CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 11

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

“Invasion Plot In U.S.” HAVANA, July 18 The Cuban Foreign Minister (Mr Raul Roa) has alleged that an anti-Castro conspiracy “with official connexions in the United States” is planning to invade Cuba with 6000 mercenaries now in the Dominican Republic. Mr Roa, appearing on television a few hours after returning from Washington, said the official United States link to the alleged conspiracy was not in the State Department, “but in Congress.” He charged that there was. a direct connexion between the alleged invasion plot and the appearance of Major Pedro Luiz Diaz Lanz before the United States Senate Internal Security Sub-committee, headed by Senator James Eastland (Democrat. Mississippi). Major Diaz, who resigned as commander of the Cuban Air Force and fled to the United States, told the committee that the Cuban Prime Minister (Dr Fidel Castro), his brother, Raul and others high in the Cuban Government were Communists. Dr. Castro has denounced Major Diaz as a traitor and a supporter of the former dictator. Fulgencio Batista, whom Castro’s revolution overthrew. Mr Roa told the television audience that the invasion of Cuba was being plotted in Washington by a group of former Batista officials. He said the plotters were working through an anti-Castro organisation in the United States known as the “White Rose,” and various groups in the Dominican Republic. Mr Batista is m exile in the Dominican Republic, where he fled oh New Year’s Day with some of his leading supporters after the successful Castro revolt