THE CUBA REVIEW 9 
Velasquez, was opened for inspection on November 16th, the only day in the year 
that it is to be viewed by the population of the city. Inside the Templete are to be 
found three celebrated paintings by the artist Escobar. These pictures depict the 
installation of the first Municipal Council in Cuba, the second and largest the cele- 
bration of the first mass that was held, and the third depicts the inauguration of the 
Chapel itself. 
POLITICAL SITUATION: Although to date no Presidential candidate has been 
formally declared, it is generally acquiesced that Dr. Alfredo Zayas, the candidate 
of«the National League, a fusion of the Conservative party, the Zayistas and some 
Liberals, who were strongly attached to Dr. Zayas, has won. The delay in making 
known the victorious candidate has been caused by reason of the fact that some of 
the Electoral Colleges had to take a second vote as some of the provisions of the new 
Crowder Electoral Law were not fully understood by the judges. From the claims 
of the two parties on the Island, it would seem that Cuba has eleven provinces instead 
of six, for the reason that the Liberals claim the victory in five of the six provinces and 
the National League makes claim on exactly the same amount of territory. The 
National League concedes the Province of Havana to the Liberals, claiming the 
victory on the rest of the Island, while the Liberals concede the Province of Santiago 
de Cuba to the National League, claiming the victory for the balance of the Island. 
The election was carried off quietly for the most part. In one or two small 
outlying towns disturbances were noted, but the Rural Guards were on hand and 
quickly quelled any attempt at disorders. 
Not content with the decision reached by the HBlectoral College, the Liberals have 
sent a commission to Washington to register a vigorous protest against the methods: 
of the National League in conducting the election. It is claimed that throughout 
the Island the soldiery of the Cuban Government, under the influence of the officers, 
intimidated the populace to such an extent that the Liberals were discouragd in the. 
idea of casting their votes and remained away from the polls, while the National 
League sympathizers were encouraged to cast their votes. This commission has 
represented to the Washington Government that it is the duty of the United States to 
cause another election to be held and this time under American supervision, for the 
purpose of ascertaining which candidate is to have the honor of conducting the 
affairs of the Island for the next four years. To date there is no indication that the 
xovernment of the United States will act on the representations of this committee of 
the Liberal party. It is a fact, however, that there is much dissatisfaction here over 
the result of the election. 
FINANCIAL SITUATION: The loan which it was contemplated that American 
bankers were to make to the Cuban Government in the amount of $100,000,000 did 
not mature, after having been reduced to $50,000,000 and then to $30,000,000. The 
explanation is vouchsafed that “diversity of interests” is the reason why the loan 
cannot be put through, and no little anxiety was felt when the announcement was 
made. The press has devoted columns to the financial situation, but, as far as we 
can learn, the question has never been picked to pieces in an orderly manner and the 
situation discussed calmly. In the first place, the general opinion is that one loan was 
to be made. To the contrary there were two Joans under consideration, one a loan 
from American bankers to Cuban banks, and the second a loan from American bankers 
to the Cuban Government, which latter funds were specified to be devoted to the 
financing of the coming sugar crop. The first loan has been called off for the reason 
mentioned above of “diversified interests” and the second is still pending for the reason, 
we are advised, that the election results in Cuba have not been finally announced. 
The explanation “diversity of interests” is rather vague and is generally considered 
to mean that the financial transactions of some of the banking institutions on the 
