AIRLIFT TO U.S.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 13

AIRLIFT TO U.S.

Cuba plans end (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 1. Cuba had informed ’he United States that it intended to terminate the airlift that had brought almost a quarter of a million Cuban refugees from Havana to Florida since 1965, the State Department announced yesterday. The Cuban Government had indicated that it would have a final list of 1000 names to be submitted for the approval of the United States Government.

There are 33,000 Cubans who have been approved by both governments to make the flights but who have not vet left for the United States. Officials did not know how many of the 33,000 would be allowed to leave in the airlift, in addition to the 1000 on the final list. There are about 100,060 Cubans registered as wanting to join theirfamilies in the United States but who still remain in Cuba.

Officials said the Cuban Government had given no reason for its decision to terminate the airlift. The airlift, which flew twice a day five days a week, began on December 1, 1965, about three weeks after Cuba and the United States agreed to arrange it. About 246,000 Cubans have come to the United States on these flights.

The State Department spokesman. Mr Robert McCloskey said that the Cuban Government, generally speaking, had lived up to the understanding it had reached with the United States, although the State Department regretted the decision to end the airlift.