837.48/169
The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 23.]
Sir: With reference to my telegram no. 39 of January 20, 1 p.m.,83 reporting the destruction by fire of the American-owned Tinguaro Sugar Mill at Perico, Cuba,84 I have the honor to enclose a copy of pertinent portions of a report83 by the Office of the Legal Attaché of this Embassy, giving details regarding the destroyed factory.
This report states that the fire which destroyed the Tinguaro Sugar Mill, which is owned by the American firm, Cuban-American Sugar Company, started about 4 a.m. January 20, 1943, probably from a short circuit in the electrical wiring system, and except for the packing room and the centrifugal room, the plant is a total loss. At the time of the fire the factory was being repaired and put into operating condition in preparation for the coming grinding season. The estimated loss due to the fire is placed at $1,500,000.
Mr. Joseph B. Harris, General Manager of the Cuban-American Sugar Company, stated that he did not believe the fire was caused by a saboteur as it would have been very difficult for an outsider to enter the plant due to careful guarding of the place, and workers of the plant would be unlikely to damage it since they would only be depriving themselves of employment.
Mr. Harris stated that the factory employed about 200 workers during the sugar harvest season; that the daily capacity of the mill was 2,300 sacks; and that the estimated production for the current season was to have been 170,000 sacks.
[Page 198]There is also enclosed a clipping87 from the local vernacular newspaper, El Mundo, of today’s date giving an account of the fire and its effect on the coming sugar crop. It will be noted that according to this account, the damage was not so extensive as at first reported, and that it was possible the mill could be repaired and operations started in about forty-five days. The newspaper also states that the damage probably will not exceed $150,000, and that the number of workers affected by the holocaust totaled about 600. These figures are in direct variance with those given by Mr. Harris. The article stresses the fact that there had been no disagreement between the company and the employees. Most of the remaining facts cited in the clipping are the same as those included in Enclosure no. 1.
Further details regarding this fire will be forwarded to the Department when they become available.
Respectfully yours,
Second Secretary of Embassy