YouSaid · the spoken record

CASTRO

lines on the record: 272
first: 1960-09-24
most recent: 1979-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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“But in the interest of the peoples of Latin America, we feel it our duty, in the interests of solidarity to make it quite plain that aid must be free of political conditions: public investment for economic development, not social development, which is the latest gambit invented to conceal the real need for economic development, 182. The problems of Latin America resemble those of the rest of the world, of Africa and of Asia. The world is divided among the monopolies. The same monopolies that we see in Latin America are to be found in the Middle East. There, oil is in the hands of monopolistic companies controlled by financial interests of the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands and France. This is true of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and, all parts of the world.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Development in Latin America will have to take place by means of planned public investment made without political conditions, for, naturally, we all want to represent free countries and none of us wishes to represent a country which does not feel itself free. None of us wants the independence of our country to be subordinated to any interest which is not that of the country. Hence, aid must be without political conditions. 181. The fact that we are not offered assistance does not matter. We have not requested it.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Who is going to industrialize Latin America? The monopolies? No. There is a United Nations economic report which explains that instead of going to the countries where it is most needed to establish basic industry to help in development, private investment capital goes preferably to the more industrialized countries because there, according to what is said or believed, it finds greater security. Obviously, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has recognized that there is no possibility of development through private investment capital, in other words, through the monopolies. 180.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“This economic control is exercised by United States monopolies, masters of the most important industries in the country, which is thus entirely dependent on the monopolies. 178. Woe betide these countries on the day when they too wish to engage in land reform! They will be asked for prompt, effective and fair compensation and if, despite all this, they succeed in land reform, the representatives of these sister countries who come to the United Nations will find themselves confined to Manhattan, unable to take a hotel room, covered with insults and possibly even manhandled by the police. 179. The problem of Cuba is only one example of what is taking place in Latin America. How long will Latin America have to wait for development? Under the policies of the monopolies, it will have to wait till the Greek Calends.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“These monopolies, where they do not directly own the mines and control all mining, as in the case of copper in Chile, Peru or Mexico, zinc in Peru and Mexico, and oil in Venezuela, own the public utilities, as in the case of electricity in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, or the telephone service as in Chile, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Paraguay and Bolivia; or else they control the marketing of our products, as in the case of coffee in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, or in the case of bananas which are grown and sold, as well as transported, by the United Fruit Company in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras, or in the case of cotton in Mexico or Brazil.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Cuba's case is that of all the under-developed countries; it resembles that of the Congo, of Egypt, Algeria, West Irian, Panama, which wants its Canal, Puerto Rico, whose national spirit is being destroyed, Honduras, which is being deprived of part of its territory; in short, although we have not referred specifically to the rest, the case of Cuba is that of all the under-developed and colonial countries, 177. The problems we have described in connexion with Cuba apply equally well to the whole of Latin America. It is the monopolies that control the economic resources of all Latin America.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In any event, I shall try to avoid wrong interpretations of any kind. 175. Up to now I have been dealing with the problem of Cuba, which is our basic reason for coming to the United Nations. However, we fully realize that it would be somewhat selfish on our part if our concern was limited to our own specific case. Of course, we have spent most of our time in giving the Assembly information about Cuba’s case, so there is not much left for the other questions, to which we will refer only briefly. 176. Cuba's is not an isolated case. It would be a mistake to think so.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“However, he would appear to have read in some novel or seen in some Hollywood film some story about guerrillas and he thinks that it is socially possible to carry out a guerrilla war in Cuba today. 171. However you look at this, it is discouraging, but let nobody think that these remarks on Kennedy’s statements indicate any sympathy on our part for the other candidate, Mr. Nixon, who has made similar statements. As far as we are concerned, both of them lack political sense. 