Speech #880041614

I cannot for a moment subscribe to the view. as some would have us do. that the presence of Soviet troops in Cuba is a mixed blessing. because they can control Castros emotional and irrational actions. On the contrary. the Soviet presence in Cuba is simply intolerable to all patriotic Americans. all of whom are gradually coming to the realization that the threat of the Soviet presence in Cuba is so grave that. one way or another. sooner or later. it will have to be eradicated. The Cuban refugees and exiles share similar views. Mr. President. I am personally distressed to hear the repeated accusations of obvious selfinterest directed against the Cuban refugee and the continuing maligning of his character. Despite the fact that more than 168.000 Cuban refugees have either fled to or have settled in the greater Miami area. it is reported that there has been no increase in the crime rate there. nor has there been any recorded court case of juvenile delinquency or illegitimacy attributable to the Cuban exile. This. I think. is a commendable reflection upon the good morals. high standards. and sterling character of the Cuban refugee. Yet. whenever he expresses his opinion upon the necessity. for the good of the hemisphere. of getting rid of communism in Cuba. his motives are immediately impugned. because. as it is claimed. his only interest is to reacquire his wealth and possessions which have been confiscated or expropriated by the Cuban Communist regime. While I am realistic enough to know that some of the Cuban refugees may be motivated by economic or political gain by the overthrow of Castro and the eradication of communism from Cuba. nevertheless. the overwhelming majority are interested in returning to a free and democratic Cuba. How can we condemn the Cuban patriotic fervor when our own independence was achieved by men of similar patriotism? Isnt it really the unlawful presence of Russians in this hemisphere that is the root of the problem when the claim is made that the Cuban exile is trying to dictate the foreign policy of the United States. that is. another United StatesSoviet Union confrontation. coming about through raids and forays of Cuban exile organizations against Castro?