News on Cuba
The Homestead Independent
1965-1968
[Homestead Independent, Homestead, Florida]
THE INDEPENDENT
January 14, 1965
Page 2
IN CUBA
Fidel Castro made a strangely short (only two and one half hours)
speech on the anniversary of his revolution and a strangely "mild"
one. But he paraded land-to-land missiles before the weary eyes
of those who came to see them. The parade too was cut down to a
minimum. Because, as Castro explained, "parades are too
expensive."
COMMENT: So are weapons.
THE INDEPENDENT
February 4, 1965
Page 2
NEWS.....REVIEW....PREVIEW....
IN CUBA
Fidel Castro claimed the capture of one of the more daring resistance
fighters, Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo; he also claimed that Cuban rebels have
been operating, with CIA help, from bases in the Dominican Republic and
Puerto Rico; his principal U.N. diplomat took the charges to the U.N.
Assembly.
THE INDEPENDENT
February 11, 1965
Page 4
CONFUSION IN EXILE
The Cuban exiles - at least 45,000 of those who live here - have just
voted for a government in exile. And the man very much behind
this election is evidently Dr. Prio Socarras who arrived here, also as
an exile, with several million dollars several years ago.
Dr. Prio hopes to establish the government in exile in Rio De Janeiro.
That people speak Portuguese there won't make much difference,
because the Cuban exiles have adjusted themselves - language-wise -
before; and Portuguese is quite close to Spanish to begin with.
Puzzling, however, is the geography of the thing - providing Havana is still the ultimate goal.
But then - the only thing definite about the mentality of most Cuban exiles here has been their confusion.
And Rio is, after all, enchanting and beautiful...
THE INDEPENDENT
February 18, 1965
Page 4
By: Hendrik J. Berns
FRANKLY SPEAKING
The latest expert on international affairs in our country is a young
woman whose claim to fame is based strictly on her brother. And a
bad brother to boot. At least, no one ever heard of Juanita
Castro in the field of politics, foreign policy and international
affairs before. Until recently, she was merely Fidel Castro's
sister and living in Cuba. But, family relationship or not she
finally had enough and fled to Mexico. It is not quite clear now
what made her an expert on foreign affairs–the fact that she happens to
be Fidel's sister or the fact that she too became an exile. At
any rate, Juanita began to travel: From Mexico City to Miami; from
Miami to Brazil; from Brazil to New Orleans; from New Orleans to New
York; finally, and most recently, to California. Along the route
she also began to make speeches. On foreign affairs, of
course. And, as a student rather than an expert of that field, I
tried digest what Juanita said.
*
In Miami, she said that she had come to settle among the exiles here to help them get rid of her brother.
In New Orleans and New York, she said that Fidel is and has always been
a Communist; that most of the Cuban people are fed up and through with
him; and that the time to strike is now.
In California, she said that the day of Fidel's doom is drawing nearer
and if and when it dawns, he will "take a few American cities with
him." Because he wants to go down in a blaze, surrounded by as
many explosions and as much destruction as he can possibly cause.
*
JUANITA CLAIMS this is what her brother told her. And that may
well be so; after all, Fidel Castro has said a lot of things over the
years.
But what is more important, I believe, is whether or not one should
take them seriously. Particularly to the extent where we begin to
shake in our boots every time Fidel Castro grabs a microphone or his
sister discovers another threat against the world in her memory.
To my knowledge, we keep a pretty good eye on Cuba. And to my
knowledge we still have a rather effective naval base there and an even
more effective strategic Air Force base here.
*
ALSO, to my knowledge, we have won a couple of world wars in our
lifetime, though they may have been minor compared to what Castro
threatens us with.
Nevertheless, I still like to bank on the greatness and the courage of
America and Americans over the greatness and the courage of Castro's
speeches (or reported speeches.)
Mainly perhaps because it seems to me that, over the years, we have
looked to Cuba through the magnifying glass and listened to Castro with
earphones.
*
IT IS, therefore, not so much Castro who puzzles me or the outcome of any battle with him, but Juanita and her travels.
How does one go about scanning continents by jet, after fleeing one's homeland without financial riches?
And who, if any, are the people who finance these "lecturing" escapades?
*
I HOPE it is not the group that delights in the manufacture of propaganda.
And I hope, most of all, that we CAN find out...