174. We have no intention of departing in any way from the rules which govern conduct in the United Nations and the President may count on my co-operation in order to prevent anything that I say from being misinterpreted. I have no intention of offending anybody. It is to some extent a question of style and above all, a question of confidence in the Assembly.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In order to understand why there are aircraft flying from United States territory to Cuba, listen carefully to what this candidate has to say:“The forces that are struggling for freedom in exile and in the mountains of Cuba must be supplied and assisted and in other countries of Latin America communism must be confined without allowing it to expand or spread.” 170. If Kennedy was not an illiterate and ignorant millionaire, he would understand that it is impossible to carry out a revolution against the peasants in the mountains with the aid of the landowners, and that whenever imperialism has tried to stir up counterrevolutionary groups, within a very short time the peasant militia has put them out of action.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“"We must state our intention of not allowing the Soviet Union to turn Cuba into its Caribbean base, and apply the Monroe Doctrine." More than half way through the twentieth century this Presidential candidate talks about the Monroe Doctrine! "We must force Prime Minister Castro to understand that we propose to defend our right to the naval base of Guantanamo." He is the third one to speak of this problem. "And we must show the Cuban people that we sympathize with their legitimate economic aspirations ..." Why did they not sympathize before? “…that we know full well their love for freedom and that we shall never be satisfied until democracy returns to Cuba”What democracy? The made-in-America democracy of the imperialist monopolies of the United States Government. 169.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“It is important for this Assembly to be well informed on Cuban problems because we must all be on the alert against deceit and confusion. We must explain all these matters very clearly because they affect the security and the future of our country. I ask therefore that these words that I have said be noted very carefully, particularly in view of the fact that there seems to be no prospect of correcting the erroneous view which the politicians of this country have in regard to Cuba's problems. 168. For example, I have here some statements by Mr. Kennedy which are enough to astound anyone. On Cuba he says: "We must use all the power of the Organization of American States to prevent Castro from interfering with other Latin American Governments and to return freedom to Cuba." They are going to restore freedom to Cuba!”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The imperialist Government of the United States will then have no alternative but to withdraw these forces. For how could it justify to the world its right to install an atomic base or a base which involves danger to our people in part of our national territory, on the island which is the Cuban people's home in this world? How could if justify to the world its right to retain sovereignty over a portion of our territory? How could it stand before the world and justify such an arbitrary procedure? And because it will be unable to justify its right to do so to the world, when our Government makes a request under the rules of international law, the United States Government will have no option but to yield. 167.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We must therefore say here, in the first place, that this talk about attacks is intended to create hysteria and to pave the way for aggression against our country, and that we have never said a single word which would imply any kind of attack on the naval base at Guantanamo, because we are the first to be anxious to avoid giving the imperialists any excuse for attacking us. I say this quite categorically. At the same time, I must say that as soon as this country began to constitute a threat to the peace and security of our country and people, the Revolutionary Government began very seriously to consider requesting, under the rules of international law, the withdrawal of the United States Government’s naval and military forces from this portion of our national territory.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“There is a base on our island territory which is directed against Cuba and against the Revolutionary Government of Cuba, that is to say, it is in the hands of those who are the declared enemies of our country, our revolution and our people. 165. Of all the bases scattered today throughout the world, Cuba’s is the most tragic case. A base for the use of force, on what is indisputably our territory, far from the coast of the United States, directed against Cuba and the Cuban people, imposed on us by force and constituting a constant threat and cause of anxiety to our people. 166.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Bridges if he is not ashamed to threaten a little country like Cuba with atomic weapons. 163. For my own part, with all due respect I must tell him that the world’s problems are not solved by threatening nor by sowing fear, and that our humble little country is there, no matter how much he dislikes it, and that the revolution will go on, no matter how much he dislikes it, and moreover, that our humble little people will resign themselves to their fate and are not frightened at all by his threats to use atomic weapons. 