Subject:
Communist Influence in Cuba
Participants:Ambassador
Concheso, Cuban Ambassador
Mr.
Wellman, MID
Mr.
Wellman referred to the adverse publicity which the Batista Government
had received in Newsweek as a result of the election of five communists
to the directorate of the Tobacco Workers Federation. He told the Ambassador
that the political opposition to President Batista had alleged that there
are communists in the Cuban Government and that it is under communist
influence. He told the Ambassador that this had provoked inquiries from
members of the United States Congress, in reply to which the Department
had pointed out the evidence of anti-communist attitude and activity of
the Cuban Government.
The
Ambassador expressed interest in the publicity in Newsweek. He commented
that the sindical elections under Batista are free, whereas there was a
totalitarian control of labor unions under the Autenticos.
The
Ambassador said that he would explore while in Cuba the possibility
of promulgation of the anti?communist law which has been under consideration.
He recalled that he had obtained from the Department copies of United States
legislation and expressed the opinion that it could not serve as a pattern
for Cuba. He observed that it would be necessary under Cuban law to identify
("typify") the activity or affiliation and not be sufficient to stipulate
that it is illegal to plot the overthrow of the government by force or
violence. The Ambassador said that he had sent to the Cuban Government
a draft project of law which he had prepared. He expressed the opinion
that the law could provide that a communist could not be a member or officer
of a labor union. He declared that there would be more difficulty in eliminating
communists from education, particularly from teaching in the public schools.
He said that while many communists in the field of education are well known,
e.g. Marinello,[1] others are not known. He also observed that an
attempt to have Marinello and other communist teachers dismissed because
they are communists would provoke a mixed reaction. He said that some might
criticize such action as another example of the "Batista tyranny".
The
Ambassador acknowledged that reports of current activity by communists
in positions in the Ministries of Labor and Education should be looked
into. He pointed out, however, that many Cubans who were communists or
affiliated with the communists when relations were good with Russia are
among the strongest anti-communists now.
NOTES:
[1]Apparent
reference to Juan Marinello, President, Partido Socialista Popular (Popular
Socialist Party).