THE SITUATION IN CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP65B00383R000300080015-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 19, 2014
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 5, 1963
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2014/02/19: CIA-RDP65B00383R000300080015-0
,P?
1963 CONGRESSIONAL" RECORD -- HOUSE 1743
Congress fritters 'away its powers and
shirks its duty. \ .
Whatever may have been the situation
in previous years I do riot know. But
now?today?the 88th Congress is a
horse of a different colcii. As a matter
j
of fact, Mr. Speaker, the American peo-
ple should be thankful that the 88th
Congress stands betwee them and the
massive raid upon their plocketbooks that
is the present administr tion's program.
On both sides of the ai le in this House
are many men and wo en who neither
fritter away, nor shirk t eir duty. Con-
fronted with reckless scal proposals,
politically conceived, t t would sacri-
fice the public interest r. rough solicita-
tion of American voters i y promises of a
share of Federal pork, r e salavation of
America is going to be t e unity of Mem-
bers of this House fro both political
parties who refuse to se 1 America down
the river for a political ess of porridge
the present President ca Is progress.
As never before, Con ress is besieged
with Presidential messa es, the cumula-
tive effect of which would be to weaken
America's strength and undermine our
dollars by' spending bill ons more than
we take in. And this is without regard
to the existence of the g eatest national
debt the Nation has ever ad, and all in
the name of the so-call New Frontier.
Mr. Speaker, the Pied Pi er was a piker
?next to the Kennedys. nfortunately,
it is a trifle difficult now and then to
know which Kennedy is plying the flute
or calling the tune. But it does not mat-
ter as long as the American people
realize that the song the Kennedys play
is leading America down the road to
financial ruin.
THE SITUATION IN CUBA7
(Mr. BASS asked and was given per-
mission to address the House for 1 min-
ute and to revise and extend his re-
marks.)
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, probably the
proudest day in the history of this Na-
tion was last October 22d. That day
President Kennedy, in the strongest
proclamation made by a President in his-
tory outside of a declaration of war,
squared off his broad shoulders and told
the Russians to pull their weapons out
of Cuba. We knew at that time that we
? had a strong man as President; a man
who had the guts to tell the biggest mil-
itary power outside of this country that
we would stand for no installation of of-
fensive weapons at our back door.
This buildup had been going on for
several years. This administration did
not sire Castro, but inherited him. The
Communists were allowed to take over
Cuba in the last administration. That
administration closed its eyes to the
threat. But once the present President
of the United States had evidence that
offensive weapons were being placed in
Cuba he made them remove all such
weapons. They took them out, and the
world knew that the United States was
under the leadership of a great, and
strong man.
Today we hear partisan bickering by
the Republican Party trying to destroy
the 'image that has been created inter-
nationally of the great leadership in this
Nation. After '8 years of lackadaisical
do-nothing this country had deteriorated
internationally to a state lower than it
had ever been in its history. Today it
is the leader of the world, recognized as
such by all nations of the world. We
also have a strong national economy; we
are going to keep it that way in order to
have the respect of the other people
throughout the world.
I regret and I deplore the fact that our,
international policy is now a cause for
partisan bickering. Certainly this does
not help our relative position in the in-
ternational scene.
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
(Mr. HALLEC asked and was given
permission to ad ress the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. HALLEC . Mr. Speaker, it
seems to me thall the gentleman from
New York [Mr. BicicErt] has touched off
something of a dontroversy that some
have tried to la el as purely political.
He was answered jby the acting majority
leader. Subsequ ntly - the gentleman
from New York indicated that what he
had to say had n t been in the political
realm.
I had not anticipated becoming in-
volved in this matter today, but when
the gentleman fer Tennessee under-
takes to say that under the great Presi-
dent Eisenhower, who knows more about
war and what to lo about it than any-
body, and I say so even today?when
he undertakes to say our whole position
in the world deteriorated in those 8
years under President Eisenhower I can-
not keep silent. tie knows that is not
13,
quite the situation It does not even ap-
proximate the situ tion. There was talk
about the missile . gap. Now, on the
word of Mr. Kenntly's Secretary of De-
fense, we know here was no missile
gap. There was 4ie charge that we had
lost prestige in the world. There was no
truth in that eith r.
As a matter of f act, I am just afraid
that wherever we Took, whether it be un-
employment continuing as high as 5.8
percent after you romised to get rid of
it, the cost-price squeeze on farmers
worse, FHA m rtgage foreclosures
greater today tha any time in history,
the cost of living up for everybody?
deficits up?almost every place you look,
yes, even abroad, you find increasingly
troublesome situations. The gentleman
speaks of Cuba. ?
First, I would point out that when the
Bay of Pigs fiasco occurred in 1961, there
were many people who thought Republi-
cans should have turned that disaster
into political capit 1.
We thought?arid we still think?that
to have done so w th a new President in
office would only have increased the
enormous damage to American prestige
which was caused by that incident.
