U.S, ‘Understanding9 With Cuba

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31921, 24 February 1969, Page 17

U.S, ‘Understanding 9 With Cuba

(From FRANZ OLIVER, N.Z.P.A. special correspondent) WASHINGTON.

It has gone relatively unnoticed that for the first time in 10 years Washington has reached an “understanding” with Castro’s Cuba. This had to do with plane hijackings which, since the turn of the year, have been happening at the rate of one every 72 hours.

Now comes a long and thoughtful report from Havana to the ‘‘Wall Street Journal” saying that some people there see the possibility of Havana restoring diplomatic and trade ties. This is a bold statement to make in view of the violent denunciations of Castro and his Government which have been almost daily newspaper fare In the United States since Castro seized power a decade ago. But, says the Havana dispatch, written by a staff correspondent and a special correspondent of the journal, “the stage Is suddenly and quietly being set here for a possible effort to restore diplomatic and trade relations between the United States and Cuba.” Soviet Initiative The initiative, the correspondents say, is coming partly from the Soviet Union, whose Influence and prestige in Havana have take an up-

ward turn. Joining the Russians in this effort ate said to be some key Latin American leaders. The dispatch also adds that the sharp increase in the hijacking of planes has put pressure on Washington to seek discussions with the Castro Government. If these reports prove to be justified, then this would be about the biggest piece of “spin-off" over known. “Spinoff" is a new addition to the American vocabularly meaning that by taking a certain course or engaging in a certain project unexpected dividends accrue. They "spin-off" unexpectedly / from the main project. The new “understanding” with Cuba was worked out through the Swiss authorities in Havana, where the Swiss look after American interests during non-re-cognition. Under it hijacked airliners are permited to return to Miami direct from the Havana airport with their passengers, less of course the hijacker or hijackers. This system does away with the previous necessity of taking passengers by bus 83 miles to another airport where they have been picked up by propeller driven aircraft sent specially to fetch them. Cost Of Visit

This bit of transport, as well as charges for feeding passengers or putting them up overnight, has meant a great deal of expense to American and other airlines. (For instance the carriers have been charged as much as $l4 for a single meal for each passenger.) Now about the only expense involved will be the cost of fuel for the round trip flight from the Miami area to Havana. Discussions with Cuba, through the Swiss, are reported to be continuing. The next step the United States would like to see taken is for the hijackers to be returned with the passengers to face trial for sky-piracy. A report from Montreal says the International Civil Aviation Organisation of the United Nations is attempting to reach an extradition agreement that would provide for the return of hijackers for prosecution. Cuba is a member of that organisation but is not attending the Montreal meeting.

However, the hope is that if an agreement is reached then Cuba will sign it with other nations.

Best Deterrent

The threat of prosecution in the United States with the prospect of imprisonment for 20 years or life, would, it is felt, be the best deterrent to this business of getting a free ride to Cuba on a hijacked plane. Some observers feel that if Cuba did sign an extradition agreement, if one is reached in Montreal, this might be one step towards a return to diplomatic and trade relations between the United States and Cuba.

The Havana report says the attitudes of both Washington and Havana on this matter are far from clear, but adds that there have been signs recently that a break-through is a possibility. There is, of course, a long way to go. There have been 10 years of bitterness because of Castro expropriating American property, the riposte of a United States trade embargo, the missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Straws In Wind Straws in the wind noted by the correspondents of the “Wall Street Journal” include a secret message from Moscow to “a Western nation” that might mediate between Washington and Havana, the temperate tone of Castro’s tenth anniversary speech early in January, the recent comment of Senator Mike Mansfield that resumed rela-

tions with Havana was a possibility, the "understanding" about hijacked planes being permitted to return at once with their passengers, hints by Cuban officials to visiting foreign journalists in Havana that Cuba might be willing to seek a rapprochement with the United States, and a public statement by the head of the O.A.S. suggesting that Cuba be welcomed back into that organisation from which it was expelled in 1962. Maybe these straws would not make many bricks but it Is noted that they are a distinct change from the pessimistic outlook that has marked the “Cuban problem” al) these years. It is also added in the journal that in recent weeks Cuban officials hav inquired of visiting journalists whether the Nixon Administration is ready for a new policy towards Cuba.

It is fully expected by those who might be called Cubawatchers that the road to rapprochment is a long one and that Castro’s price for resumption of diplomatic and trade relations would be high. The Havana dispatch suggests two demands might well be an end to the Vietnam war and an indication

that the United States would withdraw from Guantanamo, the American naval base on Cuba’s south coast.

U.S. Conditions

Another suggestion is that the United States would want certain important conditions fulfilled such as an end to Cuba's efforts to foment Communist revolution in various parts of Latin America and a complete end to Russia's military presence on the island. About six months ago Dr Castro made one of his famous marathon speeches in which he said he had no interest in bettering relations with the United States, that be was not interested in a renewal of economic relations, and still less in diplomatic relations. Now, the dispatch from Havana says, when Cuban officials are asked if it is foolish to expect better relations between Washington and Havana they reply that “there is nothing foolish in international relations.” In any event while things are not good they certainly seem to be slightly better than they were and the new “understanding” about hi. jacked planes is regarded as a real step forward.