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Fidel
Castro about the disappearance of Camilo Cienfuegos
Live
speech by Fidel Castro at Havana November 13, 1959, highlights
of the speech
(Source:
incoming telegram, report NBR, Foreign Broadcast Information
Service (FBIS), USA, Recorded: November 13, 1959, remarks in the
text and underneath are from the USA-administration)
Warning:
this text is translated by the USA-administration and from USA
databases, recording Cuban radio broadcasts!
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1. Castro: Cienfuegos has not been found. Every lead, every
possibility, however, painful, has been explored. People should
resign themselves to thought he is in all probability dead,
crashed in the sea north of Cuba. The false report mysteriously
originated and spread by American wire services of Camilo found,
which set off public rejoicing of November 3, was despicable and
cruelly deceived people. Cienfuegos is a great hero of
revolution who died in line duty while fighting treason. Any
speculation that he might have deserted, such as has appeared in
American press had been reprinted here, does dishonor to
Cienfuegos and to Cuba. Important thing to remember is that
Cienfuegos, like all other true leaders of revolution, came from
humble people, among whom are many more Camilos who will be
discovered when country needs them.
2.
There is a deliberate campaign in US to discredit the Cuban
revolution. Destruction of tourist trade, like calumnies of wire
services, is a part of this campaign. US cannot deny that planes
from US were responsible for bombings an Niagara and Punta
Alegre sugar mills. One of planes found in Anguila--which is
disputed territory--has probably bombed Punta Alegre. It is too
early to say whether measures recently taken by US to control
flights from US air fields to Cuba are effective, but any
improvement in this respect is more than offset by offensive and
calumnious campaign in US press. Proof that US press paid to
campaign against Cuban revolution is contained in letter of July
18 from Nunez Portuondo to ex-Cuban Ambassador. (This refers to
former's alleged interview with LIFE) recent story in NY JOURNAL
AMERICAN that Cuba is building rocket bases under Russian
direction is ridiculous and offensive. A letter from former
Congressman Radio Cremata, addressed to press agent of American
and foreign power and intended for forwarding to him through
Senator Anselmo Alliegro, reciting many services Cremata had
performed for company in past, shows extent to which foreign
monopolistic interests were favored by Batista regime.
3.
Insults, government threats of economic reprisals and harboring
of "war criminals", are not the way to bring about
good relations with Cuba. If US treats us honorably, decently,
morally, Cuba will respond in kind.
4.
Revolution will not take one step backward from course on which
it has embarked. Many sacrifices will be necessary. All Cubans
uphold slogan "liberty or death".
Castro
made no reference to note which GOC is expected to deliver to US
today. He did not mention help given by US in search for Camilo,
nor information furnished by US re crashed planes on Anguila.
Tone of speech, while anything but cordial, lacked sharpness
which has characterized recent utterances and which was
generally expected here. It was generally in low key--not Castro
at his theatrical best--and contained nothing of such
inflammatory nature as to incite populace.
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