NSC BRIEFING (362ND), 14 APRIL 1959 WITH ATTACHED DOCUMENTS TITLED " REPORT ON

Created: 4/14/1959

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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C. CASTRO hoped to achieve his purpose of forcing BATISTA to abdicateampaign of intensified terrorism in Orlente Provinceation-*ldo general strike. This campaign was

has declared that he would not negotiate anBATISTA. Neither would he dealilitary junta, be willing toruce onlyivilian orof civilians not identified with BATISTA.

Communist penetrated.

regard to allegations that the CASTRO movement is

found no evidence of any penetration

oticeable scale.

F. CASTRO emphasised that if the general strike failed, he would not give up the fight. He would retire to the mountains, rebuild hie forces and await another opportunity to overthrow the BATISTA government.

umber of photographs while he was withelection of these Is attached.

NSCApril 8

CUBA

Castro's long awaited general strike and "all-out war" against

s

launchedjpril has generally fizzled.

A. Sabotage, shootings and partial strikes threw Havana into

confusion for more than an hour, but the armed forcesthe situation under control.

The cityreported outwardly near normal onpril.

The strike had some initial success in outlying provinces,

there was no indicationnowballing anti-Batista

movement.

The rebels were more successful in Santiago, in Orlente

province, where their Influence is greatest, but the strike was waning bypril after government troops dispersed groups of rebels fighting in the streets. II. The Castro movement attracts supportariety of social groups.

greatest activo support comes from youth groups; financial support from civic groups; and moralthe population of Orlente Province, which ^santi-Batista.

Church, while Increasingly anti-Batista, hasa pro-Castro policy, although someof the hierarchy are sympathetic to the rebels.

we have not found much evidence of communist influence in castrots

movement although there are some communists in his organization.

representative who was with castroarchno evidence of significant communist penetration.

outlawed cubanartyo

ame out in support of castro.

castro publicly refused this support.

but the communists will probably take advantage of the situation to carry out independent propaganda and sabotage campaign no matter what castro says or does*

c the soviet radio has indicated hostility to the allegedly us-backed batista regime without committing itself to support castro.

iv. us investment in cuba is valued at overillion. us

enterprises have incurred limited damage from the rebellion. a. two us nicfcel plants in oriente province were briefly affected by absenteeism. employees of other us enterprises are returning as transportation facilities are put back in operation.

b* some usoil refineriesement plant near havanaaganese mineas bottling company in oriente--have incurred damage from sabotage in recent months. 1. there is no indication that us interests are being singled out for sabotage.

us naval base at guantanauno has not been affected. co there is concerned over possible damage to the water

works, which lieiles outside of the base*

Castro's failure probably costerious loss of prestige

and psychological initiative.

abortive first activist all-out attempt of thehis lack of support not only in Havana andbut also in Oriente, tho stronghold of the

1. Castro can almost certainly retain his base in the

t,

mountains of Oriente.

rebellion has also proved the continued loyaltyof both the armed forces and the organized Castro had counted on defections from bothmost important groups,

1. There is, however, dissidence at all levels in the armed forces, and demoralization is reported on the increase. C But Castro emphasized to the CIA representative in March tbat if the general strike failed, he would retire to the

mountains, rebuild his forces, and await another opportunity to overthrow the Batista government. D. The next general election is set for November. Batista's term ends in

Original document.

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