In the meantime, I for one prefer not to get excited about Juanita.
In spite of the fact that her last name is Castro.
THE INDEPENDENT
February 25, 1965
Page 2
NEWS...REVIEW...
IN MOSCOW
The Russians admitted that North Viet Nam has received missiles from
them; signed a new 640-million–dollar credit pact with Fidel Castro;
and warned Washington that the battle of South Viet Nam could lead to
war.
THE INDEPENDENT
April 1, 1965
Page 4
SHAME ON YOU
The Cuban exiles are up in arms over a film on Cuba, shown the other night on Channel 2, our educational television station.
Of course, this is not the first time the Cuban exiles have been up in arms over things in America.
In fact, they seem to live "up in arms". Particularly when it
comes to such items as freedom of expression on the part of their hosts.
On the other hand, they seem to feel that, as guests, they have not
only the right to enjoy that freedom but also that of censoring us.
Shame on them!
How much more they could do FOR Cuba and AGAINST Castro by, finally and at long last, going to work on the project.
The time has come for them to learn that much.
Even if we have to teach them.
THE INDEPENDENT
April 15, 1965
Page 2
FORMER CUBAN dictator Fulgencio Batista, now living in luxurious exile
on the island of Madeira, is one of the men behind EL TIEMPO , new
Latin American newspaper published in New York.
THE INDEPENDENT
May 6, 1965
Page 6
COURSHON JOINS JUANITA CASTRO IN FUND DRIVE
Financier Arthur Courshon has joined hands with Juanita Castro, Fidel
Castro's sister, in the formation of the Marta Abreu Foundation,
designed to aid Cuban refugees and particularly Cuban refugee children.
Courshon, chairman of the Board of the Washington Federal Savings and
Loan Association, will be a director of the Foundation. Miss
Castro will be the Foundation's chairman of the board. Others
taking part in the foundation are Julius Shepard; Leopoldo Casas; and
Salvador Lew.
THE INDEPENDENT
September 30, 1965
Page 4
Hendrik J. Berns:
FRANKLY SPEAKING
OR, BETTER YET, take Felipe Rivero, the head of the Cuban Nationalist Association, who is living here.
He has spent a year as one of our guests, plotting violence everywhere.
Violence including "physical elimination", as he says, because this is his way of fighting Communism.
In fact, he claims, his commandos have already tried to do a job in
London and, before long, anything and everything that represents
Communism (embassies, trade missions, sports organizations will become
targets.
THE INDEPENDENT
October 7, 1965
Page 4
CASTRO'S OFFER
Fidel Castro has offered to let all the Cubans go who want to go.
The exile colony in Greater Miami has made the point that if he really
means it, Cuba will be "empty within two weeks."
There are more than seven million people in Cuba. If all of them
are ready to call it quits, if all of them are such lovers of freedom
and such foes of Castro, why haven't they done anything about it in
Cuba?
Certainly, no matter how brutal his regime, even Castro cannot keep
every single one of seven million people under his watchful eye.
Are we, by chance, hearing again the sound of wishful exile thinking???
THE INDEPENDENT
October 14, 1965
Page 4
THE CUBAN EXODUS
There can be no question that this country, with all it stands for in
principle, must accept those Castro wants to get rid of and those who
want to get rid of Castro.
But this cannot be done in Greater Miami or even South Florida alone. It must become a nationwide undertaking.
Nor can it be done without the most stringent security checks and some rather stern lessons to the arrivals.
Whether they now want to make America their permanent home or just
their waiting room, they must be told what the score is: Namely, that
they are guests here, until or unless they become citizens. And that
they must adhere to those basic and fundamental rules other guests have
to follow. Stay out of politics–national as well as
international! Go about your business and leave ours to us!
THE INDEPENDENT
November 4 to 10, 1965
Page 1
TRANSFER FROM MIAMI A MUST
WHITE HOUSE MAPS CUBAN RELOCATION
By: Peter Donovan
Special to The Independent
AUSTIN, Tex.-- President Johnson and a number of White House
specialists have taken a personal hand in plans for the Cuban airlift
to Miami, reporters were told here this week.
Most of all, they have been concerned with the relocation of the
exiles, a part of the airlift considered a "Must" by the President.
