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Castro Declares Cuba Now Socialist State

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) HAVANA, May 2. The Cuban Prime Minister, Dr. Fidel Castro, said last night that a United States attack on “Socialist” Cuba would start a third World War which “could convert New York City into another Hiroshima”

Havana Radio yesterday broadcast a May Day proclar.ation by Dr. Castro signalling the “birth of a patriotic and Socialist revolution.” United Press International said this resolution in effect declared Cuba a Communist State. “Let this celebration by the workers of our country open a new chapter in the history of our people and in the history of the peoples of America,’ the proclamation said.

The statement, signed bojh by Dr. Castro and President Dortieos, said: “Our deeds have signalled to the world the birth of a patriotic democratic and Socialist revolution.”

The proclamation said Cuba was entering “the era of Socialist construction." It hailed support for Cuba from “the powerful Socialist world headed by the great Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China,” The world was urged to “join the cause of Cuba and the free peoples of the world.” Dr. Castro also aimed a double blow at the Roman Catholic Church with an announcement that his Government will take over Cuba’s private schools, mist of which are run by the Church, and a statement that in future only hand-picked foreign priests will be permitted to preach in Cuba, according to United Press International.

Tn a May Day speech lasting three hours and a half. Dr. Castro said his followers would fight to the last man against any United States attack on Cuba He said it would be a “war without prisoners ” Dr. Castro said he did not object to "imperialism" if that is “the type of govern-

ment the United States wants.”

He said, however, that the United States belief that “our Socialist Government” was a threat to America could lead to World War 111.

He said his “people’s Government” is better than elections, drawing a cheer from the crowd.

Earlier. Dr. Castro said his revolution had freed the Cuban people from “parasites at home and abroad.”

Dr. Castro spoke to a crowd estimated by the Government at more than 1.000.000 at the end of a May Day parade that lasted more than 13 hours He started the parade, marching in its front ranks He spent the remainder of the time reviewing it.

"This parade says much about what the revolution has done in two and one half years.” he said. His first reference to the “Socialist revolution” brought a twominute ovation from the crowd.

Dr Castro said it would have been very difficult for Cuba to have solved its problems without a revolution. “Today, they march with pnde and with decision toward the future.” he said of the Cuban people. "The opportunities which they entoy today never before were for the poor. They were restricted to a very small group of rich people." Dr. Castro told the huge, cheering crowd that the working class now held the reins of power in Cuba. He referred to the problems facing Cuba, including ca Hed the threat of North American aggression and said: “I believe that a oeople infused by such infinite enthusiasm is capable . ™PP°rting such trials. we have as much right to complain about the existence °* _, a c^ ltalist - imperialist regime 90 miles from our coast as he (President Kennedy) has to complain about a Socialist regime 90 miles from his coast.” he said The United States Secretary of State (Mr Rusk, appeared before a Senate sub-committee yesterday to defend the Kennedy Administration’s Cuban policies and its role in the ill-fated Cuban rebel invasion. Mr Rusk was the first witness in a closed-door hearing by a Foreign Relations Sub-committee on Latin America.

The sub-committee chairman, Senator Wayne Morse, said the Director of the Centra! Intelligence Agency (Mr Allen Dulles) would be called later in the week Senator Morse promised a thorough review of Administration policies on Cuba, both past and present. Mr Rusk told the sub-com-mittee that the United States

had no plan to intervene militarily in Cuba. Senator Morse told reporters after the three-hour closed-door meeting. Mr Rusk had made it clear “that there is no plan on the part of the Administration to proceed with any American armed intervention in Cuba." he said.

Senator Morse said he would not withdraw his previous criticism of the Administration's handling of the Cuban fiasco, but he praised Mr Rusk for an "exceedingly able, objective, factual and open-breasted statement" about the entire situation. Senator Morse said he felt he was speaking for other Senators present when he said they placed “complete confidence and support in the leadership” of Mr Rusk and President Kennedy. Senator Morse quoted Mr Rusk as saying the invasion decision was made by the Cuban refugees themselves, but that they did have arms, financial and training assistance from the United States

Senator Morse told reporters after the hearing: “What remains Is a continuation of the status quo. But if Cuba should follow an aggressive course of action—speaking hypothetically if it should attack our base at Guantanamo Bay or commit some other military act of aggression against the United States—of course we would defend our interests and our honour.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19610503.2.130

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 15

Word count
Tapeke kupu
876

Castro Declares Cuba Now Socialist State Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 15

Castro Declares Cuba Now Socialist State Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 15

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