Speech #880023227

D.C. DEAR Ma. THOMAS: You are aware of course. of the growing public sentiment in Miami for increased emphasis on relocation of refugees from Castros communism to other parts of the United States to relieve the pressure on our area which has been caused by the absorption of.so many of these fine people. I am aware. of course. that the Department has done a commendable job to date in transferring more than 50.000 of the refugees to other parts of the Nation. It was pointed out at our Miami hearings. you will recall. that many of the refugees return to Miami because of its geographic location to Cuba. because of the climate and because of the desire to be close to people of their own tongue and social customs. A strong underlying motive. of course. has been the compelling desire by these people to do something actively to rid the hemisphere of Castro* and to free their homeland. To a large extent. they are frustrated in this area because of limitations on their activity. It occurred to me that we might develop an original program to put the energies of these active people to work in an allout psychological and intellectual "cold war" against Castro and communism. These people. many. many of them. could be our first line of offense in building public opinion throughout the Latin American and South American countries against Castros current effort to export communism to those countries and infect other nations with the long-. range plan by Moscow to infiltrate and bring about the downfall of these nations. - I The Presidents outstanding Peace Corps program has done much to help the people of Latin America. as it has throughout the world. and to let the people of many nations see democracy in action. I want to explore with you a plan for creation of a Latin Peace Corps under the Cuban refugee program with the following objectives: 1. To provide a program under which Cuban refugees could volunteer for assignment to Latin American nations to tell the story as eyewitnesses about what has hap_ pened and what is happening in Cuba. 2. The program should be devised so that their skills can be used according to their occupations in such fields as teaching. medicine. law. writing. and engineering. 3. Those volunteering under the Latin Peace Corps program would receive benefits comparable to those they now qualify for as refugees while on assignment. It seems to me that this approach would have a strong appeal to thousands of these people who want to do something actively to fight Castro and communism. . This approach to "resettlement" is one that should have considerable appeal to the refugee colony in Miami. and an approach which could be useful to our country. I respect your experience as an expert in. the field of resettlement activities based on your 18year career. and solicit your opinion. and suggestions with regard to the creation of a Latin Peace Corps as described above. Kindest regards. and Always sincerely.