164. What does this mean? There are many countries here that have United States bases, but at least they are not directed against the very Governments which granted the facilities, at least as far as we know. Our case is the most tragic.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“He said that the United States must be prepared to maintain its naval base at Guantanamo in Cuba at all costs. He said, “We must go as far as necessary to defend the tremendous United States installation. We have naval forces there; we have the Marines and, if we were attacked, I would certainly defend it for I believe that it is the most important base in the Caribbean area.” 162. This member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, Mr. Bridges, did not entirely rule out the use of atomic weapons in the case of an attack on the base. What does that mean? It means not only that he is trying to create hysteria, not only that he is systematically preparing the ground, but that he is even threatening us with the use of atomic weapons. Really, among many other things, I am inclined to ask this Mr.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Has this Admiral Burke not realized that we are living -in the atomic age, with its catastrophic destructive force which not even Dante or Leonardo da Vinci with all their imagination could foresee, for it surpasses anything that mankind could ever imagine? Nevertheless, he makes this estimate and the United Press has spread it all over the world. The magazine, the U.S. News & World Report is about to be published. Already they are starting to prepare the campaign, starting to whip up hysteria, starting to reveal the imaginary danger of some attack by us against the base. 161. But that is not all. Yesterday, there appeared another dispatch from the United Press containing statements by the United States Senator Styles Bridges who is, I believe, a member of the United States Senate Armed Forces Committee.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“But let us suppose that, Admiral Burke is mistaken; let us suppose that he, although an Admiral, is wrong — then Admiral Burke is gambling irresponsibly with the fate of the world. Admiral Burke and all the other members of his aggressive military group, are gambling with the fate of the world. It would hardly be worth bothering about our own individual fates; but I believe that as representatives of the various peoples of the world, we are in duly bound to worry about the fate of the world and to condemn all those who gamble irresponsibly with it. These people are not only gambling with the fate of my country; they are gambling with the fate of their own country and with the fate of all the peoples of the world. Or does this Admiral Burke believe that he is still living in the age of the blunderbuss?”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“He knows he will be destroyed if the does — I mean Russia will be destroyed!'" 160. First of all, I must point out that in this gentleman's view the fact that industrial production in my country has increased by 35 per cent, that more than 200,000 Cubans have been given employment, that many of my country's great social problems have been solved, amounts to wrecking the country. It is because of these facts that these people take upon themselves the right to make preparations for aggression. You have seen what a dangerous estimate he makes, for this gentleman calculates virtually that in the event of an attack on us, we should stand alone. That is entirely Admiral Burke's idea.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“'Is that because of Cuba's strategic position in the Caribbean?' he was asked. 'Not necessarily'. Admiral Burke said. 'Here is a country with a people normally very friendly to the United States, people who have liked the people of this country — and we have liked them. Yet, here has come a man with a small hard core of communists determined to change all of that. Castro has taught hatred of the United States, and he has gone far towards wrecking his country.' Admiral Burke said 'we would react very fast’ if Castro moved against the Guantanamo base. ‘If they would try to take the base by force, we would fight back' he added. To a question whether Soviet Premier Khrushchev's threats about retaliatory rockets give Admiral Burke 'second thoughts about fighting in Cuba', the Admiral said: 'No. Because he is not going to launch his rockets.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And this concern on our part is increasing because the United States is becoming more aggressive and the signs of that aggressiveness are becoming more alarming. 159. I have here, for example, a United Press cable which came to my country, reading as follows: "Admiral Arleigh Burke, United States Chief of Naval Operations, says that if Cuba should attempt to take the Guantanamo Naval Base by force 'we would fight back'. In a copyrighted interview published today in the magazine U.S. News & World Report” (forgive me if I do not pronounce it correctly) "Admiral Burke was asked if the Navy is concerned about the situation in Cuba under Castro. 'Yes, our Navy is concerned not about our base at Guantanamo, but about the whole Cuban situation', Admiral Burke said. He added that all the military services are concerned.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And yet there is a base in the heart of our island which involves us in danger should a conflict break out. 158. However, is this the only danger? No. There is another danger which causes us more concern because it is closer. The Revolutionary Government of Cuba has repeatedly expressed its concern lest the imperialist Government of the United States should use this base on our territory as a pretext for self-aggression which would justify an attack on our country. I repeat, the Revolutionary Government of Cuba is greatly concerned — and makes known its concern here — lest the imperialist Government of the United States use self-aggression as a pretext for an attack on our country.