Vol. 11, No. 22 (Jan. 1, 1936), p. 262Google Scholar.

4 Cf. Thomson, , “Reform and Reaction”, pp. 270–71, 274–75Google Scholar.

5 Presidential decree no. 1298, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 23, Aug. 24, 1933.

6 Statutes for the Provisional Government of Cuba. Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 30, Sept. 14, 1933.

7 Constitutional law of the Republic of Cuba. Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 10, Feb. 3, 1934.

8 Ibid., Edición Extraordinaria No. 12, Mar. 4, 1935.

9 Ibid., Edición Extraordinaria No. 14, Mar. 8, 1935.

10 Ibid., Edición Extraordinaria No. 93, June 12, 1935.

11 Electoral decree 563, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 90, Oct. 8, 1935.

12 Ibid., Edición Extraordinaria No. 120, July 2, 1935.

13 The “blame” (tacha) excluding prominent Machadistas was approved May 21, 1935. Law 169, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 66, May 22, 1935.

14 An observer writing in the spring of 1935 listed no fewer than 17 left wing organizations. New York Times, March 13, 1935, p. 8Google Scholar.

15 Electoral Code, Art. III. Decree-law 54, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 120, July 2, 1935.

16 El Paía (Havana), July 11, 19, 20, 30, 31, 1935Google Scholar.

17 Thomson, , “Reform and Reaction”, p. 275Google Scholar.

18 Diario de la Marina (Havana), Nov. 20, 1935, p. 17Google Scholar.

19 Decree-Law 437, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 308, Nov. 29, 1935.

20 Avance (Havana), Deo. 6, 1935, p. 1Google Scholar.

21 Decree-Law 445, Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 317, Dec. 9, 1935.

22 It is quite probable that a factor in the Administration's determination was the representations made by Ambassador Caffery. He expressed to President Mendieta the opinion that the elections should be held and that they should be something more than a mere formality. Personal statement, Mr. Caffery to Mr. Healey, May 25, 1936.

23 New York Times, Jan. 10, 1936, p. 3Google Scholar.

24 Diario de la Marina (afternoon edition), Jan. 10, 1936, p. 1Google Scholar; Jan. 12, 1936, p. 1.

25 New York Times, Nov. 24, 1935, sec. 4, p. 12Google Scholar.

26 El País, Jan. 10, 1936, p. 1Google Scholar; Avance, Jan. 10, 1936, p. 1Google Scholar.

27 Pan-American Review (Havana), January, 1936, p. 44Google Scholar.

28 Diario de la Marina and Avance, January, 1936, passim.

29 Gaceta Oficial, Edición Extraordinaria No. 17, Jan. 24, 1936.

30 Joven Cuba (“Young Cuba”), for example, is still carrying on an anti-government campaign expressing itself in acts of terrorism.

31 Allen, Robert S. and Pearson, Drew, in “The Daily Washington Merry-Go-Round” (a syndicated column), May 19, 1936Google Scholar. From a letter, Mr. Pearson to Mr. Fitzgibbon, May 25, 1936: “The reason you did not see the [above-mentioned] story published in the New York Times and other newspapers was that it was a rather exclusive one and I don't believe any other journalist got it. Naturally, as every journalist's sources must be confidential, I am not permitted to tell you from whom I got my facts, but I can tell you that they came from the very highest sources. The only amendment I might make to the story, after talking with these same sources following publication, is that Caffery will not leave Cuba immediately. He will remain for a month, or possibly two months. I think one reason for this is the fact that my story was published rather widely in South America and the State Department wants to save Caffery's prestige by not removing him immediately. You will notice also that Gomez' speech tended to confirm the story in that he stressed the importance of civil liberty and the fact that he intended to make this the keystone of his administration.”

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