JO T II E C F B A R E V I E \V 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



July 25, 1919. 



CONGRESS: While ;i .great many l>ills have been introduced since our last 

 letter, we do not recall any special measures which have been passed with the exception 

 of the Census law referred to below and the suspension of constitutional guarantees 

 for thirty days in all parts of the Republic excepting in towns where partial elections 

 were to be held, this action being taken on account of the numerous strikes which 

 were continually taking place. This period expired on July 11th and as there were 

 no strikes in effect, no action was taken by Congress to provide for an extension of 

 this measure. 



NEW ELECTORAL LAW: In our letter written in May we mentioned that 

 General Crowder had recently delivered to the President his draft of this law and 

 had left on a short trip to the North. He returned soon thereafter and again took up 

 this work, the final result of which will soon be presented to the Cuban Congress, 

 accompanied by a message from President Menocal. 



The Census bill, also drafted by Gen. Crowder, which is preliminary to the 

 Electoral bill, was duly passed by Congress, and it is expected that the Electoral bill 

 will also be passed without much delay. 



CUBAN FOOD ADMINISTRATION: Under date of May 30th the Cuban Food 

 Administration announced that all restrictions imposed by that Board on the im- 

 portation ami exportation of merchandise, both local and foreign, were cancelled. 

 This referred, however, more particularly to flour imports, as we have advised in 

 past letters that practically all other restrictions had previously been abolished. 



POSTAL RATES: While on July 1st the United States went back to the former 

 postal rates of 2 cents for letters and 1 cent for postal cards, Cuba, which had 

 followed her action when rates were increased, has not yet reduced them, although 

 it is expected that this will soon be done. 



GONZALO DE QUESADA: It is reported that the cruiser "Cuba" will shortly sail 

 for New York to receive the remains of Gonzalo de Quesada, one of the important public 

 men of Cuba, who served Cuba for several years as Minister in Germany, and died 

 there in 1915. 



INDEPENDENCE DAY: While Cuba has not held a separate official peace 

 celebration, yet national holidays were declared by the President and Congress on 

 July 14th, in honor of the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, which is a Frenoh 

 national holiday: also, later on July 19th, in honor of the British peace celebration 

 day; and again, on July 21st, in accordance with similar celebration by the Belgians. 

 All public edifices were adorned with flags of these different countries on the re- 

 spective dates and special exercises were held in commemoration of same. 



POSTAL AND CABLE CENSORSHIP: This came to an end on July 2nd in 

 accordance with presidential decree. 



CUBAN PASSPORTS: Announcement is made by the passport section of the 

 State Department that between July 27, 1917, and July 14, 1919, 25,000 passports were 

 issued to Cuban citizens for foreign travel, of which 11,000 were for use between 

 Cuba and the United States and the balance between Spain and Central and South 

 American countries. It is expected that as soon as the United States and Cuba 

 ratify the peace treaties these passport restrictions will be removed. 



WATER SUPPLY": Havana has again been experiencing one of her periodical 

 shortages of water, and as usual many plans are being submitted for the improvement 



