'EXTREMELY PLEASED,' KENNEDY SAYS OF DEAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000100380092-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 7, 2000
• Sequence Number: 92
• Publication Date: December 25, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

...Y T POST A NJI DEC 2 5 1962
j'ro1ed For Reled?9MK'3 : CIA
CPYRGHT
'tlExtremely Pleased,'
Kennedy Says of Deal
By Carroll Kilpatrick
Staff Reporter
11 ENT 757,71ECT-1, Via., Dec. 2T717resinem aunneuy
tonight said he was "extremely pleased" that the Cuban
prisoners had been released.
In a statement issued here,'
the President said it was "in
the interest of our national
principles" that these men
had been saved "from a slow
death."
Mr. Kennedy praised the
American food and drug man-
ufacturers, t r a n s portation
pave the way to freedom for
the Americans.
t hite House 'Press Secre-
tary Pierre Salinger declined'
to ' comment 'when a s k e d
whether release of the Cubans
might lead to other negotia-
tions with the Castro govern-
companies and labor unions ~ ment or even improved Cuban-
that cooperated in providing I American relations.
the goods shipped to Cuba as
ransom for the 1113 prisoners
of the unsuccessful Bay of
Pigs invasion 20 months ago.
This Christmas will be a
little brighter for all Ameri-
cans because these men are
tieing united with their loved
ones," the President said.
It obviously also will he that there may be widespread
brighter for the President, debate on the wisdom of pay-
who approved the attack and ing Castro a ransom for the
Look full responsibility for its Bay of Pigs prisoners.
failure. But it was made clear that
He and his brother, Attor- the President felt the Govern-
ney General Robert F. Ken- ment had a moral obligation
nedy, have worked behind the to the prisioners and believed
scenes for months to bring that if their release were not
about the prisoners' release obtained in the near future
from the Castro jails. they might die in prison.
There was no information Ever since their capture in
here regarding the possibility
of obtaining April, 1961, the President has
the release of 23 severely criticized for
United States citizens held in been
Cuban jail,- But there obsanctioning the attack as he
-
viously was hope that releasedid. Many Cuban exiles were
of the Cuban prisoners might
Salinger refused to specu
late as to what Premier Fidel'
Castro. might hope to gain by
the agreement or whether he
might be heading for a some-
what altered course in. his re-
lations with other. hemisphere
countries.
Officials here acknowledged'
CPYRGHT
,did not provide greater Amer- again performed a notable
lean support for the operation.. service in the cause of humani-
For the e ," n ., l
$.,P us the tarianism in arranging for the
knowledge that Canto might' shipment of'the goods.
use the men as. hostages- the "I believe that bringing
late of the ,s.oners has
.weighed heavily on the Presi-
dent. He has been-willing to
go to ' extreme lengths to oh-
prisoners and saving them
from a slow death is in the
interest of our national prin-
ciples. This Christina' will be
lain their freedom. a little brighter for all Ameri-
cans because these men are
The xt of the Pit ldent's i being united with their loved
st emeni.: ones. Americans bade always
"I' am extremely, pleased had a strong bond of friend'
that the negotiations under-lship for freedom fighters
taken by Mr. (James B.) Dono- throughout the world. They
van on behalf of the Cuban. have a particularly strong
Families Committee, whose l bond of friendship for these
advisory committee is headed! dedicated Cubans who fought.
hy' Gen Lucius Clay, have re.; v'liaWh, for the freedom
suited in the release of tlrese'o'f rhoir hotooland
Cub;r prisoners. >< know the
elcome these brave men who
have endured so much in the
cause of freedom to our
shores.
"The return of these men
could not have been possible
without the dedication of the
Cuban Families 'Committee
and Lis attorney, Mr. Donovan,
and the magnificent way 'an
Which manufacturers of foods,
drugs a n d other products
llrroughout the United States,
nspor ,tion. companies and
'ahor uoionF, have tome to
Approved For Release 2000/06/13 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000100380092-5