A dead city, hushed by the terror of a brutal massacre, was the capital of Cuba last week. Eight years of steadily increased repression had culminated in an ominous, apprehensive silence. The shutters and doors of Havana were bolted, the streets deserted save for soldiers patrolling and police squads riding around in cars. "The Tyrant," paunchy, pock-faced President Gerardo Machado y Morales, had proclaimed "a state of war" in his effort to break his countrymen's general strike against his regime. It had spread throughout the island in all businesses and professions (TIME, Aug. 14). Food was hard to get. The capital was more completely paralyzed every day as fewer and fewer shopkeepers opened their doors. The dreaded Porra, President Machado's secret terror squads, odious for their savage murders, boasted of the massacres early in the week when hundreds of joyous citizens, shouting a false rumor "Machado is out!" rushed prematurely toward the Presidential Palace where scores were quickly mowed down by a merciless fusillade.
Emphatically President Machado was still Dictator. Only in the person of crisp, calm, young U. S. Ambassador Sumner Welles did terrified Cubans see hope of reviving their paralyzed capital. President Roosevelt had sent Mr. Welles to Havana to "mediate" when Machado tyranny became too obvious (TIME, May 15). He was known to be conferring with members of all parties. Army officers had sought him out.
When President Machado flatly refused to treat with Mediator Welles, the Army officers knew it was for them to decide Cuba's fate. While the President slept, they discussed his obduracy, saw that they must either draw more of their countrymen's blood to uphold Machado, or depose him. Early Friday afternoon, Battalion No. 1 of the Cabana Fortress was first to train its guns upon the $2,000,000 Presidential Palace of Carrara marble, decorated by Manhattan's Tiffany Studios. The guns did not fire, but soon Castillo de la Real Fuerza and all other Havana garrisons aimed their guns at the Palace's dome of yellow glazed tile. Subordinate officers told sly, grandfatherly little War Minister General Alberto Herrera that he must tell President Machado to resign. When the War Minister refused he was arrested, forced to promise "on my word of honor as a Cuban, an officer and a gentleman" that he would beard the President.
In his Palace, despite the menace of the guns, President Machado could not believe that his Army & Navy—well paid while other Cuban Government employes have gone unpaid for months—had turned against him. He ordered his car, ordered War Minister Herrera into it, set off guarded by a machine gun squad to talk to the rebellious officers, who had gathered outside Havana at Camp Columbia. Promises, threats and a storm of rage from President Machado produced no result. The officers stood sullen until finally Lieut.-Colonel Julio Sanguilly, Chief of Aviation at Camp Columbia, spoke: "With all respect, General Machado, you must resign before noon tomorrow!" Other officers plucked up courage, made the same demand.