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“There are other circumstances even more alarming for our people. It is well known that, by virtue of the Platt Amendment, imposed by force on our people, the United States Government assumed the right to establish naval bases on our territory, a right imposed and maintained by force. 157. The existence of a foreign naval base in the territory of any country is a just reason for concern. We Cubans are concerned because, a country which maintains an aggressive and warlike international policy has established such a base in the heart of our island and we are thus exposed to the dangers of an international atomic conflict without being in any way responsible. We have absolutely nothing to do with the problems of the United States Government and with the crises which the United States Government is provoking.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“I request the Assembly to take note of this complaint which we make on behalf of the Government and people of Cuba. 155. Does the United States Government consider itself entitled to foster subversion in our country, violating all international agreements and encroaching upon our radio wavelengths to the great detriment of our own broadcasting stations? Does this mean perhaps that the Revolutionary Government of Cuba also has the right to encourage subversion in the United States? Does it perhaps mean that the Government of Cuba also has the right to violate United States radio wavelengths? What rights can the United States Government have over our people and over our island? How can it behave like that? Let it give back Swan Island to Honduras because it has never had any jurisdiction over that island. 156.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“On this island, in breach of international law, despoiling a neighbouring country of a portion of its territory and infringing international broadcasting conventions, the United States has set up a powerful radio transmitter which it has entrusted to the war criminals and the subversive groups it maintains in this country. On that island, too, men are being trained in the tactics of subversion and for armed landings in Cuba. If would be well for the Honduran representative to the General Assembly to claim here his country's right to this piece of its territory. However, that is his own affair. What concerns us is that a piece of territory belonging to a neighbouring country should be seized piratically by the United States Government and used as a base for subversion and attacks against Cuba.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“154. It is well that we should be properly informed. In the first place, the United States Government considers itself entitled to foster subversion in our country. The United States Government is encouraging the organization of subversive movements against the Revolutionary Government of Cuba, and we are complaining of this policy here in the General Assembly. Specifically, we wish to complain of the fact that a Caribbean island which belongs to Honduras, known as Swan Island, has been forcibly seized by the United States Government. United States Marines are stationed there, despite the fact that the territory belongs to Honduras.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“As President Eisenhower said in his statement of 26 January, the Government of the United States must remain free, in the exercise of its own sovereignly, to take whatever steps it deems necessary, fully consistent with its international obligations, in the defence of the legitimate rights and interests of its people." 153. In other words, the United States Government does not condescend to discuss its differences with a small country like Cuba. What hope has the Cuban people for the solution of these problems? All the facts which we have been able to observe here militate against the solution of these problems and the United Nations should take careful account of this because the Cuban Government and people are extremely concerned about the aggressive trend which has developed in the policy of the United States Government towards Cuba.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“It seems unnecessary to add that the adherence of your Government to this point of view would not only contribute to the improvement in file relations between our respective countries but also reaffirm the spirit of fraternal friendship which has bound and still binds our peoples. It would, moreover, permit both Governments to examine, in a serene atmosphere and with the broadest scope, the traditional relations between Cuba and the United States of America." 152. What was the reply from the Government of the United States? "...the Government of the United States cannot accept the conditions for the negotiations stated in your Excellency’s note to the effect that no unilateral measure shall be adopted on the part of the Government of the United States affecting the Cuban economy and people, whether by the legislative or executive branch.