Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-20
Senators Urge
Pu|Iout Of All
Soviet Troops
BY the Associated Press

SVVIVI HVVpS
BY the Associated Press
Leading congressional Dem
ocrats Joined several Repub-
licans today in calling for the
withdrawal Of all and not just
part-of the 1900 Russian
troops in Cuba.
A written communication to
President Kennedy that Soviet
Premier Khrushchev plans to
ship several thousand Russian
soldiers home soon was hailed
as q significant development.
But members of both parties
said the Kennedy administra-
ton must continue to press
with all Of the force at its
command for complete evacua-
ton Of Russian military men
from the island.
Some informants said the
Russians had given assurance
that several thousand troops
would be out Of Cuba by
March Is. The Kennedy ad-
ministration Is now waiting to
see what steps the Soviets take.
There was no official COM
ment from the White House
or the State Department.
Ships Reported on Way
John A. Mccone, director of
the Cenral Intelligence Agency,
was reported to have told the
House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee yesterday that several
empty Russian merchant ships
were on their way to Cuba.
In reports from congressional
and diplomatic sources here, no
figure other than several
thousand" has been given on
the promised withdrawal of
troops. United States guesses
on what several thousand"
meant ranged from 5000 to
5000.
And there was no indication
from these sources on whether
additional Russian weapons
might be removed from Cuba.
While urging the administra-
ton to press for the withdrawal
of all Soviet forces from Cuba,
no members of Congress came
forward with any concrete pro-
posals as to how this could be
accomplished short Of force
a policy gap Senator Aiken,
Republican Of Vermont, said
he is convinced the Democratic
administration shares.
Urges Pressure
Chairman Russell of the SEN
ate Armed Services Committee
said that while the Soviet
pledge to withdraw some troops
is encouraging I'VE cannot be
complacent about it until all
the Russian troops and tech
nicians manning any weapons
are removed"
Senator Saltonstall of Mas
sachusetts, top Republican on
the Armed Services group, urged
in a separate interview that
this country keep up the pres
sure" to get all Of the Rus
sains out.
Senator Stennis, Democrat
of Mississippi, head Of the Sen
ate Preparedness Subcommit-
tee, said the Soviet move was
only a first step.
Our policy must be to insist
that they all be withdrawn"
he said. This is the only thing
that will really remove the
menace"
| Senator Stennis said his sub
committee, which begins an in
lvestigation Of the Cuban situa-
ton later this week, will want
to know Just what kind of
troops are being removed. The
administration has said there
are 5000 hattle-ready combat
troops stationed in Cuba, along
with Soviet "technicians."
Senator Goldwater. Republi-
can of Arizona, found little en-
couragement in the withdrawal
of only a part Of the Russian
garrison. He said there should
not be one uniformed Russian
or technician left in Cuba.
Senate Democratic Leader
Mansfield voiced hope - which
he said was shared by Mr..
Kennedy-that Mr.. Khrushchev
will call all Of his troops home. .
But Senator Mansfield said
thus far there is nothing but
hope on that score.
Chairman Morgan. Democrat
Of Pennsylvania, reported that
Mr.. McCone had told the House
Foreign Affairs Committee in
closed session that several
empty merchant ships are on
their way to Cuba"
Sees Uncertainty
Senator Aiken, who attended
Ia White House conference
Monday night at which Mr..
Kennedy read portions Of Mr..