'IS CUBA GOING RED?' -- PART II AS BROADCAST OVER THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1959 6:00 - 6:30 PM, EDT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00965R000200210002-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: May 17, 1959
• Content Type: PREL

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NOTE: NOT FOR RELEASE BEFORE 6:30 PM, EDT, SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1989.
"IS CUBA GOING RED?" -- PART II
as broadcast over the
CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
Sunday, May 17, 1959
6:00 - 6:30 PM, EDT
Participants: Dr.. Ernesto Dihigo,'Cuban.Ambassador to the United States
Dr. Manuel Bisbe, Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations
Chirlos M. Lechuga, Alternate Representative of Cuba to the UN
Rep, Charles 0. Porter (D., Ore.)
CBS News-Correspondent Stuart Novins
Loo Cherne, Director of the Research Institute of America
Moderator: CBS News Correspondent Howard K. Smith
Produced by: William Weston
Directed by: Michael Zeamer
PRODUCED BY CBS NEWS
from-Studio 41, New York
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ANNOUNCER,: The CBS Television Network presents "Is Cuba Going Red?"
MR. TOWNSEND: Good Afternoon, T'in Dallas Townsend. Two weeks ago
today CBS News presented a special report entitled IS CUBA GOING RED? Corre-
spondent Stuart Novins reported that Cuba today is becoming a totalitarian dic-
tatorship and is rapidly becoming a Communist beachhead in the Caribbean. The
program attracted wide attention and much favorable' comment. It also drew
criticism from representatives of the Cuban Government, who asked to be heard
on the subject. CBS News stands behind its initial report. Tie material was care-
fully researched, reported and checked. CBS News also points out that, beginning
in the Spring of 1957 when its men visited Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra, it
has reported what he and other representatives of the 26th of July Movement have
had to say. Dr..Castro has appeared on FACE THE NATION; President Urrutia has
appeared in, an interview and.hasJ,been quoted frequently. Several representatives
of the current Cuban administration appeared in CA$TRO'S CUBA, a news special aired
on January 28th of this year, Since the first of this year the Cuban Government's
viewpoint has been quoted and reported on-numerous occasions and on various news
shows. Nevertheless, because of the lively reaction to the program of two weeks ago
and because of the vital importance of this subject to all Americans, CBS News has
decided to provide an opportunity for continued discussion of tkhe,issues raised if
"Is Cuba Going Red?"
CBS News points out that it is interested only in reporting the facts,
that it is not a partisan. an the subject of Cuba, or ..on any other subject. It is
objectively reporting the situation,in Cuba today as it did during previous Cuban
,administrations, For'today's panel here. is our Moderator Howard K. Smith.
MODERATOR SMITH: How do you do.. The topic,:"Is Cuba Going Red" and the
Cuban delegate to the United Nations
participants are Mr. Carlos M. LephugA,/Dr. Manuel Bisbe, Cuban Ambassador to the
United Nations, Dr. Ernedto Dihigo, Cuban Ambassador to the United States, CBS News
Correspondent Stuart Nevins, Congressman Charles Porter of Oregon who has taken a,
special interest in,La.tin.Amer'ican affairs, Mr. Leo Cherne, the Executive Director
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of the Research Institute of America. May we begin with Correspondent Stuart
Novins.,
MR. NOVINS: Yes, Howard. It is the policy of-CBS News that its reporters
are reporters and not debaters. I want to make it clear that I am a reporter
and not a debater. I am here because personal attacks '.,have been made against
me after the report that was made two-weeks ago, I would wish to say very clearly
that the report that we made two weeks ago was not motivated in any way by any kind
of malice, It was a friendly warning which was held up both to the Cuban people,'
the Cuban government and the American, people. If there are any errors in the report
they are variances of detail, if they exist, and do not alter the findings. I stand
by those as does CBS. News. There is one thing more, if I may
the charges have
been made in the Cuban press, since our report, that, in effect, I am on the
pay
of Mr. Batista, There was another charge that Mr. Batista owned either part of or
all of the Columbia Broadcasting System. I don't need to comment on the second re-
port, but on the charge that I am on the pay of Batista ,..I would point out that I
was among the first to report the Batista administration as the kind of reprehensible
dictatorship which it was and I think I will stand on that record. Gentlemen, to
you, who represent Cuba, I can understand why the Cubans disagree publicly with what
I said two weeks ago but I ask'only that you accept that what I said, or may say
in this coming half hour is motivated by friendship for Cuba and Cuba's people.
