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Home , Fidel Castro

Fidel discloses some questions about the , his fondness for John F Kennedy, his conditions for a Cuban relationship with the Friendship Is Possible, But...

WENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER tionary countries. What the U.S. does is the triumph of 's revolution, to place conditions, demand that coun- the governments of the United States tries cease being revolutionary, that coun- and are still locked in what seems tries sever their ties with other countries, implacable hostility, now greater than that countries sell themselves." ever because of mutual antagonism over • Still, a partial improvement in rela- Central America, bloodied by expanding tions would be possible, Castro said, if civil wars. "partial changes" occurred in U.S. atti- Whether and how this enmity can be tudes, such as "to respect Cuba and to resolved was the principal topic in a develop diplomatic relations, even eco- series of extraordinary talks I had with nomic relations." He added, however, President Castro during a recent weekend that any negotiations with the U.S. must in Cuba. Our themes ranged widely: his be conducted "on the basis of equality proposals for a political settlement of of the negotiators, which would require the civil war in El Salvador, his belief that the U.S. be disposed to eliminate that faces the most criti- the [economic] blockade of Cuba and to cal economic crisis in its history, the discuss [U.S.] withdrawal from its na- bitter Cuban-Soviet dispute—never be- val base in Guantanamo [in Cuba]." fore fully disclosed by Castro—that oc- Our 12 hours of talks took place dur- curred at the time of the ing an all-night session at Castro's of- missile crisis, his surprising admiration fice at the in for John F. Kennedy. , during a jeep tour of Havana's But the relationship between our two surburban beaches, over drinks and din- countries dominated the discussions. ner in a rural hideaway, and aboard his Fidel Castro, the Marxist-Leninist revo- helicopter. I had not been with Castro in lutionary, says that improvement is pos- many years, and I found him, at age 57, sible only if the U.S. government ac- slimmer and trimmer and in excellent cepts the reality that poor nations physical condition, though his is desperately need deep social changes beginning to tum gray. He still lights and it acts accordingly, showing "respect" the long one after the for revolutions in Cuba and elsewhere. other, and he retains his inexhaustible But ,' the seventh U.S. thirst for conversation. President to be exposed to Castro's The Cuban president stressed the fol- intractability, approaches the Cuban sys- lowing points: tem with undisguised rage and frustration, • Cuba has the right to support revolu- and the Cuban president told me flatly tionaries everywhere who desire social that he would make no unilateral conces- changes. In the case of nations endeav- sions to Washington in order to start a oring to destroy the process that might lead to better ties. (Castro was clearly alluding'to the U.S. For Cuban-U.S. relations to improve, and certain regimes in Central America), Castro said, a "total change" in world "we have the reciprocal right of helping outlook by the U.S. government would the revolutionaries in the same fashion. " be necessary. "It is not we who declare This is his explanation for Cuban mili- ourselves the enemy of the U.S.," he tary advisers in plus combat asserted. "It is the U.S. that declares troops in and Ethiopia. \ itself beforehand the enemy of revolu- • Latin America faces its most critical

