No. 101

SUBJECT

Santiago de Cuba, May 21,1958.

Agitation Against Americans at Guantanamo and other Cuban Issues Connected with Nixon Visit [2]

Local Communists are attempting to connect the recent events involving Vice President Nixon with agitation against the U.S. Naval Operating Base at Guantanamo and local issues. On May 16 the Provincial Committee of the Partido Socialista Popular issued a mimeographed circular[3] calling for the "Yankees" to leave Caimanera, which was listed as one of the bases where troops were readied to "invade" friendly countries.

The communist circular stated that the Vice President's trip had been to the accompaniment of a symphony of whistles and insults as an expression of the deep resentment for the U.S. having imposed dictators, increased tariffs, and impeded free trade. It says that the mobilization of troops for invasion of Venezuela was hypocritically disguised as an offer to collaborate with Venezuela which had not been requested by Venezuela. Now we know, it says, what inspires the releases of the (Cuban) General Staff when it lies in each line it publishes. "Like father, like son" is the comparison drawn between the U.S. Armed Forces and the Cuban Armed Forces.

It also blames the Yankees for perpetuating Batista in power because they prevent the unity necessary in Cuba in order to throw him out. It calls on the Cubans to imitate sister states in uniting even against the "imperialist will".

The only other editorial comment on the Vice President's visit was that of Libertad, owned by the notorious Senator Rolando Masferrer. It also followed the line that a mistake had been made in alerting U.S. troops. The editorial expressed the hope that the United States would become more aware of the dangers of communism in Latin America as a result of the regrettable incident. The very pro-government Masferrer publication is the only one which currently carries editorial material. All newspapers have, however, carried wire service accounts and comments from Washington.

A number of individuals have expressed regret that such a terrible thing should happen on the basis that it reflects on all of Latin America. While the pro-government comments are entirely on the basis of the menace of communism, the anti-Batista groups are hopeful that the incidents will bring about a new policy toward Latin American dictators and Batista in particular, according to the voluntary comments so far.

The Communist comment on the lack of unity in getting rid of Batista and the call for Cuban unity despite imperialist efforts to prevent it might be interpreted as an indication that the Communists or at least the PSP on the Oriente Provincial level have not had their cooperation fully accepted by other opposition groups.

Park E Wollam

NOTES:

1. Source: epartment of State, Central Files, 611.37/5-2158. Confidential. Copies

were sent to ARA/MID, the Embassy in Havana, and the U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer, Guantanamo.

2. Documentation on Vice President Nixon's trip to several South American countries is scheduled for publication in volume V.

3. Attached but not printed.