Calls For Inquiry On Cuban Missiles

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30050, 7 February 1963, Page 15

Calls For Inquiry On Cuban Missiles

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

WASHINGTON, February 6. The Senate Republican leader, Senator Everett Dirksen (Illinois) said yesterday he had received information supjiorting a charge by another Republican that Soviet offensive missiles still remained in Cuba.

A Congressman, Mr Donald Bruce, claimed yesterday that "highly-placed officials in Cuba from several Western Powers friendly to the United States” had counted 82 to 88 offensive missiles being unloaded from Soviet ships. Since 42 had been subsequently withdrawn, this meant that 40 or more remained. Senator Dirksen told reporters today that his information. with one 'light difference in the number of missiles, matched that of Mr Bruce. The Defence Department spokesman today said that Mr Bruce's claims were incorrect.

Calls for an investigation of how much the United States knows about what is going on in Cuba arose in both Houses of the United States Congress yesterday. Members grew increasingly edgy over charges that the Soviet military threat in the island is more dangerous than the Kennedy Administration admits, the Associated Press reported. In the Senate, the assistant Democratic leader (Senator Hubert Humphrey, of Minnesota) called a press conference to urge a public Congressional inquiry at which the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, among others, would be questioned Although Senator Humphrey implied he believed President Kennedy favoured public hearings on the controversy. the White House kept hands off, the Associated Press said. The President’s press secretary. Mr Pierre Salinger, said that as far as he knew, Mr Kennedy had not expressed himself on the matter. Senator Humphrey told reporters he thought there should be public testimony from the C.I.A. director, Mr John A. McCone, among others.

“Candour is required in this situation,” Senator Humphrey said. “We should have open sessions on these matters. There isn’t any information that is going to be kept secret anyway. The worst thing that can be done is to create doubt and suspicion.” In the House, a brief but sharp debate broke out over Republican criticism of Administration policies Mr William Minshall (Republican. Ohio), proposed a joint Congressional investigation into all Federal intelligence agencies

Mr Samuel Stratton (Democrat. New York), accused Senator Kenneth Keating (Republican. New York) of talking through his hat when hi said the Russians were maintaining missile bases in Cuba.

Mr Stratton accused Senator Keating of “Disgraceful irresponsibility” in pretending. as Mr Stratton put it, to know more about Cuba than the United States Defence Department

Senator Keating replied that "the situation in Cuba is extremely critical and is becoming more so every day " Mr Stratton is a member of the House Armed Services' Committee, which has been hearing secret testimony by the Secretary of Defence (Mr McNamara) One committee member, who asked to remain anonymous, told a reporter that Mr McNamara was angry at "irresponsible and disgraceful" charges that the Russians had built up an arsenal of offensive weapons in Cuba Mr McNamara has said there probably are several types of defensive missiles in the island, but he contends they are not a threat to the United States. The White House said the situation had not changed since the President's last press conference on January 24.