Among those called into the picture, for discussions on how to go about
transfer of the exiles from Greater Miami and resettlement elsewhere
across the nation, was Gov. LeRoy Collins, former head of the Community
Relations agency and now undersecretary of Commerce.
In order to soften the blow to arriving refugees and particularly
members of their families, settled in Greater Miami, the President,
reporters were informed, has arranged for "federal enticements" in the
form of jobs as well as relief in the communities selected for the
transfer.
Mr. Johnson has paid particular attention to this feature in the
program because of criticism, from some quarters, to the effect that
"forced resettlement" reflects poorly on the principles of individual
rights and freedoms.
But he has sided in the matter with those in Dade County–particularly
Mayors Robert King High and Chuck Hall–as well as Collins, who have
stressed that Greater Miami, for reasons of strained employment,
housing and educational facilities can only be a stopover.
While there is no way to prevent transferred exiles from trickling back
to South Florida, White House aides point out that of the more than
125,000 Cuban refugees resettled originally, only some four per cent
returned to Dade County.
It is estimated here that the maximum stay of those airlifted to Miami from now on will not exceed four days.
THE INDEPENDENT
November 18 to 24, 1965
Page 1
COMMENTS FROM OTHERS
WHY FIDEL CASTRO LETS HIS PEOPLE GO
(FROM THE NEW LEADER)
Criticism of the Castro regime has increased and Cubans no longer seem
afraid to voice their disappointments and misgivings even to strangers.
There is ample reason then to believe that Fidel Castro is seriously
concerned to provide an outlet for a discontent that could easily breed
an ever wider resistance, passive or otherwise.
The regime also stands to gain certain other benefits:
It will save the enormous cost of patrolling the Cuban coastline to prevent escapes.
It will halt the system of bribery which has apparently played an
increasing role in the clandestine business of shuttling refugees to
the U.S.
At the same time it will relieve the regime of its embarrassment over
the repeated escapes which made Castro's enforcement agencies look
ridiculously inffective [ineffective].
The regime will become the beneficiary of all houses, automobiles,
electrical appliances, furniture and clothing left behind by the
refugees.
Many desirable jobs left vacant by the refugees can now be filled by newly trained and presumably more loyal cadres.
The exodus will allow a consolidation of the Castro regime from within
as well as relieve the pressure of overt anti-regime activities.
THE INDEPENDENT
June 30, 1966
Page 4
BATISTA REVISITED
Some time ago we advanced the idea that it would be well for the Cuban
exiles to unite in purpose, in order to give impetus to their dreams of
a free Cuba.
When we did, the repercussions were strictly Cuban, to put it briefly and forego the detail.
Now, Fulgencio Batista, the deposed dictator who resides in style on an island off Spain, has given vent to the same idea.
Coming from him, the admonition might sink in; it will, at least, not
cause the kind of ire that others seem to draw. Because Mr.
Batista is still one of those looked up to by many Cubans.
We rarely agreed with him while in office, but we certainly agree with him on this point made in exile.
Freedom–and the Fourth of July could prove it even to the Cubans–is not something disunity and division can give birth to.
Rather it is the blessing that comes to those striving for it with the
kind of seriousness that permits them to close ranks and move forward
in unison.
THE INDEPENDENT
September 29 to October 5, 1966
Page 1
"WE DON'T NEED YOUR VIOLENCE"
AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR CUBAN EXILES
Two weeks ago, some of you marched against the Consul of the Bahamas in
Downtown Miami and scuffled with the police, because you disagree with
the policy of the Bahamas.
One week ago, one of your leaders, Felipe Rivero, admitted to reporters
that the "bombing" of the Cuban embassy in Canada was fingered from
here. He also expressed regret that "no one was killed" and told
newsmen that this is only the beginning and that from now on "it may
happen anywhere."
Unfortunately, we have gone through all this with some of you many
times before. (When a local broadcaster dared to tell you that
freedom will come to Cuba only if and when you unite, close ranks and
go about the battle constructively, you picketed him and the station,
threatened both and tried, in vain, to smear him as a Castro stooge and
Communist.)
In the meantime, the Congress of the United States is now ready to make
all of you citizens of this country, irrespective of our customary
immigration laws.
