Alleged U.S. Plan To Attack Cuba

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 15

Alleged U.S. Plan To Attack Cuba

(N.Z. Press Association—tjtwy ria nt > KEY WEST, April 26. A prisoner interrogated on a Havana television programme last night said that United States intelligence agents told him the United States would intervene in Cuba if last week’s invasion failed.

The man, described by the station as a captive from the ill-fated invasion nine days ago, said Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency officials told him that direct intervention in Cuba was necessary because Soviet rocket bases had been established on the island, only 90 miles from Florida. The prisoner’s name was picked up by monitors in Key West only as “Pablo.” He said the statements were made to him by a man named Gomas, whom he called an aide to the C.I.A director (Mr Allen Dulles) and Mr Francis Ryan, described by Pablo as second in command of the FBI. in New York. C.I.A. agents were with the invasion force and the invaders had instructions to shoot themselves if in danger of capture because Dr Fidel Castro’s men would "pul! out our nails” Pablo said he had been sunplied with cyanide poison pills but “I was amazed at the good treatment we received after capture.” In Washington, the White House said that the United States was considering a total trade embargo against Cuba, but no decision had yet been reached. The White House press secretary (Mr Pierre Salinger) said that a discussion of a total trade embargo of United States trade' with Cuba had been going on for some time.

Mr Salinger said the United States had already placed curbs on its exports to Cuba and was making only limited shipments . of

food supplies and medicines Asked if there had been any talk of a blockade to prevent goods from other countries from reaching Cuba, Mr Salinger replied: “Not that I know of.” Eighty-six persons, many of them Cuban refugees, reached Miami last night to what news agencies described as a “reunion with loved ones.” But the lips of most were “sealed by fear,” said reporters who met the Cubans on arrival. Earlier. 17 persons were taken to Havana in the first United States commercial flight from Miami to Cuba since last week's invasion. A reporter said that a large majority of last night’s arrivals were Cuban nationals “They appeared deathly afraid to be seen talking to American reporters.” he said One woman, who pushed her way through a group of reporters, said: “It is horrible It is horrible." A Cuban who greeted the woman said: “They are afraid to give you their names, they are afraid Communist spies might see them and send word to Cuba These people have relatives there—some of them in prison."

The Soviet Union poured thousands of tons of supplies into Cuba today to meet growing shortages. An official broadcast monitored in Miami said that at least three Communist shipments had reached Havana in the last 24 hours. No war material was mentioned but the broadcast referred to oil. trucks, tractors, jeeps, and •‘industrial equipment” among the items received in quantity. The largest of the three

shipments was 30.000 tons landed at Havana today. The shipments evidently left Europe before last week’s abortive invasion, but it was thought possible the Soviet Union might have diverted some cargoes to Cuba to bolster Cuba’s sagging morale caused by growing shortages. United Press International said. Havana Radio in the hours immediately before last Monday’s invasion had been warning Cubans of increased rationing because of the “imperialist economic blockade"