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“in accordance with its expressed proposal to renew through diplomatic channels the negotiations already begun on matters pending between Cuba and the United States of America, it has decided to name a commission, qualified for the purpose, which could begin its negotiations in Washington on the date which the two parties might agree." "The Revolutionary Government of Cuba wishes to make clear, however, that the renewal and subsequent development of the said negotiations must necessarily be subject to no unilateral measure being adopted, by the Government or Congress of your country, which might prejudge the results of the aforementioned negotiations or cause harm to the Cuban economy and people.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The Government of Cuba wishes to maintain and extend diplomatic and - economic relations with the Government and people of the United States, on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocal benefit, and believes that on such a basis the traditional friendship between the Cuban and United States peoples is indestructible." On 22 February 1960, the Revolutionary Government of Cuba informed the United States Government that "...”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And it must have its reasons for not wishing to discuss its problems with Cuba. 151. I have here a note sent by the Revolutionary Government of Cuba to the Government of the United States on 27 January 1960. It states: "The differences of opinion which may exist between both Governments as subjects for diplomatic negotiations can be settled effectively by such negotiations. The Government of Cuba is ready and Willing to discuss all these differences, without reservations and in the broadest possible terms. It states categorically that, in its view, there are no obstacles of any kind which prevent the holding of such negotiations through any of the channels normally used for this purpose.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“This, of course, means markets for investments of surplus capital, investments of the kind that are amortized in five years. 149. The United States Government cannot propose a plan for public investment because this would run counter to its very "raison d’être”, namely, the United States monopolies. This is quite frankly the real reason why no genuine economic development programme is being put forward: to preserve our lands in Latin America, Africa and Asia for the investment of surplus capital. 150. Thus far we have referred to the problems of my own country. Why have these problems not been solved? Is it because we do not want to solve them? No; the Government of Cuba has always been ready to discuss its problems with the United States Government but the United States Government has not wished to discuss its problems with Cuba.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The answer is very simple: it is because the United States Government does not want to stand up to the monopolies and the monopolies require natural resources and investment markets for their capital. 148. That is where the great contradiction lies. That is why the true solution of the problem is not sought; that is why no programmes are being drawn up for the development of the under-developed countries. It is well that this should be stated in all frankness because, in the final analysis, we under-developed countries are in the majority here, in case anyone is unaware of the fact. And, in the final analysis, it is we who can see what is happening in the under-developed countries. However, the real solution is not sought and here there is always talk about the participation of private capital.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We do not close the door on anyone; we do not place restrictions on anyone. Any of our colleagues in this Assembly can visit Cuba and see with his own eyes. You all know that chapter in the Bible which speaks of Saint Thomas, who said that he had to see in order to believe. We can invite any journalist or any representative to visit Cuba and see what a people can do with its own resources, when they are invested honestly and rationally. 147. We are not only settling our housing and educational difficulties but also our development problems because otherwise our social problems would remain unsolved. But what is happening? Why is the United States Government unwilling to speak of development?”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“145. After all, some of my Latin American colleagues may feel it is their duty to be discreet here, but I myself can welcome a revolution like the Cuban revolution. At least it has forced the monopolies to return a small part of what they have seized from the peoples of Latin America in the form of natural resources and labour, 146. We are not worried by the fact that we are not included in the United States aid plan. We are not going to get alarmed about that. We have already been settling these problems for a long time. However, some may feel that we are engaging in propaganda here, because the President of the United States said that some Members were going to come to this rostrum for that purpose. Of course, any of our United Nations colleagues is invited to visit Cuba at any time.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Previously, it had completely ignored them. What a coincidence that these problems are now causing it concern! Any connexion between this concern and the Cuban revolution will, of course, be interpreted as purely fortuitous. 144. Formerly, the monopolies sole concern was to exploit the under-developed countries, but with the advent of the Cuban revolution they began to get worried. And at the same time that the United States is attacking us economically and trying to ruin us, it offers charity to the peoples of Latin America, not in the form of resources for general development — which is what Latin America wants — but resources for social development, for houses for men who have no work, for schools which no children will attend and for hospitals which would foe not so necessary if there were, a little less malnutrition in Latin America.