CASTRO SEEN TRYING TO MEND FENCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002000090197-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2004
• Sequence Number: 197
• Publication Date: January 5, 1978
• Content Type: NSPR

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Jack Anderson
THE WASHINGTON POST Thursday, Jan. 5,1978
DC9
Castro ' Seen Trying to Mend Fences
U S is now asking
th
improve relations" between Cuba and
the United States, noting that several
political prisoners had been sprung
from Cuban jails at the request of U.S.
officials. He added that he's "favora-
bly disposed" to allowing Cubans with
dual U.S. citizenship to leave the is-
land if they wish.
Despite run-ins with Carter over
points of foreign policy, Castro said he
liked the Georgia peanut farmer as a
fellow chief of state. The Cuban said
he was sure Carter would never con-
done assassination attempts on his
life.
Will Castro, then, meet with Presi-
dent Carter? asked his congressional
guests.
"We'll meet," Castro replied with
Being closeted in a face-to-face dis-
cussion with Cuba's Fidel Castro is like
trying to reason with a fox and a wolf.
This was the experience of Reps.
Frederick W. Richmond (D-N.Y.) and
Richard M. Nolan (D-Minn.) during a
recent 41h-hour private session with
the voluble, bearded Communist
leader in Havana.
The wily Castro, according to their
confidential account written for
Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance,
was affable most of the time, smilingly
professing his wish to mend fences
with the United States and his per-
sonal liking for President Carter.
He growled impatiently when sensi-
tive topics such as his military inter-
vention in Angola and other African
nations were raised.
From the secret report to Vance,
here are verbatim excerpts from the
Havana dialogue:
Castro conveyed "sincere wishes to
e . .
this political kicker, ~'during his sec- protested,
and term." Cuba to destroy close links" with these
Castro indicated he was "favorably countries.
disposed" to a suggestion that air ser- Now almost into a tirade, Castro de-
vice resume between the two coun- Glared: "There is no war in Angola"
tries. but only `internal problems" with
He enthusiastically, responded to the which Cuba wishes to help.
idea of cultural exchanges involving Castro confirmed he has dispatched
painters, dancers, musicians and base- 900 professionals to Angola but main-
ball players. American experts in agri- tained he would "rather send doctors
culture and tourism, Castro told the than soldiers." He declared again: "I
congressmen, would be welcome "at have no angle in Angola."
the appropriate time." Pressed as to why the Cuban troops
But Castro stiffened visibly when remained in Africa, he said, "Our
his visitors advanced the idea of estab- policy in Angola is not an anti-North
fishing a U.S. press office in Havana. American policy. There is not one fact
"I have doubts about this," he retor- to say that we're using our friendship
ted. "I do not make unilateral deci- with Africa to hurt the United States."
sions." Then he accused the U.S. press Pursuing his hard-line enunciation,
of "telling lies" about his government he would to d l Richmond aland low Nfurther olan hat
de-
and his people.
"My comrades are not convinced" partures of Cuban citizens from the is-
that restoring unrestricted American land because "if Cuba opened the
press access to Cuba would be "a posi- doors to emigration, many people
tive step," he declared. would leave."
All semblance of amiability van- He blamed part of this on the better
ished when the Americans mentioned standard of living in the United
that Carter, though "eager" to better.
relations with Cuba, predicated this
on Castro's willingness to diminish
Cuban military and political meddling
in Angola.
"In Africa, we are not willing to
compromise. For many years, Cuba
was blockaded," he lectured his
guests. But despite this enforced isola-
tion, he said, his government managed
to develop ties with emerging coun-
tries in Africa and Southeast Asia.
"These countries," he emphasized,
"also have been trying to become in-
dependent." By asking his Communist
regime to retreat from Angola, Castro
States, admitting that his regune n
afraid of losing its professional class."
Communism in Cuba "wants to build
socialism from the inside" and is
against any further "outflow" of tal-
ented people, he concluded.
The congressmen left the interview,
however, feeling that Castro would
like to bridge the diplomatic gulf be-
tween Washington and Havana and
perhaps loosen Cuba's economic reli-
ance on the Soviet Union.
"Cuba looks like a country trying to
divorce a first wife and marry a sec-
ond," one observer summarized.
Approved For Release 2004/10/12 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R002000090197-4