Castro To Take Complete Rest

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 13

Castro To Take Complete Rest

HAVANA, August 2.

All pro-revolutionary Cubans seemed to share a deep concern over the circumstances under which the Cuban Prime Minister, Dr. Fidel Castro, dropped from public sight last week, United Press International reported today.

It was announced yesterday that Dr. Castro, who is 33, was in need of complete rest due to the lingering effects of an illness that still was to be completely identified. Rumours about Dr. Castro’s condition and the possibilities of a change in the leadership of the Cuban -Government continued to sweep the island. 7/ Dr. Castro’s illness was officiary diagnosed as convalescence from a serious pneumonia infectfon. He was first reported to be ill on June 9, and has made '(inly two public appearances sine® Sources quoted by the American Associated Press reported that Dr. Castro had beep persuaded with difficulty that recovering from his illness would be slowed unless he stopped all his work. .7 Cubans were sharply divided on whether the ailment was moderate or more serious than officials would admit, or wether Dr. Castro even was ill it all, U.P.I. said. Many admitted they were not' happy at the prespects of Major Raul CastrqJ tne radical younger brother of A’ne Prime Minister, coming ;to‘ power for any length of time,/ Major Castro, whi) is the Cuban Defence Minister, is Dr. Castro’s chosen successor./ He was expected to take/fermpl charge of the Cabinet softer time this week and to deliver# h(6 brother’s regular television ’address to the nation this Friday, U.P.I. said. Many Cubans considered Major Castro closer; ideologicallyto

Major Ernesto Guevara, the Marxist-oriented head of Cuba’s Controlled economy, than to his brother —particularly in his reputed fondness for the firing squad as a way to deal with his enemies.

The same feeling led opponents of the Castro brothers to express open joy at the possibility .Of Raul’s ascendency over Fidel, even if it should lead to a bloody island-wide purge, U.P.I. said. For they believed that without Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolution would blow apart.