Second, I would like to remind the
gentleman that it was Republican Mem-
bers in this body. and the other body
who took the lead last year in exposing
the Soviet missile buildup and demand-
ing action against it. May I remind him
that on September '7 the joint Senate-
House Republican leadership asked for
a Formosan-type resolution in respect to
Cuba. It fell on deaf ears here on the
part of the majority for days and days,
and then finally you woke up to the fact
that you had to do something. Then at
last a Formosan-type resolution was
adopted. It was Republican inspired,
not for political advantage but for the
protection and security of our country.
Now, the gentleman speaks of the ac-
tion that was taken at the White House
last October in respeCt to Cuba. May I
say to him that I was there at the re-
quest of the Presideht when that an-
nouncement was made. You will recall
that when he underthok the action, he
referred to the Forrnosan-type resolu-
tion that had been adopted by the Con-
gress as the basis for his authority to act.
And, I just want to say to the gentleman
that as that meeting broke up there had
been some controversy there about what
to do. I said, "Mr. President, I stand
with you."
Now, if that is partisanship, I do not
known what "partisarlship' means.
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, will the gen-
tleman yield?
t
Mr. HALLECK. I yield to the gentle-
man from Tennessee. I
Mr. BASS. I would like to say to my
friend from Indiana that in the 8 years
that I have served in the House I have
never thought the gentleman from Indi-
ana1 was partisan in his approach to
international affairs. I want to con-
gratulate him for bein the leader on his
side and giving support to a President,
Republican or Demobrat, in interna-
tional affairs, if it bethme necessary. I
always felt that he w4 that way. I was
not referring to him in my remarks. I
I
do not believe that he is -a party to that
sort of thing. But, I would like to say
to him that I think with the press re-
leases that I hate read recently emanat-
ing from his side of the aisle, the other
members of his party :are not taking the
course that the gentleman from Indiana
would like for them tO' take in interna-
tional affairs.
Now, in reference to whatI said a few
minutes ago, I would liike to say to my
friend from Indiana that I wish he would
take the leadership and insist that the
members of his party not make inflam-
matory statements in the international
field which may tend tb embarrass this
' country. Surely they cnot have all the
necessary facts and may, even unwitting-
ly tip the hand of planned action.
Mr. HALLECK. Mil. Speaker, if I
might conclude, what the gentleman has
said in complimenting me will meet with
mixed reaction on my Side of the aisle,
but in any event, the I gentleman has
brought it up. But, i want to say again
that Republican voices were raised in re-
spect to the buildup in Cuba long before
the announcement was made by the Pres-
ident, and they were properly made, and
today, if the gentleman asks me, I am
tremendously concerned about what I be-
lieve is a further buildup of military
strength in Cuba. I read in the paper
that some statements were made by a
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1744 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ? HOUSE
Member on our side in the other body
concerning the buildup, and then I think
it was a representative of the State De-
partment or the Pentagon who said,
"Well, maybe the gentleman is right."
All I ask is that our Government take
whatever steps are necessary to protect
the security of our country, and when
that is done, I will stand with the Presi-
dent as I have before.
U.S. SQUABBLING OVER CUBA MUST1
CEASE
(Mr. ROGERS of Florida asked and
was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and ex-
tend his remarks.)
Mr. ROGERS of Florida. Mr.
Speaker, Washington is rife with con-
tradictions on the amount of Soviet mili-
tary equipment in Cuba. Each day new
charges on the specific number of Cuba-
based Communist arms are hurled from
the floors of the Congress. Executive
agencies are then drawn into bickering
over the quantities of Soviet military
equipment, the design of this equipment,
and whether it is in Cuba for offensive or
defensive purposes.
The American people view the situa-
tion in simple terms. One Soviet soldier
in Cuba is one too many. And when
does the mission of that one Soviet sol-
dier, with one pack on his back, and one
rifle in his hand, became offensive or de-
fensive? The answer is simple?when
the Kremlin orders it so.
Mr. Speaker, we may be losing sight
of the basic problem. The amount and
type of Soviet military equipment in
Cuba is not the problem. Nor does the
offensive or defensive nature of such
equipment change the problem. In sim-
ple and glaring terms, the problem cen-
ters on the existence of communism in
Cuba, backed up by Soviet military
equipment?whatever it may be.
How do we solve this problem? The
first step is by isolating Cuba. Cuba
should be placed in solitary confinement
by the nations of this hemisphere. I
would urge that isolation be accom-
plished by first closing U.S. ports to ves-
sels calling at the island of Cuba. I
further urge that the United States pro-
pose to the Organization of American
States, which now stands ready to act,
the following steps:
First. Close the seaports of this
hemisphere to vessels calling in Cuba.
Second. Close the airports of the hem=
isphere to airlines flying into Cuba.
Third. Ban telecommunications relays
of messages to and from Cuba.
Fourth. Curb the travel of Castro
agents throughout the hemisphere.
Fifth. Freeze Cuban Government
funds now on deposit in Latin American
financial institutions.
