Kennedy Reassures His U.S. And Soviet Critics On Cuba

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29928, 15 September 1962, Page 11

Kennedy Reassures His U.S. And Soviet Critics On Cuba

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 11. President Kennedy assured the American people yesterday that the United States could easily crush Cuba, in spite of its Soviet arms build-up, and would do so if provoked.

But the President, speaking on a nation-wide television press conference, sought to calm both those calling for a United States invasion of Cuba and Communist spokesmen, who, he said, were talking of war. He said that "rash talk is cheap, particularly on the part of those who do not have the responsibility.” The President, saying he wanted to put the Cuban dilemma into perspective, observed that military intervention by the United States in face of the Communist build-up in Cuba could not currently be either required or justified. "Loose talk about such action in this country might serve to give a thin colour of legitimacy to the Communist pretence that such a threat exists,” he said. But, after repeating his belief that the presence of an estimated 3500 Soviet technicians in Cuba and defensive military material did not pose a threat to American security, the President went on to assure the American people that the Government would act swiftly if a threat did develop. The Soviet arms build-up there would not change the result. With an obvious appeal to political critics in this country who have been demanding direct United States intervention, the President said he hoped the future record would show that “the only people talking about a war and invasion at this time are the Communist spokesmen in Moscow and Havana, and that the American people, defending as we do much of the free world, will in this nuclear age. as they have in the past, keep both their nerve and their head.” The President carefully listed tho=e eventualities which might nersuade the United States Government to change its attitude against direct action. He said: “If at any time the Communist build-up in Cuba were to endanger or interfere

with our security in any way, including our base at Guantanamo (at the southeast tip of Cuba) our passage to the Panama Canal, our missile and space activities at Cape Canaveral, or the lives of American citizens in .this country, or if Cuba should ever attempt to force its aggressive purposes by force or the threat of force against any nation in this hemisphere, or become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the Soviet Union, then this country will do whatever must be done to protect its own security and that of its allies." The President ’ intimated that the United States would lay certain proposals before the Latin American Foreign Ministers later this month or early next month. He made an appeal to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies whose vessels are said to be engaged ir. trade with Cuba and said: “Our friends in NATO must realise the implications of their ships engaging in the Cuban trade.” He said the Government would continue to work with Cuban refugee leaders and would increase its surveillance of the whole Caribbean area. “We shall neither initiate nor permit aggression in this hemisphere.” he said.

shortly after the Senate had • approved his request for authority to call up 150,000 reservists if necessary. Cuba was the main topic at the press conference and Mr Kennedy raised it himself by reading a lengthy statement. Other topics were: , U-2 Aircraft.— “ Export licences (for U-2 reconnaissance planes to Nationalist China) were given ... in July of 1960 and the planes were sold to the Nationalist Chinese Government and we’ have no plans to sell any further ones or gran. any other export licences," he said. « Nuclear Testa.—The remaining United States highaltitude nuclear tests in the Pacific would be conducted at a lower height than previously and would have a lower radioactive yield. He said the United States didnot want to enanger future space flights. The tests later this month or early in October would include a few blasts in the atmosphere as well as three high-altitude explosions. Racial Trouble.— The burning of churches by racial demonstrators in south States - was “cowardly and most outrageous.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation was* busy on the case, and he predicted that those involved • would be brought before a jury and appropriately dealt with. He also celled deplorable a recent shooting in Missis - • sippi ot two young people. “invotoved in an effort toregister people” to vote. The Government would do , all in its power to assure the basic right to vote to all people, he said, "and if it requires extra legislation and extra force, we shall do that” He did not elaborate.

The President said the Castro regime was isolated in the hemisphere, condemned by the Organisation of American States, excluded from the Inter-American Defence Board and kept out of the free trade organisation. Industries were stagnating, harvests were declining and Dr. Castro’s own supporters were seeing the promise of the revolution betrayed. It was not surprising, the President said, that Dr. Castro was raising the threat of an American intervention. He had made a “monumental mismanagement” of the economy. The President spoke

Brothels To Close.—Prostitution will be prohibited in Portugal and the existing brothers closed as front 1 January 1. 1983.—Lisbon, Sep- ‘ tember 14.