Cuban “Half Apology” Calms U.S.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30095, 1 April 1963, Page 15

Cuban “Half Apology” Calms U.S.

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Com/rtglil) WASHINGTON. Mar. 30 Cuba's “half a|>ology” for an attack by two of its MiG jets on a United States freighter c aimed Washington’s angei todav as President Kennedy considered measures to limit tension in the Caribbean. But general uneasiness remained ovei the rising spiral ol shooting incidents bx anti-Castro as well as Castro forces. British officials said the United States and Britain were consulting on ways of preventing anti-Castro commandos using isolated uninhabited Islands in the British Bahamas Cuba's statement ‘hat the air attack on the United S ates freighter Fh'ridian on Thursday was probably an error is being regarded m some quarters as a bid by the Castro Government to block possible United States retaliation The State Department has called for a •full explanation" of the incident The 4680-ton Floridian arrived at Miami today with an escort of United Sta’es iet fighters Her master told reporters the MiGs circled the ship m international waters ofi Cuba for abou* 20 minutes before firing About 15 to 30 explosive shells were fired arrow her bow a: less than 100 vards. he said The State Department said Cuba had »old it in a message that ’here had been “no intention on the part of the

Cuban Government to shoot at the Floridian ’’ But the department spokesman said the Cubans had to explain why the MiGs were approaching a ship which on Cuba’s own admission was in international waters President Kennedy summoned a meeting of the executive committee of the National Security Council to discuss ’he fresh tension over Cuba The State Department said the Cuban Government had sent a message through diplomatic channels that a ship flying the United States flag had been sighted off the Cuban coast and was "a suspect boat ”

This message asked if the United States flag was legitimate, and added that a Cuban Naval vessel had been ordered to the spot In a second message, after the State Department announced the firing on the Floridian last night, Cuba said it presumed the boat sighted by Cuban planes was the same as the one mentioned by the State Department “The Cuban Government in, the second message added that the MiGs probably fired in error and that there had been no mention on the part of the Cuban Government to shoot at the Floridian, the department said.