Castro stops to chat during stroll on beach at Santa Maria del Mar. Though he travels with a small armed escort, he mixes freely with the Cuban people. BY . PAGE 4 • APRIL 1,1984 • PARADE MAGAZINE COVERPHCTOGRAIMBY EDDIEADAMS economic situation ever. Castro said: One of his most compelling stories; "We have more ill health than ever, volunteered by Castro, concerned his MOM unemployment than ever, more anger at the Soviet Union in 1962 when, poverty than ever, more social prob- after the showdown with the U.S., the lems than ever, an economic crisis like Russians removed their nuclear weapons we've never had before ....Even tradi- from Cuba without consulting Castro or tional politicians express the conviction informing him of their accord with the that profound economic and social Kennedy Administration. Moscow had, changes are imperative--although speak- in effect, betrayed Cuba. And for the ing of revolutionary changes doesn't first time, Castro was revealing public- necessarily imply violent changes." ly his version of that crisis (though in • The crisis in El Salvador can be solved the past he had alluded to his annoyance through negotiations. A collapse of the with the Russians). Salvadoran army, which Castro said is The Soviet action "damaged for a "increasingly demoralized," could lead number of years the existing relations to US. military intervention. He added: between the. and the Soviets," "I know that the Salvadoran rebels, al- Castro said. "It never really crossed my though they are stronger than ever and mind that the alternative of withdrawing have a great battle spirit, would be dis- the missiles was ever conceivable, al- posed to negotiate because, while they though events were occurring with great do not fear U.S. intervention, they con= speed." He added that he later came to eider that the cost in lives and destruc- understand that the settlement worked tion for their people would be very out between Soviet Premier Nikita high... But a formula for a negotiated Khrushchev and President ICennedy had political solution must be accepted in averted a . Cuba's 1976 which all sides would make concessions. constitution now firmly links the Marxist- In my judgment, this is possible." Both Leninist nation's well-being to "the fra- the U.S. and EI Salvador reject negotia- ternal friendship, help and cooperation tions with the rebels. of the Soviet Union and other Socialist • "An intervention in Nicaragua" by countries." the U.S. would be "even more costly" Why did Castro choose our talks to than in El Salvador. Castro said: "I am bring up past Cuban-Soviet controver- certain that hundreds of thousands of sies? One can only speculate. Cuba's soldiers would be required only to occu- economic and military dependence on py the country." He cannot rule out the Soviets is overwhelming (Soviet aid U.S. military intervention in Cuba either, to Cuba is estimated at S4 billion annu- he said, "and we have made great ef- ally). And Castro was among the first in forts to strengthen our defenses—even Moscow for the funeral of Soviet Presi- much more so after ." dent Yuri Ar. Andropov in Febrnary. • But Cuba is in no position to inter- My own impression is that Fidel Castro vene militarily in a Central American may be beginning to search for addition- war. Castro told me: "We have no means al alternatives for Cuba, a subtle effort to be able to decide the events militarily. to which U.S. policymakers might pay All our means are defensive. We have attention. When, last October, the U.S. *no fleet or air force capable of neutraliz- invaded the island of Grenada, where ing or breaking a U.S. blockade." Cuba held political sway, the Soviets At a Havana hospital, Castro visits Cuban civilian, wounded in Octoberftghting in Grenada, and Wife. Cuba had supported the leftist Grenada regime.

