U.S. “Get-Tough ” Policy In Cuba Predicted

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 13

U.S. “Get-Tough ” Policy In Cuba Predicted

(N.Z. Press Association—Ccfiyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) HAVANA, June 23. Testimony by the Secretary of State, Mr Christian Herter, in Washington today on sugar quotas caused Havana observers to predict a “get-tough” American policy towards Dr. Fidel Castro’s regime. The shift from an attitude of patience in dealing with Dr. Castro, prompted quick cries of economic aggression from the Havana press, which is Government-controlled. “Economic aggression urged by Herter against Cuba,” said a headline in “Prensa Libre.” The strongly anti-LJnited States “La Calle” used a triple headline saying: “Aggression against Cuba discussed at secret session.”

There was no immediate comment from any official sources

Mr Herter told the House Agriculture Committee that the United States should “reduce the dependence of its consumers on Cuban sugar, the supply of which may become increasingly uncertain.” The Secretary of State said there were indications that Cuban sugar produc'ion would decline as a result of Dr. Castro’s land reform programme. He also cited increasingly large sales of Cuban sugar to Soviet bloc countries and Communist China.

Mr Herter urged that the President be given authority—when Congress was not in session—to adjust the sugar quotas of suppliers of the American market.

The committee chairman. Mr Harold Coolev (Democrat. Indiana), later forecast that his group would approve a new sugar bill along the lines suggested by Mr Herter.

Sugar experts In Cuba generally supported Mr Herter’s evaluation of the crop situation, although Government officials have

claimed that nationalisation of the giant Cuban sugar industry would result in a boost in production American Associated Press said

American specialists have predicted that lack of proper care of cmefields taken over by the Government and turned into co-opera-tives could cut the sugar yield by two million tons within two years Government sources yesterday forecast a 1960 crop of 6.229.028 tons. The yield was slightly below that of 1959, when the sugar crop turned out by mid-June was 6,280.436 tons.

Cuba for many years has enjoyed hie largest share of the United States market allowed any foreign country. Currently it supplies 3.110.000 short tons of the United States market’s estimated total annual needs of 9.400.000 short tons. Many American agricultural and industrial leaders in Cuba have long been clamouring for a change in the official American policy toward Cuba because of the seizure of more than a third o f the estimated 1000 million dollar American investment in Cuba