FIDEL CASTRO'S 29 AUGUST SPEECH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001200010013-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: September 2, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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2 September 1966
Castro'. 29 August Speech
1. The complete text of Castro's five-hour speech at the
conclusion of the 12th congress of the Cuban Workers Confedera-
tion (CTC) has finally been made available by rer8. The speech
contained few new themes. Notable by its absence however*
was Castro's usual ebullient confidence. The Cuban leader took
this occlusion to speak bluntly about some of the shortcomings
of the people as well as of his revolution. In $o doing* he
revealed a good deal about his own thinking and about the cur-
rent state of the Cuban revolution. It should be noted that
the regime has announced that all party members should study
Castro's speech in great detail and follow its directives.
2. An expected* Castro dwelt at some length on the prob-
len of low labor productivity in Cuba and the need for the
Cuban workers to end their "accommodating attitude toward work."
la no uncertain terms* Castro nada it clear that just because
the workers' "chains were struck off" with the coming of the
revolution and the ending of capitalism* they had so license
for the resultant "loss of discipline* reduction in work inten-
sity* and diminution in productivity."
Castro also admitted that the lack of good administra-
tors had contributed to low worker output and poor quality
goods. Many of the newly-appointed administrators lacked "ox.
pentane* knowledge* or knowhow," according to Castro who then
digressea to philosophise on the general problem of asking a
bona fide revolution work. Se recognised that "there is some-
thing very strange in revolutionary processes*" and that revo-
lutions have two facets: "One is the theoretical facet and the
other is the practical facet. When one agitates from a herr--
'oade* when ose issues a revolutionary proclamation* it all looks
easy from afar.. .yet the most difficult task is to convert ideas
into realities."
4. Castro made it clear that from now on, the party cadres
must be the "main driving force" behind the Cuban "production
processes" and the development of the ocoommy. The cadres*
Castro continued must become economic technicians as well as
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party leaders in order to be effective in their work. In other
verde, Camaro is saying that the party will direct as well as
he respommible for the economic life of the country and those
involved had better measUre up to the Job.
M. Centro revealed that now mare than ever he is counting
on technology to solve Cube's many problems. Me admitted that
Cuba today has a serious "labor deficit," but he believes that
machines will eventually make up the difference. Castro is bet-
ting that a viable economy can be based on intensive agriculture
and that the key to the latter is mechanisation. Me admitted
that "voluntary" student and female labor will be needed in the
interim, but chided those officials who have come to accept
these volunteers as the norm. In essence, Castro told the Cuban
peeple that the only solution to the country's problems is hard
'perk. as emphasised that "the revolution is the abolition of
the exploitation of human labor but not the abolition of human
'work."
O. Castro then disc-mowed some of the specific problems
he has been groping with recently, and at the same tine bared
the nature of his own truetrations in trying to deal with these
problems. Me spoke at length about being badgered by people
venting improved housing. MO calls this "thirst for housing"
the regime's "most pressing problem." Re criticised the tendency
of people to approach his on his many forays around the island
to say: "I was waiting to talk to you so that you could got as
a house." Castro wailed, "the house, the house, the house.
They are asking for something which could clay be solved by
producing the formula of Mandrake the Magician?that is, pull-
ing a house out of a hat." Castro admitted that there is a
shortage of one million houses in Cuba at the present time. He
said he wants very much to solve this problem but "the resources
are limited."
7. Castro instructed the party and labor cadres to "pon-
he difficulties" of the revolution and to keep the people
armed. "Each citizen must become aware that the 'eight of
responsibility rests upon his shoulders." Castro also so-
knonliodged that differences of opinion exist within the regime
on how best to proceed in "building socialism" on the Island.
Me said that the first party congress will be held "next year,
and that it will be an event of "utmost importance in the ideo-
logical field." Castro admitted that "on these matters no
little confusion exists."
S. Castro apparently felt compelled to counter a certain
amount of open disgruntlement with his regime's policies. For
.2.
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example, "so that the intriguers and the conspirators will net
spread their gossip," he at to great lengths to justify the
seed for exporting rationed goods such as beef to foreign markets
for scarce foreign exchange.
e, At the conclusion of the portion of his speech dealing
with the Cuban deneetic situation, Castro summed up in a single
sentence what the future for the Cuban people held by saying:
"The teak before us Is so overwhelming, se enormous, that what
vs have done is nothing, nothing in comparison with the tasks
ahead."
. Cestro's foreign policy remarks were net especially
noteworthy. MA reiterated old claims that Cuba is following an
"independent" course in the world revolutionary aereaaut, and
teak a 2011 Implicit swipes at Viking. Castro said he is happy
to be called a "revolutionary heretic" by others and reaffirmed
hie unite-At 26 July sitatements about the lack of revolutionary
spirit of the Latin American Communist parties. Me again criti-
*load Chilean President Frei for being a "false revolutionary,"
and fulminated against "Yankee imperialist policies."
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