Evening star., 1960-03-26
Cuba MOVING
ToShowdoWn
On u. 5. Base

VII u. }. Ddyc
HAVANA, Mar. rs CAP).-I
Cuba moved today toward a
showdown with the United
States over the United States
Guantanamo Naval Base.
Fidel Castro's government
asked the United States to re-
hire a Cuban labor leader fired
from his job in the strategic
American defense installation
in Eastern Cuba. 1t also COM
planned that anti-Castro work.
ers are being hired at the base.
This and two other COM
plants about Washington
policies toward Cuba appeared
to have thrown UP a roadblock
in the path of United States
Ambassador Philip Bonsal's
latest efforts to mend crum-
bling Cuban-American rela-
tions.
Rejection Is Expected
The United States was ex-
pected to reject the Guam
tanamo rehiring request made
last night in a formal note
couched in relatively friendly
tones.
The note asked earnestly"
for reinstatement of Federico
Figueras Larrazabal, a machin-
ist who heads the workers union
at the base. He was fired for
making offensive remarks about
the United States Government
and for a poor work record.
These developments came as
mounting friction between
Cuban Communist and anti
Communist factions erupted
into an open clash in Havana's
streets.
There was no official reaction
to the Cuban notes from the
United States Embassy, al
though members of Mr.. Bonsal's
staff expressed surprise that any
diplomatic exchange had taken
place during the day.
Other Complaints Filed
Copies of the notes we're made
available to the press last night
by the Cuban foreign ministry.
The other notes. also signed by
Foreign Minister Raul Roa.
complained about United States
withdrawal of agricultural in
spection service technicians
from Cuba and about Washing
tons ban on sale of helicopters
to Cuba.
Only two nights ago. Mr..
Roa told the nation by TV
that Cuban-American relations
had reached . critical point,
but he said Cuba was still will
ing to negotiate differences be-
tween the two nations.
Diplomatic quarters here
said the note on Guantanamo
alone could lead to a new,
graver crisis between the two
governments.
The United States Navy al
ready has spelled out its posi-
tion on Cuban labor laws in
relation to operations of the
base. It said all Guantanamo
workers are under United States
civil service regulations. United
States officials recently rejected
a demand by Cuban workers at
the base that the United States
negotiate a labor agreement
with the Cuban government.
5000 Cubans Employed
Cuban Labor Minister Au-
gusto Martinez Sanchez de-
clared earlier this week that
the base was "a foreign busi-
ness" on Cuban soil and there
fore subject to Cuban work
laws. About 5000 Cubans are
employed aC the installation.
The war of words between an
nti-Communist commentator
Luis Conte Aguero, and Mr.
Castro's powerful propaganda
apparatus flared into a near
riot in a downtown Havana
street last night.
Unconfirmed reports said
four persons we're injured In
battling between Communist
and anti Communist factions
in front of an independent TV
station.
Mr.. Aguero's whereabouts
could not be learned. He was
last seen at a police station
where he sought protection
after a scuffle in front of the
station prevented his making
his usual MONDAY broadcast.