THE WEEK

President Kennedy told a Central American Head of State (from whom national review got this story) that Communist China now has the atom bomb and will explode it in “a few days, weeks or months.” The conversation took place at the San José conference a month ago. Mr. Kennedy told national review’s informant that possession of the A-bomb would enormously enhance Red China’s prestige and make it necessary for the United States to concentrate on saving Laos and Vietnam lest all of Southeast Asia be lost. This was why, the President said, we could do nothing about Cuba now. JFK’s suggestion was that all patriotic Cubans enlist in the United States Army and thus prove their devotion to freedom. Cuba, he assured them, would be liberated—some other time.

New York’s Conservative Party sponsored a public forum on Cuba at Town Hall, May 7, with panelists Ralph de Toledano, Mel Hunter, former Ambassador Spruille Braden, former Ambassador Earl E. T. Smith, Gen. A. C. Wedemeyer, and Frank S. Meyer. Before a lively audience of about 1,000 the panel gave a review of Castro’s rise to power (Braden said State had been warned of Castro’s Communist connections for eleven years) and reached agreement on the need for action against Castro. Establish a government in exile and support a counter-revolution—”we have to stand firm somewhere in the world” (E.E.T.S.). ‘‘Modernize the Monroe Doctrine so that it is applicable to subversive activities. . . . We’re losing the world by increments” (A.C.W.). “The only way to make sure missiles aren’t in Cuba is to go in there and take them out” (M.H.). “Move in with an overwhelming force; the stronger the force, the fewer the casualties” (R. de T.). “The real risk of nuclear warfare is to keep on retreating” (F.S.M.). “It’s no longer a question of saving Cuba, it’s a question of saving the United States” (S.B.). Because of the difficulties of aerial reconnaissance on an overcast evening, the New York Times reported only 300 in the audience. In high places such underestimations can be terribly costly.

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President Kennedy told a Central American Head of State (from whom national review got this story) that Communist China now has the atom bomb and will explode it in “a few days, weeks or months.” The conversation took place at the San José conference a month ago. Mr. Kennedy told national review’s informant that possession of the A-bomb would enormously enhance Red China’s prestige and make it necessary for the United States to concentrate on saving Laos and Vietnam lest all of Southeast Asia be lost. This was why, the President said, we could do nothing about Cuba now. JFK’s suggestion was that all patriotic Cubans enlist in the United States Army and thus prove their devotion to freedom. Cuba, he assured them, would be liberated—some other time.

New York’s Conservative Party sponsored a public forum on Cuba at Town Hall, May 7, with panelists Ralph de Toledano, Mel Hunter, former Ambassador Spruille Braden, former Ambassador Earl E. T. Smith, Gen. A. C. Wedemeyer, and Frank S. Meyer. Before a lively audience of about 1,000 the panel gave a review of Castro’s rise to power (Braden said State had been warned of Castro’s Communist connections for eleven years) and reached agreement on the need for action against Castro. Establish a government in exile and support a counter-revolution—”we have to stand firm somewhere in the world” (E.E.T.S.). ‘‘Modernize the Monroe Doctrine so that it is applicable to subversive activities. . . . We’re losing the world by increments” (A.C.W.). “The only way to make sure missiles aren’t in Cuba is to go in there and take them out” (M.H.). “Move in with an overwhelming force; the stronger the force, the fewer the casualties” (R. de T.). “The real risk of nuclear warfare is to keep on retreating” (F.S.M.). “It’s no longer a question of saving Cuba, it’s a question of saving the United States” (S.B.). Because of the difficulties of aerial reconnaissance on an overcast evening, the New York Times reported only 300 in the audience. In high places such underestimations can be terribly costly.