76-15-A5
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Cuba
TranscriptA short time ago, I addressed the Foreign Policy Association in New York, giving my views on the international situation. Knowing I'd make reference to Cuba, I contacted some noted scholars and asked for the latest information on Castro's political prisoners. Word was returned to me that Amnesty International estimated their number at 80,000. With confidence in the source, I used that figure in my remarks. It was challenged by a questioner who said his information had also come from Amnesty International and they had put the number of political prisoners in Cuba at four or five thousand. Now, that isn't exactly the kind of situation a luncheon speaker looks forward to. All I could do was to explain how I'd obtained my figure and say I'd re-check with my source -- which I did before the afternoon was over. Let me reiterate the scholars I had consulted are connected with a most prestigious institution renowned for its studies on world affairs. They checked with their Amnesty International source and learned a typographical error had been made and the 80,000 should have been 60,000. Well, that's understandable and still left me in a better position than my questioner. But, then came other views all from within Amnesty International. The staff member who said 60,000 was disputed by others in the shop. Finally, they came up with something of a consensus that the figure was somewhere between two and twenty thousand. If whoever is in charge in Cuba can't do better than that, he must have trouble when it comes to providing meals for the inmates. But maybe this is our problem when we try to cut through the curtains surrounding communism's closed societies. Not too long ago, a slender, soft-spoken, gray-haired lady addressed a large audience at Dartmouth College. I'm inclined to believe she speaks with greater authority than Amnesty International or those recent visitors to Cuba such as George McGovern who came home warmed by Castro's hospitality. The lady, Anna Galbis, once held high positions in the Castro regime. She was studying in Paris (political science) when Castro came to power. Returning to Cuba, she supported the new government enthusiastically and served in the Cuban embassy in Washington; also in Peking. Later, she held a part in the Ministry of Armed Defense and was a translator and interpreter at international Marxist congresses held in Havana. Yes, she is soft-spoken but her words aren't soft. Completely disillusioned, Anna Galbis likens all of Cuba to a prison except for the "showcases", foreign (make that American) visitors are taken to. Each Cuban is allowed three-quarters of a pound of meat every 10 days, 10 ounces of beans and three cans of condensed milk per month. Cuba's renowned seafood is processed for shipment to Russia. She makes it plain this diet does not apply to the Party leadership who drive Alfa Romeo cars. Her disillusionment came in 1969. She applied for an exit visa and immediately lost her job and became an outcast for several years, eking out a living by tutoring in English and French. Finally, by way of relatives in Spain and the fact that she held American citizenship through her father, she was able to leave the workers' paradise. Anna Gilbis says there are 50,000 political prisoners languishing in 56 Cuban prisons, 26 concentration camps and 108 prison farms. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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