PARADE MAGAZINE • MAIL 1,1954 • PAGE 5

did little more than pay lip service to the by both the Cuban and Soviet govern- Grenadian revolutionary cause, and the ments that the U.S. was preparing to Cubans may have been disenchanted invade Cuba with its own forces follow- once more with their big ally. - ing the failure of the U.S.-sponsored Recounting the 1962 crisis, Castro landing by a brigade of Cuban exiles at said that it was born from a conviction' continued Kennedy's message was delivered to CASTRO/continued Castro said that the following year, it possible for Kennedy "to make small the Soviets showed him all the docu- concessions in relation to Cuba." With Castro by , a well-known ments pertaining to the crisis, and only Kennedy—whom, he told me repeatedly, French editor, on Nov. 22, 1963. "It the in April 1961. "We took was noon," Castro said, "and we were it up with the Soviets," Castro said. then did he learn that the U.S. had secretly he admired greatly despite the Bay of agreed to remove its nuclear missiles Pigs—he was "certain" that "forms of just talking about it when we were in- "They had already made great commit- formed of the attempt." ments to us, and they asked our opinion. from Turkey in exchange for the remov- understanding with the United States The delivery of his message coincided We told them—though we didn't speak al of the Soviet missiles from Cuba. could have been fodnd," leading some He also revealed that the American day "to friendly relations." exactly with the moment of his death. of missiles—that it was necessary to This is why I have always maintained make it clear that an invasion of Cuba U-2 spy plane lost over Cuba at the "I judge Kennedy in the light of every- would mean war with the Soviet Union height of the crisis on Oct. 27 had been thing that occurred m relation with Cuba, the impression that Kennedy had been meditating over the question of rela- ... It could be a military pact." hot down by Soviet surface-to-air beginning with the Bay of Pigs," he said. missiles. The Russians had not coordi- "I do not hold Kennedy responsible for tions with Cuba. For us, for Cuba and "Then they proposed the missiles," for relations between the Castro said "The installation of [Soviet] nated this action with the Cubans either, Glee [the Cuban name for and, as it turned out, the incident was the invasion beach]. Ken- th/ U.S. and Cuba, Kennedy's medium-range missiles was analyzed, us and for death was a terrible blow." among other measures." Castro said he almdst a giant step toward World War nedy inherited the whole Three: President Kennedy had decided Girdn plan from the Eisen- It is impossible in con- concluded that the deployment of Sovi- versations with Castro and et nuclear missiles on his island was to launch a massive air strike on Soviet hower Administration. At relations nuclear installations in Cuba if a second the time, Kennedy, in my other Cubans to escape the politically convenient for the Cubans impression that they are and could also be convenient for the U.S. plane were shot down. Union, was a man full of "It is still a mystery how it happened," idealism, purpose, youth, between the powerfully attracted by Soviets "from the military standpoint." America and things Amen- Castro stressed that the missiles were Castro told me. "We had no jurisdiction enthusiasm; don't think and control over Soviet anti-aircraft mis- he Viiis an unscrupulous US. and Cuba, can and that many of them not deployed Under Soviet pressure: would hope for an accom- "They didn't come to us one day and sile batteries. We couldn't have fired man. He was, simply, very against the U-2 [with conventional anti- young—also very inexpe- modation. Castro went out say; `We want to deploy the missiles Kennedy's death of his way to draft in long- because it suits us.' The initiative of aircraft guns]. But a Russian there, the rienced in politics, al- battery commander, fired ...We didn't though he was very intelli- hand a message to the peo- requesting measures giving Cuba an ple of the U.S. pledging absolute guarantee against a conven- want to ask too much about this problem." gent, very wise, very well was a Castro also said that Kennedy's com- prepared and with a mag- that "feelings of hostili- tional war and a U.S. invasion was ours. terribk ty and hatred toward the The concrete idea of the missiles was mitment not to invade the island if the nificent personality. I can Soviets removed and kept "offensive speak of experience in poli- North American people" the Soviets' ." would never be sown in And Castro never believed that the weapons" out of Cuba was "explicit" tics because when we com- and d in written exchanges be- pare ourselves now with what we knew Cuba (see box on previous page). Soviets would take them out. "Perhaps Fidel Castro appears pleased with his in our revolutionary fervor of those clays, tween andKhrushchev—a point about politics in 1959, 1960 and 1961, of major relevance today: Reagan Ad- we are really ashamed of our ignorance revolution after 25 years. He said Cuba, he said, "we didn't consider the possibili- with its population of 10 million, has ty of withdrawing the missiles ...There ministration spokesmen are question- at that time." ing whether the 1962 "understanding" Castro recalled that, a year after the been growing economically at an aver- were communications between the So- age 4.7 percent annual rate since 1959. viets and us over the evolution of events. with the Soviets contained an explicit missile crisis, Kerthedy had sent him U.S. commitment not to invade Cuba. private message inquiring "about our He noted that even the Human Rights But in the last two days, events moved Commission of the Organization of so rapidly that it was impossible for an Three years ago, then Secretary of State disposition to discuss and have a dia- Alexander M. Haig Jr. urged that the logue with the United StatPs—with hirrt- American States (which expelled Cuba exchange to occur in time over the pro- 22 years ago) finds that Cuba is Latin posal to withdraw the missiles. And we U.S. Cuba to stop the flow and reflecting his preoccupation and dis- of arms to Central American rebels. position to find a channel of contact, of America's second best nourished nation were really very irritated over the fact (after ). The World Bank has that an agreement had been reached Castro said he believed the removal dialogue, and to overcome the great of the Soviet missiles would have made tensions that had existed." reported that Cuba has the highest num- without us having been consulted." ber of doctors per 1000 inhabitants of any country in the . Castro declares that Cuba is marching toward and the social equali- ty it promises. But he mentions in pass- How Influenced Fidel Castro ing the idea of as it is understood in democratic countries. In so doing, he Novelist Hensgigway raises the eternal dilemma between so- the mid-1930s. cial justice and political freedom: "Equality," Castro said, "is a princi- ple that comes from the French Revolu- HE NOVELIST ERNEST seven years before his first revolution- tion, which proclaimed that goal of Hemingway was Fidel Castro's fust ary feat—"with great interest." Of liberty, equality and fraternity. Some inspiration m the art cifguarilla warfare. course, he said, "I had ideas about the liberty was obtained fora part of society, I made this discovery when Castro possibility of irregular warfare, but but the fraternity and equality that can turned to the.question of literary influ- Hemingway, in that work of his, had be achieved under has never ences in the course of our weekend expressed everything 'how the guer- been achieved." talks in Havana. Hemingway had lived rillas developed with absolute free- This difference in philosophy is what, in a house in the .small town of San dom in the rear guard of the enemy." at least in part, divides the United States Francisco de Paula, near Havana, for "All the action occurred behind Fran- and Cuba, where all political dissent is a year or so after the 1959 revolution. co's lines," he added. "All the person- punishable. Latin American reality seems Castro told me that the two had met ages—the North American, the gypsy, to vindicate Fidel Castro's claim that and talked two or three times. others—were irregulars in the rear profound social changes can no longer "But," he said, "it was never a real guard. For example, the incident when wait and that the U.S. must come to conversation, despite the fact that Hem- they tried to blow up the bridge, when .terms with it before new civil wars and ingway's books exercised a certain in- they were aiming the machine gun, revolutions erupt. At the same lime, fluence on our guerrilla concepts." and the cavalry approached almost 200 Castro must accept that the "new Cuban "How so?" I asked hint meters away, and the guerrillas with- man"--:-now so well educated—will be- Castro said that the best example was drew. In this Hemingway book, one fore long demand the freedom to think , where "every- they moved, bow they remained alert, could see and appreciate the possibili- beyond the Communist dogma. These thing takes place behind enemy lines, how they acted when the cavalry arrived." ties of irregular warfare because, in are the forces that, sooner or later, may Castro said he read this book in truth, nobody had taught us the ideas bring the two nations closer after 25 all action is in the rear guard ... then T.S. how the guerrilla groups lived, how 1946—when he was 20 years old and of that type of combat." years of official hostility. PAGE 6 • APRIL 1, MK • PARADE MAGAZINE `We Essentially Seek The Same Thing' By Fidel Castro