Mr. Speaker, we must not be diverted
by the extent of the Soviet strength in
Cuba. The United States must concen-
trate its full strength and power toward
ridding the hemisphere of all Soviet in-
fluence now present in it. The United
States must exert its leadership to rid
this hemisphere of communism.
(Mr. WATSON (at the request of Mr.
GRABOWSKI) was given permission to ex-
tend his remarks at this point in the
RECORD and include extraneous matter.)
[Mr. WATSON'S remarks will appear
hereafter in the Appendix.]
THE CUBAN CRISIS 7
/ (Mr. BONNER asked and was given
permission to address the House for 1
minute to revise and extend his remarks
and to include an editorial.)
Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker and
Members of the House, I read from an
editorial that was published in the daily
paper of my home town. This is apropos
of the discussion that has taken on the
floor of the House here this morning.
Certainly all of us are interested in the
situation that has arisen in Cuba and
all of us are concerned. Yet during
times of this nature it is advisable for
men to gage their remarks and to use
caution in their language.
Mr. Speaker, I read the last sentence
of this editorial:
President Kennedy acted in a role during
the Cuban crisis which will be applauded
by the overwhehning majority of American
people.
Mr. Speaker, I concur in this state-
ment and I concur in the defense of
former Presidents as to their loyalty to
this country. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the de-
bate on this question has aroused a great
interest among the people of America
and, therefore, the debate should be
waged with caution and discretion.
In times of great stress such as those
that have developed with regard to Cuba
in the last 5 or 6 months it is particu-
larly important that we maintain our
national solidarity. The President and
our military leaders are entitled to the
support of all of us on issues where they
of necessity must bear the burden of
decision. This is not to say that any
man should not hold or express such
personal views as he has. But such views
or such information should be trans-
mitted to those who are responsible un-
der our system for acquiring, evaluating,
and acting upon information bearing on
the security of our country. I believe
the vast majority of us, without regard
to partisan preference, have faith in the
loyalty and integrity of those in whom
we vest the lonely responsibility of ulti-
mate decision.
Mr. Speaker, I submit this editorial
for the RECORD.
The matter referred to follows:
DICTATORSHIP?UGLY WORD
"Dictatorship" is an ugly word in a democ-
racy where we pride ourselves on freedom for
all. Yet there come times even in the land
of the free when we must exercise a sort of
dictatorship temporarily in order to preserve
freedom permanently.
When the Cuban crisis arose, someone had
to take the plow handle and act decisively.
The only one In Aingrica who could do the
job then was the President of the United
States.
Whatever criticism there might be today
over the fact that President Kennedy did act
decisively, did assume the role of a sort or
temporary dictator, and did act even without
February 5
clear-cut constitutional authority at times
should not cause extremists to shout "dic-
tator." It should -point up the need here in
our democracy for certain reforms giving the
President temporary power to act decisively
in a quick crisis.
Had the President not acted quickly and
decisively in the Cuban crisis, then we hesi-
tate to think what the results might have
been. Because he assumed authority and
exerted definite leadership at that time in no
way causes us to feel that he is trying to be
a dictator over this Nation.
Yet there are people- who are openly critical
at what they see as a man assuming such
extreme powers at such a time.
If we admit that "dictatorship" is an ugly
word, we must also admit that "chaos" or
"surrender" is far uglier.
No, to our way of thinking when a man
becomes. dictator, it takes on a status of
being permanent. President Kennedy acted
In a role during the Cuban crisis which will
be applauded by the overwhelming majority
of American people.
UNITED STATES IMPORTATION OF
LUMBER FROM CANADA
(Mr. WHITE asked and was given per-
mission to address the House for I min-
ute, and to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WHITE. Mr. Speaker, Northwest
lumber producers have found them-
selves caught in an ever-tightening cost.
price squeeze. The demand for soft-
wood products has dwindled with the de-
creases in the homebuilding industry,
but this is only a fraction of a very com-
plex problem. .Production in the United
States has declined faster than consump-
tion, and the difference is importation
of lumber from Canada.
In recognition of the devastating effect
the loss of lumber markets has on the
Idaho economy, the 37th session of the
State of Idaho Legislature has passed
two memorials relative to the importa-
tion of Canadian lumber and the restric-
tive effects of wilderness legislation.
According to the rules of the House,
Mr. Speaker, the memorials have been
received and referred to the proper com-
mittees.
MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL
RETARDATION?MESSAGE FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES (H. DOC. NO. 58)
The SPEAKER laid before the House
the following message from the President
of the United States; which was read,
referred to the Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce and ordered
to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
It is my intention to send shortly to
the Congress a message pertaining to
this Nation's most urgent needs in the
area of health improvement. But two
health problems?because they are of
such critical size and tragic impact, and
because their susceptibility to public
action is so much greater than the atten-
tion they have received?are deserving of
a wholly new national approach and a
separate message to the Congress. These
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