TROOPS IN CUBA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 3

TROOPS IN CUBA

Removal Call

(N.Z.P A.-Rsuter—Copvright) LOS ANGELES, February 14. The United States .Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) last night called for the early withdrawal of Soviet troops from Cuba. He said the troops "poison the atmosphere and increase the dangera.”

Both Russian and Cuban officials must recognise the peril of this situation and the sooner this source of potential trouble was eliminated, the better for everyone concerned, he said.

He reiterated that the United States was “reasonably certain” that the Soviet union had withdrawn all the offensive weapons it had introduced into Cuba. But Mr Ruak acknowledged that it was impoaaible to “be absolutely certain" that none remained, in the absence of on-the-spot inspection. The Administration did not believe Cuba represented serious military threat to the United States or its neighbours. He pledged that the armed forces of the United Statees and ite neighbours in the hemisphere would insure that arms in Cuba would not be used outside Cuba. United Press International said that Mr Ruak devoted about half of his speech to arguing that French resistance would not prevent further development of European and NATO, unity. He acknowledged that ft was natural that the European countries should want a greater role in world strategy, as well as Continental defence arrangements. He said such plans could be worked out without endangering the structure of the all iaw President de Gaulle’s rejection of Britain's bid tor Common Market membership was an "interruption in the process of unity’ r and a "disappointment,” Mr Ruck said. “But it has not, as some commentators have dramatically asserted, left Atlantis policy in shambles.” He said that the “main line” of United States policy had become more than ever valid and urgent