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“If the houses are built, what are the families who move into them going to live on? Where are the children who are to go to these schools going to get shoes, clothes and food? Surely they realize that parents will not send their children to school without clothes or shoes? Where is the money going to come from to pay the teachers and doctors? Where is the money going to come from to pay for the medicines? One good way of saving money on medicines would, be to improve the people’s diet. Money spent on feeding the people will not have to be spent on hospitals. 143. Now, faced, with the tremendous reality of underdevelopment, the United States Government comes out with a plan for social development. Of course, the fact that the United States Government is showing an interest in the problems of Latin America is in itself something remarkable.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“By making proper use of this wealth and these resources, the Revolutionary Government is able to implement a plan for the industrialization of the country and the expansion of agricultural production and at the same time to build houses and schools, send teachers to the most remote villages and provide medical services, in other words to carry out a programme of social development. As you know, at the recent meeting in Bogota the United States Government put forward a plan. But it was not a plan for economic development. It was a plan for social development, by which is meant, a plan for building houses, schools and roads. Does this solve the problem? How can social problems be solved without a plan for economic development? Do they want to make fools of the people of Latin America?”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Thus, Cuba used to import $35 million worth of cars and $5 million worth of tractors, A predominantly agricultural country was importing seven times as many cars as tractors. We have reversed the figures and are importing seven times as many tractors as cars. 141. Close to $500 million has been recovered from the politicians who had enriched themselves during the tyranny. We have recovered a total of close to $500 million in cash and other assets from the corrupt politicians who had been plundering our country for seven years. 142.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“This virtually unique achievement was possible because the Revolutionary Government made over 100,000 small tenant farmers into landowners and at the same time maintained large-scale production by means of agricultural producers’ co-operatives. By tiding co-operatives to maintain large-scale production It was possible to apply the most modern agricultural techniques, and from the very outset production increased. And we have carried through this programme of social betterment and provided teachers, houses and hospitals without sacrificing resources for development. 140. The Revolutionary Government is already carrying out a programme of industrialization and the first factories are now being built. We have used our country’s resources rationally.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In another field, that of the conservation of natural resources, we can point with pride to the fact that in a single year, in the most ambitious plan for the conservation of natural resources being carried out in this continent, including the United States and Canada, we have planted approximately 50 million timber- producing trees. 138. Young people, for whom there were no jobs or schools, have been organized by the Revolutionary Government and are today being employed in work that is of value to the country and at the same time are being trained for productive employment. 139. Agricultural production has increased from the very outset.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The most important military fortresses are being used to house tens of thousands of students and next year our people propose to launch an all-out offensive against illiteracy, with the ambitious goal of teaching every illiterate person to read and-write. Organizations of teachers, students and workers — the entire people- are preparing themselves for an intensive campaign and within a few months Cuba will be the first country in the Americas to be able to claim that it has not a single illiterate inhabitant. 136. Our people now benefit from the services of hundreds of doctors who have been sent to the country districts to fight diseases caused by parasites and improve sanitary conditions in the nation. 137.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And yet despite these difficulties the Cuban revolution is changing what was yesterday a country without hope, a country of poverty, many of whose people could not read or write, into a country which will soon be one of the most advanced and highly developed in the Americas. 134. In a scant twenty months the Revolutionary Government has opened 10,000 new schools, that is, double the number of rural schools which had been built in the previous half century, and Cuba is today the first country in the Americas to meet all its school needs, with teachers even in the most remote mountain villages. 135. In this short space of time the Revolutionary Government has built 25,000 houses in rural and urban areas. Fifty new towns are under construction.