THE C U B A RE r I E W 



Havana Correspondence 



Havana, April 19, 1923. 



Sugar: From a report issued by the "Asociacion de Hacendados y Colonos," after 

 a comprehensive survey of the industry, it is expected that the present crop will fall 

 short of the estimate made at the beginning of the season, by at least 400,000 tons. 

 The statistics compiled by this organization, which is composed of a large number of 

 sugar mill owners and cane growers, may be considered as entirely reliable, and the 

 survey which has just been completed is exhaustive. 



Twenty-seven of the mills have closed down for the season at this writing, leaving 

 one hundred and sixty still operating, but a number of them will cease grinding within 

 the next few weeks. Several of the largest mills have been forced to close much earlier 

 than was anticipated owing to the scarcity of cane. 



Throughout the Island, and particularly in Camaguey and Oriente Provinces, rain 

 is very badly needed. While there have been a number of slight showers, there have 

 not been enough heavy rains to bring relief to the dry and parched soil. 



The continued demand for Cuban sugars has had its effect on the price situation 

 and it is now expected that the price will reach seven cents or even higher, within 

 the next few days. It will be remembered that those predicting five-cent sugar some 

 few months ago were looked upon as being extremely optimistic. 



Many of the larger Cuban sugar companies are experiencing a profitable year for 

 the first time since the depression of three years ago and dividends are again in sight. 

 The Cuban-American Sugar Co., owners of Centrals Chaparra and Delicias, have 

 experienced one of the most profitable seasons they have ever had, with the exception 

 of the boom year of 1920, and it is quite generally predicted that dividends will be 

 resumed in the near future. It is also expected that the Punta Alegre Sugar Co. 

 will resum^e dividends in the near future. 



Naturally, the recovery of the sugar industry will have its effect upon business 

 as a whole throughout the country, and while it is not to be expected that any sudden 

 boom will occur, general business conditions are quite rapidly returning to normal, and 

 it may be taken for granted that within the next six months or so there will be complete 

 recovery from the slump which has existed for almost three years. 



Political Situation: The long expected shake-up in the President's Cabinet 

 has at last taken place. During the early part of April, President Zayas asked for 

 the resignation of the entire Cabinet, with the idea of accepting such resignations as 

 he saw fit, and it has now been announced that the new Cabinet will consist of the 

 following members: 



Secretary of State, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. 



Secretary of Justice, Erasmo Regueiferos. 



Secretary of the Interior, Dr. R. Iturralde. 



Secretary of the Treasury, Enrique Hernandez Cartaya. 



Secretary of Public Works, Aurelio Sandoval. 



Secretary of Agriculture and Public Works, Pedro Betancourt. 



Secretary of Sanitation, Enrique Porto. 



Secretary of Public Instruction and Fine Arts, Dr. Francisco Zayas. 



Secretary of War and Navy, Armando Montes. 



Secretary to the Presidency, Jose M. Cortina. 

 There have been a number of reasons advanced for this change in Cabinet, the 

 most persistent being that of lack of harmony between the members themselves and 

 between President Zayas and a number of the members of the retiring Cabinet. While 

 it is rather too early to make any predictions as to the new Cabinet as announced, 

 the press in general have commented quite favorably upon the selections and it is 

 thought that they will continue to carry on the good work so ably started under the 

 direction of the retiring members. 