Congressman Porter, I think we should say for the record, that although you are 'a
congressman you are hero, I believe, as a private individual. That is my under-'
standing.
MODERATOR SMITH: Can we hear from Mr. Carlos. M. Lechuga, Cuban delegate
to the United Nations,
'MR. LEC$UGAt. I. will road a brief statement answering in a general way
what Mrs Novins said two weeks ago, I want to say to the American public only
ninety miles away from the Florida coast, the island Republic of Cuba is rapidly
becoming one of the most solid democracies of the hemisphere. Its po 11 have at
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at last regained the joy of living; they have placed their faith and their truat
in the conviction that Cuba's present government will give the nation a permanent
system.of social justice and respect for human rights.
The struggle of the Cuban rebels has been rewarded by the immense popular
backing of the present government, It is not true what Mr. ,Stuart Novins said in
his program, that the Cubans cannot express in public any opposition. The proofs are
on the contrary. it is not true that 475 large businesses have been.intorviowod
by the government on economic or political groun-3a. All of these enterprises were
affected by a decree of the Ministry for'the Recovery of Stolen Government Property,
which was one of the,measures most hoped for by the Cuban people since it enables
the Republic to recover part of the millions of dollars stolen by Batista and his
partners. It is not true that the, Government has just decreed a 30 per cent wage
of
increase for editorial employees; and because/that many papers will have to close
down, In order to insure'tho existence of a free press, the now Cuban government
has stopped subsidizing newspapers and are studying how to solve the economic
situation of some of the publications, but no decision has been taken yet.
The Cuban press now enjoys absolute editorial freedom. The fact that
any figure of the government responds to some criticisms does not mean that free
press is being curtailed. On the contrary, it is another instance of the free play
of opinions, just as it exists in the United Sta?bts. When President Roosevelt or
President Truman, for example, referred to a certain American columnist in rather
harsh terms, no one here thought of this as censorship.
There has been talk about the attack against some American news agencies
a nd publications., Obviously Cubans cannot remain silent in tFe face of,unfair
criticisms, or when those agencies and publications distort the facts for the sake
of sensationalism and try to undermine the prestige of the Government.
It is ridiculous, as Mr. Novins did, to quote a three line item from
the Soviet newspaper Izvestia which mentioned the campaign that certain segments
of the American press had launched against Cuba and use it as a proof of Soviet
support. What A mr68$Q Fes- O@I ' 2#7b4AS 13 :IR,Tist4AgWg*?09g@ 024Wbt 4d
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statements made by President Eisenhower and no one has over drawn the conclusion
that he is a Communist,
In the CBS program two weeks ago, it was said t1-- at the Havana United
Press office had received several telephone calls threatening to bomb their local
office. We do not know how many calls were made, or if, in fact, the rumor quoted
by Mr. Novins is true. However, both Mr. Novins and we are sure that no bomb was
.,ever placed at the UP office. Another point raised by Mr.'Novins came as a sur-
prise to us. He said that the Cuban Government had the right to cancel paper import
licenses. 'The truth is that the regulation operating in Cuba, more or less, is the
same one existing in the United States as regards Canadian paper, ! And, we
could say of the U. S. Government, what Mr. Novins any of ours.
Western diplomatic sources,'to use the same pattern of Mr. Novins, told
us that when he,, in May 3rd, asserted that the newspaperman Juan Luis Martin was
under arrest'on April 16th, he was released ten days before Mr. Novin's program,
and is free in his home in Havana. He was imprisoned not because he is an-anti-
communist, but for different reasons. Not one of the anti-communist Cuban news
papermen are in jail and never were. All of them, including me, are writing
daily attacking them, as always. '
The new Cuba is a working democracy, And, that, indeed, is the only'truth,
MODERATOR SMITH: That was an opening statement of the Cuban point of
view. Gentlemen, may I ask you in your further opening statements to try to keep
them short because a half hour is a very short time, Dr. Bisbe.