It is another act of many that has enabled you to find here the kind of
hospitality and understanding for your situation no other refugees have
ever found. You were first, as exiles, to flee here without
proper papers and be permitted to stay; you were first, as exiles, to
get federal relief on a weekly basis; you were first, as exiles, to
find a whole federal apparatus organized and ready to provide for you
jobs, housing and even medical care.
Yet some of you have kept on trying to run our country, tell us how to
conduct our foreign policy and whom to elect for president.
Others have used -- and continue to use – this community as a base for bazooka forays or dynamite plots on those you dislike.
We love to have you here, but we don't need your violence! If you
feel like killing, go elsewhere. Don't do it, directly or
indirectly, from here.
Better yet: Begin to learn, at long last, that the murder of a man,
woman or child in Canada or elsewhere is not going to contribute
anything to the freedom of Cuba. It is, at best, merely going to
prove that you do not deserve Cuba's freedom because you do not even
know how to use ours!
By: Hendrik J. Berns
THE INDEPENDENT
October 13 to October 19, 1966
THE RACKET CALLED RESCUE FROM CUBA
By Steve Dreyfuss
Copyright, The Independent, October 1966
WASHINGTON–The Federal Government is about ready to lower the boom on
the racket that has to do with "rescue trips" from Miami to Cuba and
back.
The death at sea of 45 Cubans has shocked maritime as well as
immigration authorities here. It has, of course, been known, ever
since Castro came to power that various Miami-based boat owners have
made trips to Cuba and back, bringing Cuban refugees into this country
without proper landing as well as immigration papers.
It has also been known–and received quiet consent from Coast Guard as
well as other authorities – that the owners of these boats have charged
sizable amounts of money.
However, the latest incident, involving the boat of 32-year-old Enrique
Gonzalez, lone survivor or a storm-bound trip that took the lives of 45
Cubans, may well produce a radical change in U.S. Government attitude.
First of all, because the Gonzalez boat was much too small to ferry 45
people, even in normal weather, from Cuban to South Florida; those who
took the trip and lost their lives under harrowing circumstances at
sea, were cramped into the boat like cattle.
Secondly, the Gonzalez boat was evidently equipped with guns and ammunition.
Thirdly, this is not the first time that Gonzalez encountered trouble
at sea: He was found adrift by the Coast Guard in July 1965; abroad
were 23 refuges.
Beyond that, all of these trips violated U.S. Immigration laws because
Gonzalez left the U.S. without permission and returned without the
proper re-entry permit.
No exile is willing to discuss details of the Gonzalez operation;
silence is the only answer you get when you try to inquire about
the price per trip.
But it is known here in Washington, by those who kept a tacit eye on
all these "rescue" trips, that the money involved for some skippers is
considerable and that it may amount to as much as one thousand dollars
per person.
What concerns authorities here also is the fact that warnings about
Hurricane Inez had been broadcast all day Monday, October 3, and
specifically to those operating boats in the water between South
Florida and Haiti, the Dominican Republic as well as Cuba, so that
proper caution should have been applied prior to this tragic trip.
"No one up to date on weather conditions would have ventured forth
under these conditions," maritime authorities commented here this week.
THE INDEPENDENT
February 16, 1967
Page 4
AMERICA REVISITED
For those who go to bed at night calm in the knowledge that this is,
after all, America and nothing can possibly happen to them, here is a
reminder:
Cases o dynamite are stored away somewhere in the neighborhood by Cuban exiles.
Some twenty machine guns were sized in Broward County in a raid on an insignificant little home.
A registered gun dealer, Emil Deaton, told police that "the greatest
market in weapons these days is to Cuban exiles and Ku Klux Klansmen."
All you have to do to arm yourself to your teeth is go down North Miami Avenue an buy what's shown in the windows.
We are a free a peaceful and peace-loving nation, but we can't cross the bridge to a law that might ban these things.
However, DO go to sleep tonight and feel as secure as you can; GOD willing you will be.
THE INDEPENDENT
March 30, 1967
Page 2
REVIEW AND PREVIEW
...A Louisiana Grand Jury indicted Clay Shaw in the JFK murder plot and
ordered him to stand trial...A Detroit publisher made plans for the
publication of a Kennedy family newsletter...
In DADE COUNTY, the Child Welfare boss asked for $500,000 more, to
bring the department up to a 2.3 million dollar budget...Sen. Ted
Kennedy inspected Cuban refugee arrivals and facilities..
