Cuba Penalty Sought

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 13

Cuba Penalty Sought

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 19. A keen struggle is' looming within the Organisation of American States as Foreign Ministers prepare for this week’s conference called to impose collective sanctions against Cuba, diplomatic sources said today.

The meeting, opening on Tuesday, is the result of an eight-month effort by Venezuela to get the O.A.S. to punish Cuba for trying to overthrow the Venezuelan Government last year. An O.A.S. investigating committee has confirmed the Venezuelan charges. Diplomatic informants said some punishment was almost certain to be meted out, but the question of how strong the penalties should be could produce the biggest battle within the organisation, since Cuba was ejected from it in 1961.

Nineteen members of the 20 A.O.S. members are sending their Foreign Ministers to the Washington meeting, but the 20th—Mexico—will be represented only by its Ambassador. which diplomats re-

gard as a pointed move. Three different points of view are expected to be set forth during the conference. First, Venezuela, backed by Costa Rica, insists that resolutions be passed requiring all O.A.S. members which have not already done so to sever diplomatic and trade relations as well as all transport and communciations links with Cuba. Mexico and Chile lead a

second group arguing that no compulsory sanctions should be called for. They are supported in varying degrees by Uruguay and Argentina. A third group of nations, including the United States, is promoting a compromise under which some sanctions, especially a ban on trade and on sea communications, would be compulsory. The severance of diplomatic and airline ties would be recommended only. The sources said that this U.S.-supported group probably had the required twothirds majority vote necessary for passage of the compromise proposals. Brazil, it was said, was expected to go along with the middle course, although with some misgivings.