CASTRO ASSUMES FULL CONTROL

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

CASTRO ASSUMES FULL CONTROL

Cuban President Resigns

(N.Z Press Association—Copungnt) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) HAVANA, July 19. Dr. Fidel Castro’s revolutionary Cuban Government last night rejected his resignation as Premier and left him in supreme command Cuba after the first major political crisis of his regime. Csihin?! 6 aan ? ancei ncnt of the rejection came after had with the bearded on w ? thdraw th « resignation he had tendered ? T " „5i d y J n * a “ ov ® that put President Manuel Lrrutia out of office and into seclusion. » « up r ®j®®tiug the resignation the Ministers made functions aPPCa Or r ’ astro to continue his official The Cabinet appointed Dr. Oswaldo Dorticos, Minister in charge of the new revolutionary laws, as President in place of Dr. Urrutia, whom Castro had personally chosen as Chief of State.

The 32-year-old Castro began his campaign on Friday to get rid of Urrutia by announcing his own resignation.

Dr. Dorticos made a public appeal to Dr. Castro to stay in the Government. The Cabinet pledged support to him and refused to accept his resignation, American Associated Press said. In a four-hour television broadcast on Friday, Dr. Castro, said Dr. Urrutia had delayed the signing of new revolutionary laws and had tried to make it appear that he (Castro) was a Communist.

Dr Urrutia, a quiet, 58-year-old former judge, whom Castro brought back from exile to become President, was watching in the Presidential Palace and, in spite of earlier denials that he intends to resign, sent immediate notice that he would step down. The television announcer interrupted Dr. Castro’s speech to announce the news and Dr. Castro commented that it would “solve problems.” An emergency meeting of the Cabinet was hastily called, and appointed Dr Dorticos, as Dr Urrutia’s successor. Dr. Urrutia called on Dr. Castro’s brother, Raoul, the chief of the Armed Forces, to provide a guard to take him and his family home and keep them safe He said he would not leave Cuba. Dr. ’ Dorticos was sworn in as President shortly after midnight on the north terrace of the Palace, before a large crowd which had gathered to demand Dr. Urrutia’s resignation. The crowd dispersed quietly.