Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-23
MOSCOW
Weapons in Cuba
Defensive, Reds Soy

: 49,
1.-THE Soviet Union would strike
a most powerful retaliatory
blow"
The statement called on
Western leaders to display
composure and common sense
and not saber rafting"
1t said Cuba could be no
threat to the United States and
that the United States claim
that its actions were guided by
the interests Of peace "has o
particularly false ring"
1.-THE establishment Of the
actual blockade of the Cuban
shores by the United States is
a provocative move, an un-
heard-of violation of interna-
tional law, a challenge to all
peace-loving nations" the
USSR said.
The statement was not issued
until IA hours after President
Kennedy's speech announcing
the quarantine.
Kennedy Speech Reported
Until shortly before the
statement was issued, the So
Wet press and radio remained
silent on the Presidents speech
and the Soviet people were kept
in the dark until the Moscow
radio finally reported the
speech and said it was full Of
anti-Soviet attacks"
The Soviet radio and news
papers apparently had been
awaiting the outcome of high
level conferences in the Krem-
lin.
lass said the Kremlin or
dered the halt in the discharge
of Soviet servicemen in senior
age groups in strategic rocket
forces, antiaircraft defense
troops and the submarine fleet.
Soviet Defense Minister
Rodion Malinovsky gave the
government q report ION the
measures taken to enhance the
combat readiness of the armed
forces" TasS said.
The agency said the meas
ures were taken 'in. connection
with the provocative actions of
the United States Government
and aggressive intentions Of
the American armed forces"
Officers Summoned
Marshal Andrea A. Grechko
also summoned officers repre-
senting the armies of the War;
saw pact - the Communist
counterpart to the North Attain
tic Treaty Alliance.
Tass said he ISSUED instruc-
tions concerning a series of
measures to raise the military
preparedness Of the troops and
fleets making up the joint
armed forces"
Earlier yesterday, before the
Presidents address. Pravda
commentators, Y. Litoshko and
M. Podklyuchinkov, described
the prelude to the Presidents
speech as alarming"
1.-THE atmosphere of military
hysteria which seized Wash
ington in recent days clearly
indicates that the aggressors
intend to continue their reck-
less playing with fire, to bring
international tension to red
heat" they wrote.
But let the, lovers Of armed
adventures note we'll: He who
plays with fire risks burning
his fingers"
Curiously, not one word has
been published here on the out
break of serious conflict on the
Chinese Indian border.
It was believed the Soviet
leaders are concerned about
alarming the Russian people
with the specter of possible in
volvment in a shooting war.
In Poland, the government
controlled press reported Presi-
dent Kennedy's quarantine
against further military ship
ments to Cuba without giving
the Presidents reasons.
The official C Communist news
paper Trybuna Ludu headlined
its account of Kennedy's dec
laration: "New Aggressive Steps
Against Cuban Republic" The
papers carried news Of the mill
tary blockade, Mr.. Kennedy's
request for a special United Ma
tons Security Council session
and other new United States
moves on their, inside pages,
They omitted the Presidents
report of finding evidence of
guided missile installations on
Cuba and his charges of Soviet
Justification. > ..-----