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“This is why we small countries Still do not feel certain that our rights will be preserved. This is why, when we small countries Seek to be free, we know that we must become free by our Own efforts and at our own risk. When a people is united and is defending a just cause, it can trust in its own strength. In Cuba we are not, as we have been alleged to be, a group of men governing a country. We are a people governing a country, an entire nation resolutely united in an unshakeable revolutionary spirit in defence of its rights. This is something that the enemies of the revolution and of Cuba should know for if they ignore it they are grievously mistaken. 133. This is the background to the Cuban revolution. What is the state of the country? Why have difficulties arisen?”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Perhaps it was felt that it would be easier to obtain an automatic majority in the OAS, although it is hard to see why, as automatic majorities have frequently been obtained here in the United Nations. With all due respect to this Organization, I must say that our people, the people of Cuba, have learned much; they are, and I say this with pride, equal to the task they are undertaking, to the heroic struggle they are waging; they have learnt a lesson from recent international events and they know that at the eleventh hour, when their rights have been denied, when the forces of aggression are marshalled against them, when their rights are not protected either in the Organization of American States or in the United Nations, there still remains to them the ultimate and heroic remedy of resistance. 132.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Sometimes we do not heed criticism, particularly when we forget that as persons privileged to play a role at this crucial moment in history, we Shall some day be judged by history for our acts. When we think how our country found itself without defenders at the meeting in Costa Rica, we smile because that episode will be judged by history. I say so without bitterness. It is difficult to blame men. Men are frequently the playthings of circumstances and we who are familiar with our country's history and know at first hand what it is enduring today, understand how terrible it is when a nation's economy and way of life in general are subordinate to foreign economic power. 131. I need only note that our country was left undefended and point to the concern that the question should not reach the United Nations.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“If the United States considers that it is incapable of committing a particular crime, it is sufficient to say that since there is no possibility of its attacking Cuba, there is no possibility of the Soviet Union supporting that little country. But that principle was not laid down. The principle laid down was that the Soviet Union should be censured for its interference. There was no mention of the bombing of Cuba, no mention of the aggression against Cuba. 130. There is, of course, one thing that we should all bear in mind. All of us here, without exception, are actors and participants in a crucial moment in the history of mankind. Sometimes censure does not seem to strike home.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The Government of the United States was not censured for the sixty flights by pirate aircraft; it was not censured for economic aggression and the many other acts of aggression committed. On the contrary, they censured the Soviet Union. It was an extraordinary thing to do. The Soviet Union had not committed aggression against us; no Soviet aircraft had flown over our territory and yet in Costa Rica they censured the Soviet Union for interference. The Soviet Union had merely said that in the event of military aggression against cur country, Soviet artillerymen could, figuratively speaking, support the victim of aggression. Since when has support for a small country, in the event of an attack on it by a powerful country, been regarded as interference? In law there is what is called an “impossible condition".”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“That was nothing new. Our country should have been protected but it was not. Why? At this point we must consider facts and not forms. According to the dead letter of the law, we are protected; in reality we have no protection whatsoever, for the facts count more than the law set forth in international cedes and the fact is that a small country attacked by a powerful Government had no defence and could not be protected. 129. What happened at the meeting in Costa Rica? By a miracle of ingenuity, neither the United States nor the Government of the United States was censured — and may I say at this point that our feelings towards the people of the United States should not be confused with our feelings towards the United States Government.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Is there any one here who could in honestly deny the intervention of the United Fruit Company and the United States Department of State in the overthrow of the lawful Government of Guatemala? I realize that there are some who consider it their duty as officials to be discreet in this matter and who are capable of coming to this rostrum with a denial, but in their heart of hearts they know that what I say is a fact. 128. Cuba was not the first country to be attacked; it was not the first country in danger of aggression. Everyone in the Americas knows that the United States Government has always laid down the law, the law that might is right, which it has used to destroy the Puerto Rican nation and maintain its dominion over the island, the law by virtue of which it took possession of, and still holds, the Panama Canal.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)