"It is hard not to be disappointed by the initial public response the Cuban
                  officials have made," added State Department spokesman James Rubin at
                  his daily briefing.

                  The United States last week suggested more flights to Cuba, fewer
                  restrictions on remittances, direct mail, limited sales of U.S. food and easier
                  people-to-people contacts. It said it wanted to make life easier for the
                  Cubans, without benefiting the communist government of President Fidel
                  Castro.

                  Cuba's specialist on U.S. relations, Ricardo Alarcon, described the
                  measures as a "desperate manoeuvre" intended to stem the tide of
                  international and domestic opposition to U.S. sanctions against the
                  Caribbean island.

                  "I am sure our entire people are going to reject this new phase of the war on
                  Cuba ... a new attack in the political and ideological sphere," Alarcon said.

                  Rubin said: "We trust that upon reflection the Cuban government will choose
                  to cooperate on these measures where their concurrence is needed."

                  "We will implement these measures ... as soon as the regulations have been
                  issued. We hope the government of Cuba does not impede the workings of
                  these arrangements to the detriment of the people of Cuba," he added.

                  He noted that the Cuban authorities were similarly unenthusiastic when the
                  United States made overtures on flights and remittances last March. "When
                  it came down to specifics, we were able to move forward on much of them,"
                  he added.

                    Copyright 1999 Reuters.