THE CUBA REVIEW 



Havana Correspondence 



Havana, Cuba, April 25, 1922. 



Sugar: Owing to the extremely long period of dry weather, said to be one of tl 

 longest on record, it is believed that many mills will close their grinding season much earlii 

 than usual, as the absence of rains has permitted almost continuous work in the fields sim 

 the early part of the season. Seven mills throughout the Island have already shut down wit 

 a slightly larger production than estimated. The output of these seven mills cannot I 

 taken as a safe basis for estimating the Island's production, however, for the reason thj 

 practically all of them are located in the western portion of Cuba, where little or no loss hi 

 been suffered by the large and severe cane fires that have occurred in several provino 

 during the present season. 



The seven mills which have closed for the season are: Natividad, Ulacia, Ramona an 

 Maria Antonia of Santa Clara Province, and Gomez Mena, San Antonio and the Colonos c 

 Nueva Paz of Matanzas Province, with a combined total output of 714,613 bags of suga 



Cane fires continue to occur at frequent intervals, largely traceable to incendiary origii 

 Fires have recently occurred at Alacranes, Melena del Sur, Bolondron and Baez, ov( 

 750,000 arrobas of cane having been burned in the above named localities. Several arres 

 have been made by the authorities of persons suspected of having started the fires. 



It has been estimated that up to March 1st, 1,201,995 tons of sugar have been grounc 

 from which figures serving as a basis it is beheved that the total crop for the present seaso 

 will not exceed two and one half million tons. Sales continue to be quite brisk and coi 

 tinned advances in price from time to time, although small, are encouraging. 



As a result of the removal of the artificial restrictions on the disposal of the sugar cro 

 since the abolition of the Sugar Sales Commission, continued large sales have taken plao 

 which seem to fully justify the beliefs held by those who opposed that means of arbitraril 

 regulating the sale of Cuban sugars. There is no doubt that whatever measures may I 

 considered in the future as a means of assisting the sugar interests, the former methods < 

 artificial restrictions imposed by the Sales Commission wiU not be one of them. 



While the prevailing price of sugar is still low, and hardly enough to cover productio 

 cost, nevertheless a strong demand from both Europe and the United States would indical 

 that a better price as a result of this demand may be looked for in the early future, and the 

 next season Cuba may again be expected to be operating once more on a profitable basi 

 especially in view of the adjustments which are taking place in the industry. 



Political Situation: Complete harmony seems to exist between former Presider 

 Menocal and President Zayas, both of whom deny that they will be candidates in the nej 

 election. It is rather early to even venture a guess as to just how sincere either of thei 

 may be in these statements, as it is the general belief that the ex-president would not tur 

 a deaf ear to any overtures which might be made to him towards reoccupying the presideno 

 for another term, while it would seem that if President Zayas continues to give a goO' 

 account of himself in ofiice he would be entitled to re-election. 



FiNANXiAL Matters : As the result of a cabinet conference between the president an 

 his cabinet, it has been stated that every possible effort wiU be made to limit the budget fc 

 the coming fiscal year to $55,000,000. The president believes that with this amount th 

 Government will be able to meet all current obligations with enough surplus to graduaU 

 pay off indebtedness. 



Repeated demands have been made upon Congress by the president for new taxatio: 

 laws, but so far practically nothing has been accomplished. In the weekly session of th 

 cabinet this question came up for discussion and the necessity for new taxes was give 

 serious consideration. As to whether or not Congress will give the matter prompt considers 

 tion is questionable, as the members of Congress have not been particularly prompt in th 

 past in acceding to the president's demands for legislation. 



Liquidation work on the defunct banking institutions still continues and in th 

 absence of any report from the committee nothing is known as to when such informatio: 

 may be expected. 



