SOVIET FORCE IN CUBA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 15

SOVIET FORCE IN CUBA

‘Several Thousand’ Troops To Leave

( N ■ZJ’A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 20. A number of empty Soviet merchant ships now on the way to Cuba might be used to withdraw several thousand Russian troops from the island, United States officials said today. The Soviet Government’s intention to withdraw part of its force of 17,000 troops and technicians in Cuba by March 15 was first reported yesterday by diplomatic sources. The sources said this information was given to the State Department in a Note delivered by the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Dobrynin) during a meeting with the Secretary of State (Mr Rusk).

News of the Soviet ship movements was believed to have been given to Congressmen by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (Mr John McCone) and United States officials said they could conceivably be used to carry out the withdrawal.

Several Congressmen, including some who were secretly briefed' on Cuban developments by President Kennedy on Monday night pointed out that the withdrawal was only a partial one.

Dirksen, said last night that “there is no indication in the Dobrynin message of how many troops, or what kind, will be withdrawn, or when.” Official United States estimates have reported some 17.000 Russian troops and technicians in Cuba, including 5000 and 6000 combat troops. The diplomatic sources who first reported the Soviet troop withdrawal plans said, however, that the Russian Note mentioned “several thousand” troops. The sources added that there had been “no deal” of any kind between Moscow and Washington before the Soviet Union gave its promise. Mr Khrushchev told President Kennedy after the Cuban crisis that troops would be withdrawn “in due course.” President Kennedy had since been exerting pressure on Moscow to bring this about, observers ‘ said. The sources said it was assumed they would be combat forces as it was the presence of these troops in Cuba that had raised the strongest objections in Washington.

The Democratic chairman of the Senate Preparedness Committee, Senator John Stennis, confirmed that President Kennedy told Monday night’s conference of the Soviet decision to withdraw several thousand troops soon The Soviet decision would probably take President Kennedy off a political hot spot, observers said today That was a major reason why the President was believed to have been anxious to inform Congressional leaders of both parties of the Soviet communication. Reuter reported. _ Mounting Republican attacks on the President’s foreign policy had centred on the presence of the troops in the Caribbean island and

the alleged “threat” they posed. The President was obviously concerned and irritated by the intensity of the Republican criticism. The President and Mr Rusk had exerted diplomatic pressure on Moscow to put into effect the agreement to withdraw

Although the Soviet message was seen as likely to remove much of the immediate Republican crititism for the Administration, some observers predicted more charges that the President had made a secret “dgal” with Mr Khrushchev in return for a pledg that the United States would hot invade Cuba. Such charges have been made in the last few weeks, but have been strongly denied by Administration spokesmen.

The Republican leader in the Senate, Senator Everett

S. Rhodesian Hanging Bill

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SALISBURY, February 19.

The Southern Rhodesian Minister of Justice (Mr Clifford Dupont) today modified the bill providing for a mandatory hanging sentence in convictions for the petrol bombing of residential buildings, the British United Press reported Speaking on the second reading, Mr Dupont said the Government had inserted a section in the bill allowing judges to impose alternative sentences on juveniles and pregnant women. This amendment follows recent protests by the Bar Association of Southern Rhodesia and church and women’s groups.