DR. BISBE: I cannot justify the report made by Mr. Stuart Nevins'
"Is Cuba Going Red?" after Dr. Castro's trip to the United States. In fact, our
Prime Minister explained very cloarly',tho democratic position of our Government,
and dispelled several false statements and rumors about the influence of
communism in the present Cuban movement.. Of course, there are communists in Cuba,
but there are also Communists in this country; nevertheless because of this Mr.
Novins will not call Rod the Government of the United States. Mr. Novins cannot
prove what he,povegqworal2g'YOb%/(/tl`r:v6Do?'I-8M65RUbDy1~~r1O08igf of the
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Cuban Labor Movement arid'asked him if he was now a communist - since nobody has
.denied that he was a communist when he was young - and Mr. Salvador answered
I am not a communist now." ,'This would suffice for anybody, but not for Mr. Novins.
In spite of this, Mr. Novins affirms, without any proof, that Mr. Salvador is a
communist. Tli.at is false, absolutely false, I can assure and prove that when the
April, 1953 strike was being organized, Mr. Salvador , who for some years had
been a member of the 26th of July Movement, rejected the participation of the com-
munist leaders in tLis strike, and I can add that at present Mr. Salvador is
successfully struggling against the comraunistsin the reorganization of the C.T.C.
Cuban Confederation of Labor. This is the truth and the whole truth about Mr.
Salvador.
Why does Mr. Novins make these assertions without proof and try to mis-
lead American public opinion? Certainly, in Cuba the Revolutionary Government
d oes not persecute the communists, but this, we maintain, is the right position,
because if they are persecuted then you make martyrs out of them.
MODRRATOR'SMITH: Well, Dr. Bisbo, I want to return ..--
DR. BISBR Wait a minute -- 'a little time.. Wo think that the best
way to fight communis:n is to solve the economic needs of the people.
I conclude. We must reaffirm democracy and build up democracy.. To be
anti-Red only is not'. the best way to guarantee democracy in this crucial moment
that we are living.
MODERATOR SMITH. Dr'. Dihigo?
DR. DIHIGO Thank. I only want to gay that I think'that Mr.
Novins';report was not quite fair'on account of some of the facts that he said
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were not presented in their true light, I am going to refer to only two or throe
examples. For example, when he interviewed David Salvador he takes a film and he
'asks David Salvador if he controls the different unions -- tolephono, sugar,
bankers,.laboratorios, air lines, radio, television -- what does the American
public ,see? Mr. Salvador, in the film, nodding yes, and wi.at was the truth? Mr.
Salvador answers. iii,Spanish that the union is organized, that the other union
is organized too but the impression ti.at the American public got was that Mr.
Salvador was saying yes, that he, who was presented as a communist, a few words
later, had the control of rail the union workers in Cuba. A second case is this.
Mr. Novins 'refers to Lawyer DaCosta.- DaCosta was the lawyer for tt:ie aviators
that were tried-in Santiago do Cuba and Mr. Novins says the following - but
he has since resigned from the Army and has not boon soon publicly since. The im-
p lication is that Lawyer baCosta has boon put under arrest or killed or he has
boon taken away and killed. I know, personally, Mr. DaCosta. He is the brother-
in-law of a very.closo friend of mine and I can assure Mr. Novins that it is true
that Mr. DaCosta resigned from the Army but he is enjoying very good health and
being free in Cuba, Any time that Mr. Novins comes back to Cuba I will be very
pleased to,introduce him to Lawyer DaCosta.
MR. NOVINS: I am delighted to hear it.
DR, DIHIGO: In the third place and I am going to finish Mr. Novins
talks about communist-.led unions and elections that had boon hold in the unions
have resulted in a terrible defeat of the communists. The communists have lost
almost all the elections in the unions, so where is.the communist influence,
Cuba? I think naturally that Mr. Novins incurred theso mistakes on account that
he took his information from vdry unreliable sources and I can assure Mr. Novins
and I am going to finish now -- that if I thought that the Cuban government was
communist be pure' I would not be the Ambassador in Washington.
MR. NOVINS t Mr. Ambassador, for the sake of tin record, I did not
say that the Cuban Government was communist anywhere in that report.
