79-04-A5

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Cuba

Transcript Just recently our State department said violation of human rights has been erased as a block to normalization of relations with Cuba. Evidently the releasing of a few political prisoners was all it took to convince the diplomats in Foggy Bottom that Castro has been reborn as a nice fellow. Well fortunately we have some elected representatives in Washington who like to see for themselves. One of these is Congressman Steve Symms of Idaho. Steve made a nine day trip, touching shore in Jamaica (our newest Marxist neighbor), the Dominican Republic of Cuba. His summation is blunt and to the point. He says the Caribbean is rapidly becoming a Communist lake in what should be an American pond and the United States resembles a giant, afraid to move. Describing Cuba as a place where the clock seems to have stopped 20 years ago he says: "There are no new American cars, few new buildings have been erected since the Castro regime took over, and the buildings that existed before Castro are now in disrepair. The stores are virtually empty -- with few consumer goods. Milk is available only for children under the age of seven. Meat and all other goods are strictly rationed. Commodities we take for granted are not to be found." Congressman Symms attended Mass at one of the few churches still open. People approached him asking for help to leave the country. They told of waiting as long as 17 years for permission and of having their property and possessions confiscated and being denied employment for all these years because they were listed as wanting to emigrate. Quite simply, Cuban citizens have no rights and no freedom: They are constantly under the surveillance of a Soviet style force. All of this suggests that human rights are not a major consideration in the policies of Fidel Castro. As for normalization of relations, Congressman Symms urges that we watch Cuba very carefully, and that we keep in mind how much both Castro and the Soviet Union would like the economic help to Cuba that our recognition would bring. Cuba is a heavy load for the Russians to bear. It prices out at about $5 million a day. For one thing a new trade relationship with Cuba would have a dire effect on our own sugar industry. The Congressman points out that Castro, who is a powerful, charismatic leader, has a vision that extends beyond the, "walls of his Palm prison in Cuba". His idea of peace is to spread Russian-style communism throughout the world and certainly throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. And Congressman Symms mentioned particularly Castro's influence in Jamaica and Panama. I'm sure he would agree that the troubles in Nicaragua bear a Cuban label also. While there are people in that trouble land who probably have justified grievances against the Somoza regime, there is no question but that most of the rebels are Cuban-trained, Cuban-armed and dedicated to creating another Communist country in this hemisphere. We should be grateful to Idaho's Congressman Steve Symms. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 79-04-A5 Production Date 6-Mar1979 Book/Page RihoH-158 Audio Youtube? No
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