WEHAVE ALWAYS HAR- last and unglorious episode as a merit bored the most sincere feelings of ad- and a victory: miration and affection toward the peo- But whenever the people of the Unit- ple of the United States for their ed States were led to commit unjust - enterprising, dedicated, persevering, actions, demagogic appeals were made - altruistic and idealistic spirit. They are to their generous and noble soul. Free- also a very creative people. I have• dom was always invoked, and, as some- harbored these feelings ever since I one has said, many crimes have been first became acquainted with the histo- committed dwoughout history in its ry of their independence struggles and, name. We have suffered from that poli- the concepts contained in the 1776 cy in our nation. At times, attempts Declaration. These continue to be and have been made—and are still being will always be evident truths. Those made—to eliminate me.physically. As ideas greatly influenced Cuban revolu- you can see, I am being candid in tionaries from our independence strug- passing this critical judgment. But as gles to our Socialist revolution. a personally convinced revolutionary, We essentially seek the same things and due to deeply rooted principles, but in different eras and historical we. shall never blame the people for conditions. Progressive ideas, as life the responsibilities of governments and itself, also evolve. In my defense, systems. In this case, more than ever when I was tried for the before, one must render rebel action of the Mon- %lb have unto God the things that cads [his 1953 attack on r never are God's and unto Cae- army barracks in Santi- edines sar the things that are ago], I invoked, among SO= f Caesar's. others, the ideas from the In our homeland—and 1776 Declaration. tilik all U.S. citizens who have I likewise greatly ad-- °f b9 %liked us in the past 25 mire Lincoln, his hum- years can ,bear witness ble origin, his life and towar to this—we have never his work. sown and shall never tow I also admire the Unit- feelings of hostility and ed States as the melting PeoPle hatred toward the peo- pot that has blended men ple of the United States. and women of all origins, of the I have always` made it religions and ideas into my personal concern to a great nation, even stress their greatvirtues ' though this melting pot United States and me:RS:The hospitali- has still much to blend ty and respectful and whenever I think about the fate of the friendly treatment U.S. citizens find Indians, the Blacks and the Hispanics. here are the result of that policy and of The Americans' noble feelings, al- our people's education. We are staunch truism and idealism, however, have and unyielding revolutionaries, but we not always been well directed. Not are not fanatics. For us, the evident seldom--although always under the truths are never those that may be in- guise of noble and just pinposes—self- culcated through lies, demagogy or by ohness, expansionism and chauvin- appealing to the lowly passions that ism were enhanced and used to com- man may harbor but only those we are mit atrocious actions, such as the capable of reasoning and thinking mutilation and seizure of Mexican through calmly and profoundly. territory, the occupation of the Isth- We wish the. people of the United mus of Panama and of Puerto Rico, States peace, which is the same as the repeated interventions in numer- wishing all mankind peact; and we ous small, weak and poor nations of wish them security and progress, which the and Central America, is what we also wish for all peoples. I the and the invasion of am convinced that one day the people Grenada, to mention but some exam- of Cuba and the United States will live ples. Not few came to consider this in complete peace and friendship.

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