GENERAL - USSR ISSUES STATEMENT ON CUBA

Created: 4/19/1961

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

GENERAL

Issues Statement on Cuba

The first official Soviet pronouncements on the Cuban situationassive propaganda and diplomaticto mobilize world opinion against the US and generate alarm over the consequences of the fighting in Cuba. While the Soviet leaders will not hesitate to make maximumcapital from Cubanneither Khrushchev's letter to the President nor tho official government statement goes beyond the general warning that "we will extend to the Cuban people and its government all the necessary aid for the repulse of the armed attack on Cuba." Khrushchev's letter, however, implicitly links the Cuban situation to Laos by warning tbat "in general it is impossible to carry on affairs inay that in one area tbe situation is settled and the fire is put out and in anotherew fire is lit."

Although tho Soviet leaders probably will bo careful to avoid any commitments to specific counteraction in Cuba,letter suggests that Moscow may continue to stall on cease-fire arrangements in Laos and may sanction Increasedpressure against thegovernment. The Soviet Government statement, appealing to all UN members to "render all necessary aid" to Cuba andthat the UN Generalurgently study theactions" of the US, was followed by the Soviet resolution along the same lines presented in tho UN yesterday evening.

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