THE INDEPENDENT
April 27, 1967
Page 7
MIGUEL XIQUES, a staffer at Riverside Memorial Chapels, was Cuban
Ambassador to Bolivia in 1947 and in 1959 ambassador to Norway, Sweden
and Denmark. He resigned from his post to the Scandanavian
[Scandinavian] countries and, biding his time in Cuba, was able to
escape with his wife in a 45-foot boat that landed in Key West.
That was in 1965. Does Miguel love this country? Ask him.
THE INDEPENDENT
May 25, 1967
Page 4
THE CUBANS MARCH AGAIN
There is one thing in t his world you can bet your life on: The Cuban
exiles will always picket, always march, always protest and always be
right.
At the moment, they are marching –torch-light fashion – around the Dade
County jail, protesting, as it were, the federal arrest of Felipe
Rivero Jr., one of their ranks and one of their leaders who admitted to
the bombing of an embassy in Canada among other violent acts.
It does not matter to the Cuban exiles whether or not they hurt U.S.
foreign policy; it does not matter to the Cuban exiles whether or not
they are misusing their privileges as guests of this country; it does
not matter to them whether or not they meddle, as foreigners, in
American domestic and international policy; it does not matter to them
whether or not they injure the host in order to remain the guest.
All that matters is THEIR so-called cause; THEIR so-called freedom; THEIR so-called right.
And one can only wonder why they failed to feel as strongly about all
these things in Cuba? They could have prevented Castro from
taking over if they had.
But it is, of course, easier to feel that strongly when you are away...and get paid yet for it by your host...
THE INDEPENDENT
June 29, 1967
Page 2
IN CUBA
Fidel Castro had a personal call from Alexei Kosygin; the result was strictly psychological.
THE INDEPENDENT
July 20, 1067
Page 4
GREAT GUESTS
There is, as we have said many times, something about the Cuban exiles
in our midst that sets many of them off as a rather strange
breed. They do not seem to care what the consequences of what
they do.
They harbor dynamite, guns and knives; they throw explosives to vent
their ire; they even capture, as we learned, ships, crews, passengers
and freight. And then, when the Federal Government, finally and
at long last, steps in to call a halt at least one case, they march and
picket and demonstrate and attempt to teach us what freedom and
democracy are all about.
Why did they never do these things against Castro?
Why did they never try to teach him?
Why do they constantly make us, their hosts, the victims?
Can the revolution against Castro really be won in battles on and offshore here?
THE INDEPENDENT
July 27, 1967
Page 4
KIRK, KENNEDY AND CASTRO
According to the governor of Florida, the world (not just Florida, the
world mind you) has but three principal choices: Claude Kirk, Robert F.
Kennedy and Fidel Castro.
And so we know now why someone wrote a musical comedy called "Stop The
World I Want To Get Off." Certainly, no one would want to get on
with these alternatives facing him!
THE INDEPENDENT
August 24, 1967
Page 2
REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Mayor Robert King High challenged Fidel Castro to a debate on Miami and
Havana TV and criticized Washington for not doing anything about him.
THE INDEPENDENT
February 22, 1968
Page 4
EXILED FOLLY
Greater Miami deserves better from the Cuban exiles than the
bombings. In fact, as we have said many times before, most likely
Mr. Castro would not be where he is if the Cuban exiles had practiced
some of their prowess with explosives at home while there was still
time and also reason rather than here.
It is highly doubtful that the spectre of a Communist Cuba will go away via explosions on the Trail in Miami.
It is even doubtful that the Cubans perpetrating that sort of thing
would do any better than Castro in Cuba. If only because violence
makes rarely for good government.
THE INDEPENDENT
May 9, 1968
Page 4
THE LIBERATION ARMY
It is about time that local and federal authorities told some of the
Cuban exiles in our midst where to get off. Not enough that we
have to witness almost weekly another temperamental bombing, directed
at those who disagree with the exiles, we are now going to be the
training ground for a new so-called liberation army.
The Cuban exiles are guests of this country. Let them, as such,
behave properly, stay clear of this country's foreign policy and act in
the manner we demand of other guests.
We said it before and we say it again: If these same Cubans had done
something about Castro while they were still in Cuba and he was still
fighting for power he would never be where he is today!
End of Page
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