The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-04-19
Cuba-Containment
Or Invasion?

w AtoI1ING YIN, ~. C.-Sen. Ever
ett Dirksen, whose relations with the
Kennedy Administration continue TO
BATTLE his fellow-Republicans almost
as much as they do the liberal Demo
Gratis, suggests that the Costa RIGA
conference has been much ado about
nothing. But whatever the price tag
for Latin Americas ''new deal" turns
out to be, Dirksen is sure it will be
too much.
This is not exactly a new twist on
an old theme. Right-wing Republicans
believe there is still political mileage
to be made by INVITING the Admins
tration about its inability ito rid Cuba
of Castro. Unlike Sen. Kenneth Keat-
ing, the New York Republican, who
has offered constructive suggestions
on what might be done, Dirksen is
content to join the claque whose mot
to appear to be: Don't just stand
there, do something.
But they never say what.
Impatience over Communist infil-
tration of Cuba is not difficult to
understand. The inclination of poll
tieians to make capital of it comes
as no surprise. The Republicans are
returning the Kennedy taunts of
1860. Administration spokesman are
begging them to let up. They hurt.
Yet when the Administration
comes up with positive proposals,
short of war, the public has a right
to expect something more than a
quick mo- from Dirksen or his
right-wing associates. Amusing as
the ADMINISTRATOR embarrass-
ment may be to politicians, | doubt
that the ordinary American finds
it equally amusing.
Three separate approaches seem
to be developing on what to do about
Cuba. There is what Walter Lipp-
mann calls the "war whoop'' party
who, suppose, are eager to go a
little further with direct military
action than some realize. A second
group. for whom Heating is emerging
as spokesman, advocates economic
pressure, yes; invasion, no.. Finally |
here is a third APPROACH, which is !
hat of the Administration.
After the meeting with the Cen
raj American presidents, Mr.. Ken
ledy made it clear that U. S. emphasis |
will be on eradicating social and Geo.
romic ills throughout the hemisphere.
example we hope to rob
Communism of it's appeal to the hum
Try and neglected.
An affirmative approach is bound
o be less dramatic than military
INVASION. Certainly it will take longer
O produce results. But once the Lat
MS begin to see the Alliance for
'rogress working out, the results may
e more lasting.
Before we proceed much further
ye must figure out what are the
eeds. Once that is done we may ask
ow much it will cost. Nobody knows
or sure. and there is no certain way
f knowing.
But how much will military action
ost? What is the price tag on Dirk
ems negativism? The price could
e high. Also we must remember that
as Castro is to us there are
ome Latins who admire the brasil
ess, impudence, and defiance of the
uban DAVID who talks back to the
ankee Goliath. 1t is not inevitable
lat they would be on our side.
Military action by American
forces would revive "anti-Yankee"
feeling of such intensity that gen.
.rations of Latin Americans and
North Americans might not be on
peaking terms. That would be
quite penalty to pay, too.
It's true that we have not yet suf-
GENTLY exploited for propaganda
lrposes the failure of Communism
bring happiness, tranquility, or