Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/400

376 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of article 268 of this Constitution, when the Tribunal of Accounts is organised for the first time, public accountants can be named who have exercised their profession for at least 5 years.

3. For the purpose of compliance with Article 259 of this Constitution, the Tribunal of Accounts, once it has been constituted, shall proceed to clean up the floating debt and determine its true amount, in a period of not more than 2 years and shall forward it to the President of the Republic so that he, with such remarks as he deems opportune, may send it to Congress for its approval.

1. The law which organises the national banking system can establish as a condition for the operation of other banking institutions in the Republic, that they subscribe for part of the capital of the National Bank, in which case they shall also have a participation in its Board of Directors.

Pending promulgation of the law organising the national banking system, the Nation shall protect existing Cuban banking institutions and shall be obligated to grant them the same treatment that is shown to foreign ones.

2. The Nation shall grant a certificate of industrial ownership, under the name of Industrial Introduction Patent, to every natural or juridical person who during the first 2 years following the date of promulgation of this Constitution, requests it of the Ministry of Commerce, offering to establish a new industry, whether principal or accessory, or to manufacture, process or prepare, making them suitable for consumption or exportation, articles which at that time are not produced or prepared in the national territory, or the average production whereof in the last 5 years was less than 15 per cent. of domestic consumption in that time, specifying the article or product, with a statement of the item of the Customs Tariff in force under which it is classified or comprised; and provided that the applicant obligates himself, subject to force majeure, to construct one or more factories within a period of 18 months from the granting of the patent, or to open and amplify existing ones capable of producing the article in question, in an amount sufficient, within one year from said period, to cover a minimum of 80 per cent. of the domestic consumption thereof, and guarantees these obligations by a cash bond equivalent to 3 per cent. of the