TRACTORS FOR PRISONERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64B00346R000200140066-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: May 29, 1961
• Content Type: OPEN

wwhole._crnte of aspirin blackmail I believe the sinnids should he
swap was supposed to put President Ken- (liberalyandttofteni c iti al of Unit daSt tes;
nedy behind the eight ball in Castro's con- a leading daily) : "The totalitarian cynicism
tinuing propaganda battle against the has exceeded all limits with two facts that
United States and "Yankee imperialists. revolt the conscience of all decent men: the
Argentina is an example of how Castro's first is the sordid valuation of human life
machinery-for-a-human life thinking is made by Castro in offering to trade the pris-
backfiring against him. oners for tractors * * * the mockery is de-
The Castro proposal has been bitterly de- basing to the Cuban people and to the one
nounced almost unanimously in Buenos who made it."
Aires, where President Arturo Frondizi has Nicaragua: La Prensa, Managua (moder-
shown a marked reluctance to take a firm ately conservative, a leading daily) : "It is
stand against Castro's Communist regime. awful to know that in this America of ours,
In a front-page editorial, the influential so far removed In time and space from the
Correo de la Tarde newspaper called the Cas- Saracen coast, first to emancipate the slaves
tro plan a barbarity. and first to claim all the freedoms, slavery
"For human dignity, if not for political has now established itself at a level much
pr ideological reasons, Fidel Castro's terror more materialistic and commercial than
should be driven from the continent," the that known by the Babylonians, Assyrians,
stinging editorial declared, Phoenicians, Greeks or Romans."
"If any further proof were needed of his Panama: El Pals, Panama City (moder-
low estate, of his cruelty, it has been fur- ately liberal, a leading daily) : "No one with
wished now by Castro. One thousand Cubans a particle of respect for his own nationality
are worth only 500 tractors to the govern- could think of selling his countrymen for
spent now ruling in the Island." tools. It is paradoxical that the 'a
The editorial also criticized President should be the ones outdoing themselves to
Frondizi for not taking stronger action on collect funds with which to save the lives
the Cuban problem. of the Cuban citizens who are persecuted in
Correo tie la Tarde also rounded up this their own country."
sampling of opinion in the Argentine capital: Peru: Ultima Hors, (a leading daily, mod-
Jorge W. Ferreira, secretary of the majority erately conservative) : "The proposal shows
group of congressmen in President Frondizi's the false apostle In his true light. It shows
radical Intransigent Civic Union
t
par
y, him to be the vilest huckster among the
termed .the exchange "inadmissible." He agents of Soviet imperialism. As if it were
added that "the human rights consecrated not enough that he has tried to sell his coun-
by the United Nations charter appear to be try to the Moscow hierarchs, he now makes
irreconcilable with the Cuban Government's his cynical offer to trade patriots for trac-
l3~'9T~__
-ppening in 'one thing should have become clear * *
mss- Pl~ia~a Cuba shows contempt for freedom and the the Fidel Castro regime has reached a de-
tli?111ty of the human person
n .aN~a union leader, Juan Carlos Brunetti, volts human understanding." EXTENSION OF REMARKS said Castro's proposal "shows the infamy of Venezuela: El Mundo, Caracas (leftist
of the Communist regime and will open the eyes liberal
Often
iti
,
cr
cal of United States)
of those who believe in freedom." "With this offer to trade men for trucks
LION. DANTE B. FASCELL So it is. In Argentina. Reaction is similar (sic), in addition to the policy of the firing
of yp,ORIVA throughout Latin America. Even in Brazil, squad, Fidel Castro has enthroned antihu-
IN THE ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES where President Janio Quadros is holding manism in, America." (Note: a direct slap
firm with Castro, sentiment against the at Fidel's claim of "humanismo" for his rev-
Monday, May 29. 1961 Castro dictatorship is het- fanned h w_
--- -~? ,- -~??? ~? rr acuiugyon vOst, May ,26, 19611 today, still lacked a firm commitment on the
United States over Fidel Castro's trac- LATINS CRITICAL OF CASTRO'S PW-TRACTOR tractors _for prisoners excfinge plan.
tors for prisoners exchange, it is now SWAP Unconfirmed reports circulated that the
be:Qming apparent that Fidel Castro's Latin American editorial reaction to Fidel prisoners may seek an extension of their 1-
disdain for human life has aroused bit- Castro's "Tractors for Prisoners" exchange week parole in the United States, United
ter resentment and criticism through- has been generally critical. Here are some Press International reported. But the pris-
ter Latin America. It would seem that examples: oners, who have pledged to return, had no
this latest blunder Qf his will go a long Argentina: La Capital, Rosario (moder- comment.
way in neutralizing some of the sym- ately liberal; a leading provincial daily) : The fund-raising committee, which is
pathy which be had some t a s m- "The Incredible proposition has again shak- leader headed Walter Reuther MrEleanor
and Roos Milton lsen-
as en world bol 1'h some Latin cQuntries. This Latin utilit the free
m, free ofianyi humanafeeling and hower, planned send several re eprese ta-
revulsion Castro is certainly timely Brazil: Diario Carioca, Rio de Janeiro (lib- tives with the pr risoners to obtain precise
precise
and necessary. The incident serves to
eral; a leading daily) : 'The ransom opera- technical information from Castro about the
dramatically demonstrate to the Latins tin now being negotiated. in Washington types of equipment he wants.
revW
that Castro is not the symbol of the nature Jos all its hideousness the inhuman
revolution they seek; that the American natO: El ure of the Cuban revolution."
revolution is the true revolution, and lib Tral;;nbcounttr~ sp second Blarge t ( circula-
that under our system they can achieve tlQU) : "Even though the exchange has been
the social and political freedoms for suggested in terms that shame humanity,
which they strive. we believe that it should be accepted."
I commend the following articles CO Costa Rica: La Republica, San Jose (Costa
my colleagues as examples of the new Rica's trading liberal daily) : "Fidel Castro
trend which Castro has started among that brought the into a ti on the most st notable a
the Latins: characteristic of the North American people,
[From the News, May 24, 1961] generosity. This has always been the error
TRACTOATRADP STIRS LATIN? of the Communists, they work on numbers
(By Hal He f oved For R ie/"y:1,th~l eR '?4800346R000200140066-7
Cuban dictator Fidel Cas r s tractors-for- Ecuador: El Telegrafo, Guayaquil (liberal;
prisoners barter deal appears to be causing influential) : "Even though this is a filthy j