KENNEDY’S DOUBTS ON CUBAN LANDING

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30807, 20 July 1965, Page 17

KENNEDY’S DOUBTS ON CUBAN LANDING

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright > NEW YORK, July 19. President Kennedy almost wept when the abortive Bay of Pigs attempt to invade Cuba failed in April, 1961, according to an adviser to the late President.

An article in “Life” magazine this week, written by a former White House adviser. Professor Arthur Schlesinger, said that Mr Kennedy had serious doubts about going ahead with the invasion. He thought the weakest

link in the plan, which the Central Intelligence Agency director, Allen Dulles, told him about only 12 days after his November, 1960, election, was the theory that the landing would bring mass uprisings against the regime of the Premier, Fidel Castro. Mr Kennedy, according to Professor Schlesinger, “put his head down into his hands and almost sobbed" over the fate of the men of the invasion force when he was informed that the landing had failed. Weil Advanced Mr Kennedy, informed of the invasion plan by Mr Dulles, directed that plans proceed, since they were already well advanced, but with the understanding that this diid not definitely commit him to the operation. He then authorised the C.I.A. to continue on the assumption that the invasion would occur, but he added, carefully and categorically, that the expedition must be laid on in a way which would make it possible for him to call it off as late as 24 hours before D-day. Professor Schlesinger reported that on March 28—20 days before the invasion took place—he asked Mr Kennedy what he thought of the inva-

sion. “I think about it ax little as possible.” be said the President replied. Professor Schlesinger Mid the secrecy surrounding the invasion kept some Government experts from giving Mr Kennedy sound advice because they did not know about the plans. One of these, he said, was Mr Robert Amory, deputy-director of the C.I.A. One reason Mr Kennedy hesitated to call off the invasion, Professor Schlesinger wrote, was the effect it would have on the Cuban exile brigade preparing for the mission. The brigade would be disbanded and its members would disperse, disappointed and resentful, ail over Latin America. Professor Schlesinger’s article was the second in a series of instalments from his forthcoming book. “A Thousand Days—. John F. Kennedy in the White House.”