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MODERATOR SMITH: Can we now call on Congressman Charles Porter of
Oregon?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: I'd like to approach the main question;
"Is
Cuba Going Red?" And, of course, Mr. NovinrA~ answered that question by saying,
yes. He said it is rapidly becoming a communist beachhead and it's a totalitarian
dictatorship now -- you did say that? -- where you can't stick up your head and
argue or you get called a counterrevolutionary and the penalty for counterrevolution
is death. Let's examine that.
First of all, ail of us here are against dictatorship; all of us are
against communism.. We are for democracy. We want to see Cuba become a democracy.
We are not disagreed on that.
What we are disagreed on: Is it a totalitarian dictatorship now?
I don't think it is. There is a difference between communist in fiftra-
tion, which we have in this country.and in every free country in the world, and
oommunist domination. Let me list six reasons why I don't think Cuba is going Red.
In the first place, Castro and his top leaders --.and some of them are
here -- are not communists. They speak out against communism, communist dictators.
Thirdly, Cubans can criticize without reprisal.
I referred Mr. Novins' report to the Inter-American Press Association
and John O'Rourke of the WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS referred to Jules Dubois, who is
the head of their committee on freedom of the press. Jules Dubois made a very
detailed report on the Novins' broadcast, found many errors in it, many errors
which I can't go into hero today.
MR. NOVINS: Why not?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: We don't have the---
MR. NOVINS: If you are going to make charges, let's specify.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: But he ends up, there is freedom of the press today
Now, an election will be announced soon in Cuba, which is an important
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thing.
MR. NOVINS: When, Congressman?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: It will be announced.
MR. NOVINS: When?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Five, communists lost overwhelmingly in the
recent labor elections.
So, we do have infiltration, yes. We have infiltration everywhere
and Cuba has many problems. But Cuba is not a dictatorship today.
Mr. Novins told me before the broadcast, as I suspected, he doesn't
speak Spanish very well. He spent two months down there, half of those two months
on vacation vacation, mind you, in a country that is rapidly becoming a
communist beachhead and'where a totalitarian dictatorship---
MR, NOVINS: Mr. Smith, I can't allow that to go on.
.What is your source .of information?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: My source is Jules Dubois, who is thy. Cuban,
correspondent for the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
MR. NOVINS: Did Mr; Dubois foL'hw me for this month that I was allegedly
on vacation?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: I am reading from his letter: "He spent half his
time in what he described as a dictatorship on vacation, according to what he
told me when I saw him briefly in Havana."
MR. NOVINS: Obviously, you don't think I am going to tell my competi-,
tion what I am doing on a story,. Congressman. Let's be reasonable.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER; I would think you would have asked Mr. Dubois
about freedom of the press in Cuba.
MR. NOVINS: Are you suggesting that the way to cover a story is to
have a reporter talk to other reporters?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: I am suggesting that Jules.Dubois is the best
authority on freedom of the press in Latin America in the whole country. He has
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written this book on Fidel Castro. He has had many medals from people. He knows
what's going on down there. And how can you tell about the Cuban press when
you can't even read Spanish very.well?
MODERATOR SMITH; Gentlemen, we are coming back to this point in a
moment. But first, I, would like to ask Mr. Leo'Cherno to any something before Mr.
Novins has a good slug of time to answer some of these statements.
MR.'CHERNE: What I.would like to say flows directly from one of the
most encouraging statements of all made by Dr. Fidel Castro when he addressed
the Overseas Press Club in Now York during his visit to this country. He said,
the best friends of democracy are those who never support tyranny. I accept that.
I am sure we all do, and precisely because we accept it we are, of course, all
very sensitive therefore to whether or not those who do support tyranny --.and
communism is tyranny -- whether they find themselves in any of the key, important
spots in a community.
There is no question at all that you gentlemen, representing the
Cuban Government, are the beat representation of a democratic future. There is
no question at all in-my judgment that virtually all of the cabinet members of
the government are equally that representation.
But I'd like to quote Congressman Porter, in fact. On May 2, Con-
gressman Porter, on the floor of the Congress, described as democratic and able
public servants, Finance Minister Lopez-Frosquot, Ambassador Dihigo, Foreign
Minister Agramonte. They are the hope of Cuba today, he said.
