Evening star., 1961-08-16


Admirers of Fidel Castro
often well organized politically
still are much in evidence il
in Latin America. But presen
indications are the Cubar
Prime Minister'S prestige il
Latin countries is much lowe
today than it was last year.
This is the broad consensus
from reports of Associated
Press correspondents in 10 ke!
Latin American countries.
The correspondents wert
asked to assess sentiment to,
wards Mr.. Castro after thu
tumultuous events of the pas
several months the abortivC
April II invasion, the tractors
for-prisoners deal, Mr.. Castro'
announced intention to lex.
port" his revolution, Ambas
sador Adlai Stevenson's tour
the United States $500 millior
Latin American aid bill anC
President Kennedy'S Alliance
for-ProgreSs program.
Disenchantment Spreads
These events appear to havC
spread disenchantment with
Castroism, but most pro- -UniteC
States Government leaders il
Latin America regard it as {
threat and in several case!
have acted to check its advance
Mr.. Castro'S offer to swal
prisoners for tractors alienateC
many followers. In Brazil, tht
deal was described as THE de,
cisive turning point in sym
pathy." In other countries, sucE
as Mexico, there were efforts II
raise ransom money.
Prime Minister Castro's per.
secution of the church in Cubs
has hurt him in militanth
Catholic Latin American coun,
tries, notably Colombia ant
Brazil. Bishops have issued pas,
toral letters attacking both Mr.
Castro and communism, anC
the letters apparently have hac
their. effect.
Many newspapers and radio
stations which at one time were
solidly behind Mr.. Castro, nov
have reversed their field.
Pr0-CaStrO Sentiment
Still there is an undercur.
rent of pro-Castro sentiment
In some countries, Uruguay ir
particular, it is a well-diS-
ciplined political movement.
AS a Chilean Communists
leader put it,:
For the first time, we're able
to say, Look what another
Latin American nation ha.
achieved ChileanS seem to un.
derstand the Cuban revolution
whereas the Soviet Union i.
far removed-as is the United
States. Many Chilean Commu.
nists aren't so much pro-Mos.
COW as they are interested ir
bettering their way of life. Tt
them, we're the solution"
There is little doubt the Apri
II invasion hurt United State.
prestige and few pro-Castrc
groups missed the opportunity
to exploit it.
Communists also are tryins
hard to throw cold water or
the Alliance-for- progress prog.
ram, President Kennedy's long.
range Latin American aid plan
Communists in Chile, for ex.
ample, claim it is the same
sort Of Self-help scheme they
have offered underpaid work
ers for years.
The correspondents reports
also show there is some in.
difference toward Mr.. Castro
and his political system. Thi.
is especially true in Argentina
A Chilean priest remarked
''it is difficult to make the
peasants see what the differ.
ence would be in reforms
through United States meth,
DDS or through Communist
methods"
Here is the way some Latins,
on-the-street currently regarc
CaStroism:
MexicO-Fidel trained hi
small revolutionary army ir
Mexico. and when it succeeded
it was something like a home.
town boy making good. AS III
moved into the Soviet bloc
however, the picture begar
to change. 1T was a gradua
change" reported correspond,
, ent Jack Rutledge, but it hal
increased in tempo"
The Catholic Church begar
to speak up. More than 100000
attended one anti-Castro rally
The government also attacked
seizing Cuban and Soviet prop
aganda by the ton.
Last year, Mexico gave Cuba.
President Oswaldo DorticoS his
biggest reception on a Latir
American tour. Last month
Cuban Foreign Minister Rau
, Roa was ignored by the press
and booed by the crowds.
-Uruguay-Newspapers are al
most entirely anti-Castro "a
complete about-face for most
of them, but pro Castro senti-
ment is widespread, well-organ-
lied and effective. The move
ment for support of the Cuban
revolution-an organization ot
students, workers and middle
professional people-haS sue
ceeded in electing members tt
the national legislature. Pro-
Castro rallies have attracted as