Evening star., 1960-04-01

CndC MI. CdSGIO Will IIldhS SOOu'
And failure to establish a sound
program in Cuba would serious
impede inter-American efforts
to achieve social and political
reform throughout the south
ern hemisphere.
Favor More Firmness
These sentiments explain
why Washington is hearing
evidence that Latin Americans
are beginning to feel the United
States policy of patience to-
ward the Cuban leader, while
correct, might be backed up by
greater f1rmneSs.
Mr.. CastroS popularity has
declined rapidly throughout the
hemisphere, not only because
of reckless attacks upon the
United States, but because he
seems to have gone out of the
way to offend many former
admirers in other Latin ma
tionS.
When his forces smashed the
Batista dictatorship on Janu-
airy /, 1859, Mr.. Castro appar-
emily determined to seize COM
mand of the whole revolutionary
movement in the hemisphere.
EmbroiIs All but Mexico
He became the bully Of the
Caribbean. Since he took over,
every state north of Panama |
Canal except Mexico has been
touched by armed intervention
from Cuba.
Castro-supported forces in
vaded Nicaragua, Haiti, the
Dominican Republic, Panama
and Paraguay. Cuban arms
and men we're sent to Costa
Rica and Honduras for staging |
purposes. AS result, those
countries we're hit by domestic
turmoil.
Mr.. Castro publicly insulted |
former President Jose Figueres
of Costa Rica, one of the hem
isphere's most forceful and re-
spectful liberals. Mr.. FiguereS
had gone to Havana to help
honor the Cuban leader but |
was reprimanded by Mr.. Castro ,
for saying Latin America must
remain on the side of the |
United States and the Western .
powers.
Venezuela Withdraws
President Romulo Betan-
court of Venezuela has just
provided fresh evidence of his
governments doubts about
Prime Minister Castro. He an
nounced that Venezuela is
withdrawing from a Castro
sponsored conference of under
developed nations in Havana
this summer.
Venezuelas action leaves the
tiny republic of Panama as the
only American nation still plan
ming to send a delegation to the
meeting. Any other countries
represented will be in the At
rica-ASia bloc.
Moves DispIease Nations
Prime Minister Castro's de-
termination to forge an alliance
to handle problems on All Afro
Asian-Latin basis. rather than
to proceed through the Organi-
zation of American States is
unpalatable to the Americas.
Moreover, it is regarded by
some as Subversive.
Other Latin countries are
diSpleased at Cubs failure to
join as a partner in the new 81
billion Inter american Devel-
opment Bank, whose establish
ment they have sought for dec
AIDES. These nations also are
irked when Cuba diSregards
normal diplomatic procedures.
They are upset because Cuba
now is seeking a seat on the
United Nations Security Couicil
without having obtained in
dorsement of the neighboring
governments.
The latest jolt to the inter-
American system was Prime
Minister CatSro's repudiation
Of the Rio Treaty, which is
mutual defense agreement. He
erred in saying the pact calls
for joint action against Com
muniSm. But he asserted it is
not binding on Cuba because
it was not signed by the revol-
utionary government. 1T was
ratified in l947D
The other American govern