8 THE CUBA REVIEW 
Havana Correspondence 
August 20th, 1921. 
Sucar: Four more mills, “Baguanos,” ‘Cacocum,” ‘Isobet”’ and “Los Canos” 
in Oriente Province, ceased grinding during the month of August, leaving but six Centrals 
now in operation. These mills are Centrals “Preston” of Antilla, “Delicias”’ of Puerto 
Padre, “Palma” of Santiago de Cuba, “ Boston” of Banes, and ‘‘Santa Lucia” of Gibara. 
The total number of mills now closed for the present grinding season is 193, and the 
number of bags of sugar produced by these mills during the season has been approxi- 
mately 25,028,976. 
Recommendation has been made to Congress by the committee appointed by the 
President to study the economic situation, that a bill be passed by Congress, the object 
of which would be to reduce the sugar crop next season and to provide financial aid for 
the much harassed sugar growers and colonia owners. It is believed that it will not be 
necessary for Congress to take any action for devising means of a future crop reduction 
as there is no question but that the next season’s crop will be far below that of this season, 
owing to the lack of funds with which to improve new lands and for the purchase of 
necessary machinery for harvesting the crop. Just to what extent the next crop will be 
diminished is problematical, but doubtless there will be considerable decrease. 
Recently quite a stir was experienced by the rumor of an apparent offer from the 
German Government, received through diplomatic channels, announcing its willingness 
to purchase a million tons of sugar. This announcement, however, was never taken seri- 
ously by well-informed sugar interests, as doubt of the ability of the German interests 
to finance so large a commercial transaction was expressed and because of the fact that 
any negotiations would necessarily have to be of a cash nature by reason of the present 
financial standing of the German Government. 
That Europe will offer a market for the outlet of the surplus sugar crop of next 
season is generally believed, the amount which will be consumed, of course, depending 
largely upon the progress of reconstruction which will take place in the meantime as well 
as to what extent Cuban sugar planters may be in a position to extend credits. 
The entire attention of the financial and sugar interests is centered at present on 
the probable outcome of the negotiations pending between the Cuban Government and. 
financial interests in the United States for a loan. The amount of the loan and the basis 
on which it will be made are not as yet known but it is generally thought that it will take 
the form of a government short term bond issue. There has been considerable discussion 
as to the feasibility of floating a local issue of 6% bonds for the retirement of the Republic’s 
floating debit, but in view of the financial conditions existing in Cuba at present it is 
extremely doubtful if even a small bond issue could be successfully absorbed. 
Now that the grinding season is over, with the exception of the Centrals previously 
mentioned, the condition of the imported laborers is extremely pitiable, many hundreds 
of them being without shelter or food and wandering about the country begging for alms. 
The Spanish Consul has already sent several thousand stranded immigrants from Spain 
back to their homes, but as yet no provision has been made for the suffering and stranded 
Haitians, Chinese and Jamaicans by their respective government representatives in 
Cuba. It is impossible for these men to find employment in any other lines of work due 
to the industrial depression which has thrown thousands of skilled and unskilled laborers 
out of employment in almost every line of work; nor are there any present indications of 
an early return to normal conditions. 
The various sugar mills of all sizes still continue to suffer from the effects of the 
depression and many changes of management are taking place as a result of inability to 
meet outstanding obligations. Two large sugar Centrals, the ““Mapos” and “Guira de 
Melena”’ have recently been sold at auction by the Trust Company of Cuba. Another 
large financial institution has found it necessary to take over between fifty and sixty 
