Pretext
for the seizure was an ultimatum by President Mendieta to Cuban Telephone
demanding that it re?employ certain strikers, including men who had committed
acts of sabotage last spring. Loyal employees were subjected to weeks of
terrorist intimidation. Several had their houses bombed. Last week they
manifestoed: “We will not work with strikers who have tried to murder us.”
But President Mendieta, convinced that he was posing as the Friend of the
Masses, pushed on with his ultimatum which was flatly rejected by U. S.
General Manager Henry C. Hart of Cuban Telephone.
Into
Mr. Hart’s office soon marched the Military Governor of Havana Province,
grim Major Diaz Calderon, escorting a Cuban engineer, Eduardo Montoulieu,
whom President Mendieta had appointed Government Interventor in charge
of Cuban Telephone. They demanded Mr. Hart’s resignation. He demanded some
sort of assurance from the Cuban Government that they were not attempting
outright confiscation. Doors were closed and a mighty haggle ensued.
When
word leaked out that Manager Hart had resigned, female Cuban Telephone
employees filled the corridors with their wailing. When Mr. Hart walked
out he was cheered for five minutes. Said the loyal employees' spokesman,
Secretary Pablo Martinez of the Telephone Workers Union: “Under no circumstances
will the present workers agree to the return of the strikers.” He
then asked his followers to give Interventor Montoulieu a chance, assured
them “If the Government's management proves unsatisfactory we can easily
retaliate by paralyzing telephone Service throughout Cuba.” Said the Interventor:
“I will employ common sense. This matter must be settled amicably
between Cubans.” Suspicious that the Government might intend to lock them
out of their jobs, scores of telephone employees refused to so home at
night, had their families bring them pillows, food.
In
Havana leading U. S. businessmen expressed alarm at the setting of a precedent
be President Mendieta which seemed to sweep away security for the U. S.
control of U. S. investments in Cuba, but they congratulated ex?Manager
Hart on a fat document he had obtained before resigning. In this the Cuban
Government assumes liability for damages to the equipment of Cuban Telephone
which may occur
under its management. Telephone officials said that Interventor Montoulieu
will soon find out that Cuban Telephone is not taking in enough money to
meet its payroll. They added smugly that the operating deficit has thus
far been met by funds which I. T. & T. has paid periodically from Manhattan,
will now stop paying with alacrity. Said ex?Manager Hart for the record:
“I protest most energetically against the Cuban Government's action, which
despoils the company of its administration and deprives it of the legitimate
enjoyment of its properties without legal basis, thus violating the constitutional
laws which prohibit confiscation of property.”
Said
U. S. Ambassador Jefferson Caffery: "I am just an observer."