10 THECUBAREVIEW 



price of refined sugar had been rapidly rising in Cuba until a maximum of 17c. per lb. was 

 reached in Havana, which is considerably higher than the prices charged in the United States 

 prior to same being regulated by the American Food Administrator, and this notwithstanding 

 that the sugar was both produced and refined in Cuba. The Cuban commission previously 

 referred to is holding frequent meetings to fix prices for other necessities of life, although 

 no further regulations have been promulgated than those cited above, as this commission only 

 came into being November 1. 



A presidential decree has been put in effect requiring export licenses on various articles, 

 the same as was done by the American Government, and certain commodities cannot be 

 shipped out of Cuba under any circumstances; also, the exportation of sugar to neutral countries 

 is prohibited. In addition to the high price charged for sugar by the retail dealers in Havana 

 until the new prices were made effective as referred to above, Cuba has suffered from a shortage 

 of lard, butter, cottonseed oil and such fats, dating back from the first part of October, which 

 condition is caused by the absolute prohibition on the part of the American Government of the 

 exportation of these commodities, although it is expected that arrangements will shortly be 

 made for the importation of same under certain regulations on the part of the United States 

 Government. 



Complying with the request of the Food Administrator at Washington as to how much 

 food Cuba would have to import from the United States, statistics submitted by the Cuban 

 Government show that the Island consumes some $71,000,000 worth of food stuffs annually, 

 by far the larger part coming from the United States. In round numbers the principal articles 

 imported are as follows: Meats,$13,500,000; fish, $1,220,000; cereals, including flour, $15,000,000; 

 vegetables and tubers, including potatoes, $7,000,000, and milk products such as condensed 

 milk, butter and cheese, $2,500,000. This shows once more the lack of diversified crops in 

 Cuba, which is a subject that has not previously received much attention, but now, in view of 

 war conditions, the Government is making some efforts to induce the growing of crops of various 

 foodstuffs with the idea of thereby reducing the importations to that extent. In fact the 

 sugar mills are now required to set aside a small amount of land and to grow certain vegetables 

 thereupon. Of course, the principal crop is sugar and, as already mentioned, every effort is be- 

 ing put forward to make that as successful as possible. 



During the administration of former President, General Jose Miguel Gomez, a Presiden- 

 tial Palace was begun on the site of the former United Rys. station, located at the corner of the 

 Prado and Dragones Street. This work was, however, abandoned after the walls of the edifice 

 had been put up. Upon President Menocal taking office, it was vmderstood that his administra- 

 tion did not approve of the project just mentioned and, therefore, nothing has since been done 

 towards its completion. Shortly after the presidential palace referred to was started, work 

 was commenced on the provincial palace in which were to be housed the governor and adminis- 

 trative offices of the Province of Havana, this building being located a block distant from the 

 Colon Market, but the work was also stopped on this building some time ago, on account of lack 

 of fimds. it is understood. It has been proposed that this latter building be taken over by 

 the National Government and used as a presidential palace. Directly opposite this building 

 is the large edifice of the Tobacco Trust, as the firm of Henry Clay and Bock & Co. is com- 

 monly known, and as this company is doing practically no business here on account of war con- 

 ditions, having shut off the exportation of tobacco and its products to practically all countries 

 except the United States, to reduce expenses it is understood the tobacco company is consider- 

 ing moving into a smaller building, and in such case there is under consideration a project for 

 instaUing the provincial palace in this Tobacco Trust building. It is also reported that the 

 present jail at the foot of the Prado will be transformed into a Palace of Justice in which will be 

 located the Secretary of Justice and the Supreme Court, etc., This is the same site on which 

 it was rumored some time ago a large hotel would be built, the jail to be transferred to a new 

 edifice located on Principe Hill, but nothing further has developed. 



In addition to the prohibition of the carrying of gold out of Cuba by passengers leaving 

 for foreign coimtries, as mentioned in previous reports, the Treasury Department is now ex- 

 amining all baggage of such passengers before same is allowed to be sent on shipboard. 



While aUens have been required to secure passports before embarking from Cuba to the 

 United States for some time past, on Oct. 29th the American legation advised that in future 