Then he continued, the opposing faction, however, include Army Chief
Raul Castro, La Cabana Fortress Commandant "Cho" Guevara, Labor Chief David
Salvador,-"Revolucibn" Editor Carlos Franqui.
"Their policies", -- those are Congressman Porter's words -- "their
policies, wha~evor their intention, are aiding the communists in an attempt to
take over the revolution."
.The concern which I have and share with many in America, and certainly
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the members of the press', is in.this effort to take over a government which so
richly deserves a democratic, peaceful future determined by its own people.
MODERATOR SMITH: Can we have Stuart Novins now to answer some 'of-the
statements that have been made?
MR. NOVINS: There have been a lot of statements made.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER; Are-you going to answer them in Spanish?
MR. NOVINSt Lot's talk about that for just about thirty seconds.
That-'s just about as ridiculous
quibbling I have heard,,
if you forgive the phrase -- as any kind of.
For one thing, I think, to follow your suggestion to the logical con-
elusion, we should withdraw all reporters from the Middle East who don't speak
Arabic'or Hebrew, We should withdraw every. correspondent whoever goes to any
country.
The fact is -- I will freely admit it -- it was much harder to do it
my way, but I got it done,
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: And you read all the papers, I suppose?
MR NOVINS: Well, now, what do you want to do? List the papers and
have me go down the line?
MR. LECHUGA: May I---
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Take your---
MR. LECHUGA: ---because Mr. Novins said in his report, that you
spoke with hundreds of persons in Cuba---
MR. NOVINS: I did, indeed.
MR,'LECHUGA: In English or Spanish?
MR. NOVINS: I spoke in English with those who could speak English and
through interpreters with those who did not speak English.
MR. LECHUGA: With hundreds of people in Cuba?
MR. NOVINS: Absolutely.
MO ICMteChJf e1ec O44ffi/fti; 01N Q4Q ,4Aa Qt2&ment?
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MR. NOVINS: Yes, I have a letter, which is written by Congressman
Porter to the Columbia Broadcasting System, News and Public Affairs Department,
under the letterhead of the Congress 'of the United States, although I assume
this is.a private letter, and in it he accuses me of putting out"a highly mis-
leading report." Those were your words, Congressman?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Yes.
MR. NOVINS: He also said, "Half-truths were submitted by Novins,"
and you also referred to the observations that we made as "extreme and nonfactual
statements."
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Do you want some examples?
MR. NOVINS: Just a minute, Congressman. Letts turn to the Congressional
Record, On May 5 this was said by a, Congressman on the floor, speaking about
our broadcast: "It is an honest, conscientious report." Then the Congressman
goes on to say: "Novins' report, on the whole, intelligent, factual and sincere,
is, I hope, going to help in the process of cleaning up the situation."
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: I think both---
MR, NOVINS: Just a moment, just a moment. Who said that? Who was
the Congressman? Congressman Porter.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Right.
MR. NOVINS: You said it?
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Right.
MR. NOVINS: Will you please explain how it is that I can be factual
one day and false. a week later on the basis of the same statemontsrr
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Yes, because by that time I had a report from
Jules Dubois, some four pages, single space.
MR. NOVINS: I don't attempt to debate him. He is not here.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: No. But I had his story about the things you
have said thorn. I had letters from other people about it, too. But Jules Dubois,
who is the authority in this field and who received many awards---
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MR, NOVINS: Modesty forbids me to suggest that there'may be other
authorities than Mr. Dubois. I would hesitate to accept anything that any single
source gave me, no matter how meritorious it might be.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER-. He is the representative of the Inter--American
Press Association.
MR. CHERNE: I, don't-carry the responsibility of sustaining, defending
what it is that Stuart Novins did or what, in fact, CBS over does. I do know,
in the spirit in which this program has been arranged, that there is no one at
table who has not been concerned about the possibility that the present penotra-
tion of certain areas of Cuban life by members of the Communist Party may not, in
fact, Jeopardize .a democracy we all sock. I do know, Mr. Congressman---
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Let's be specific.
MR. CHERNE: ---that you have,been concerned---
CONGRESSMAN FORTER: I have been.
MR. CHERNE:,---that you were deeply concerned when former President
Jose Figuores visited, with deep friendship, a sister democracy in Cuba and
when he made his first speech to the Cuban people, to have the microphone pulled
from his hand by David Salvador and act not only ungracious but containing a
good deal more'. I,do know your.concern, Mr. Congressman, no that it isn't
really either useful or reasonable for us to jockey ourselves into a position
that this is a problem that doesn't exist or is not of significant magnitude.
CONGRESSMAN PORTER: Nobody says it isn't.
MR. NOVINS: This is a problem which is capable of solution, and we
mention that in the report. We'suggested in the report that the situation could
be changed by Dr. Castro if'he called a constitutionally guaranteed free election.
Now, the record will ahow1h at on several occasions, first he said,
we will do it in a year; then he said, we will do it in 18 months to two yearb.
Then he said, we will do it in four years.
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MR. NOVINS: Then' he said, we won't do it until all poverty is wiped
out, until everyone has , a. hospital bed.
Certainly, we are in favor of poverty being wiped out and we are in
favor of hospital beds. But where is the election, which will not drive the
communist gentlemen into prison., as has been suggested, but will bring them out
in the open where you can count them.
MODERATOR SMITH: This is a specific and serious point. Can some of
our Cuban guests answer this?'
MR. LECHUGA:'- I don't get the question. Please repeat it.
MR. CHERNE The qug.stion is: when will the election be held?
We have boon.concorned'becauso, initially, Dr. Castro indicated that
the election would be hold within 18 months after the revdktion; then, subse-
quently, he said, two years.
MR. LECHUGA:. Yee.
MR. CHERNE: When he was in this country, he said within four years.
There has boon an additional statement of Dr. Castro in which he ,indicated
there could not be an election until illiteracy, poverty and the other terrible
social evils of Cuba are eliminated.
DR. BISBE: As soon as possible we will have elections.
DR. DIHIGO: The last'statemont made by Dr. Castro in the States
was that.four years wan the maximum term, but that elections would bo hold as
soon as possible, and we are waiting for a now statement from Dr. Castro saying
when the elections Will. take place.
MR. CHERriE: Dr. Dihigo, will you not concede,,ospocially on the basis
of the evidence of two other Caribbean nations, Venezuela and Costa Pica, for
example, that. an election four years after revolution is not exactly the best
basis upon which to build a democratic future?. You would regard that as rather
excessive, would you not, Dr. Dihigo?
DR. DIHIGO:?,I am sure wo will have elections much before four years.
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MR. CHERNE; Much before.
The soonorgcntlemen, the better. In fact, if there were an announce
ment within the next few days that elections will take place within 12 to 18
months, I do believe a-great deal will already have been accomplished, Doctor,
to guarantor Cuba its democratic future.
MR. LECII,UGA: The date of the election has nothing to do with the
accusations of Mr. Moving. That does not moan that Cuba is going Red because
the government doesn't sot a date for the election.
MR. CHERNE: But the reverse is trues if elections are to be deferred
for a period of up to four years -- just a moment, I am taking Dr. Castro's
statement,-- and if,'as we do recognize, there are members of the Communist
Party in active and significant roles in areas of Cuban life---
MR. LECHVGA: No, no.
MR. CHERNE: --them,,,, is reasonable to conclude that the two of them
do not bode well, for a democratic future.
MR. LECHUGA: They have boon defeated only ?recontly ' iii union elections
that have boon hold.
MR. CHERNE; That is why they fear elections, because they have been
defeated.
MODERATOR SMITH: Itm.sorry. Our half-hour has passed very quickly,
,indeed, I'm afraid. I have tai tbsnk you now for r,- interesting, animated and,
I hope, o us939ul discussion.
A hard and fast judgment on Cuba's future will have to wait until that
future becomes a little more present. In the meantime, I hope our Cuban friends
,will acknowledge that old Latin-AmerXcan complaint against us is now out of date,
The complaint is that we are indifferent to our neighbors. In fact, we are
vitally and intimately interested in them, as we hope they are in us.
Good evening.
Approved For Release 2004/05/13 CIA-RDP91-00965R000200210002-4