FOLLOWING ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD FEBRUARY 28 BY DR.
FIDEL CASTRO FOR VISITING GROUP FROM US SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS AND
COMMENTATORS:

1. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION WHETHER HE WOULD SEEK INVITATION TO DISCUSS COMMON US-CUBAN PROBLEMS WITH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, CASTRO REPLIED HE IS NOT CURRENTLY THINKING IN THESE TERMS. HE SAID CUBA HAS NO MAJOR PROBLEMS VIS-A-VIS US, ALTHOUGH CERTAIN MINOR QUESTIONS ARE PENDING. HE ADDED HE WOULD OF COURSE WELCOME AT SOME LATER DATE OPPORTUNITY FOR GENERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, "IF HE HAD THE TIME AND I ALSO HAVE THE TIME."

2. ASKED HIS OPINION CONCERNING CURRENT US POLICY TOWARD CUBA, HE REPLIED, "IT IS NOT BAD." US HAS SENT AN AMBASSADOR WHO EVERYONE SAYS IS VERY ABLE. HOWEVER, CUBA IS AWAITING US ACTION ON THE SUGAR ACT AND HE PERSONALLY HAS LITTLE FAITH THAT CUBA'S HOPES FOR MORE FAVORABLE TREATMENT WILL BE REALIZED.

3. HE HOPES TO ACCEPT INVITATION AMERICAN SOCIETY NEWSPAPER EDITORS TO VISIT US IN APRIL BUT IS CONCERNED RE INADEQUACY HIS COMMAND OF ENGLISH.

4. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT WILL HOLD GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ABOUT TWO YEARS.HE CONSIDERS PRIOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION UNNECESSARY, BUT EXPECTS TOREVISE EXISTING ELECTORAL CODE. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS INDICATE CONTINUED
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT 26 OF JULY MOVEMENT, AND HE IS CONFIDENT THAT PARTY CAN WIN ELECTIONS EASILY.

5.OF FORMER CUBAN OFFICIALS HOW HE DISTINGUISHES POLITICAL REFUGEES FORMCOMMON CRIMINALS, HE CITED CASE MASFERRER, WHO, HE SAID HEADED GANG OF MURDERERS WHOSE CRIMES INCLUDED MURDERS OF CHILDREN FOR MOTIVES OF PETTY ROBBERY. HE ASKED HOW US WOULD REACT WERE CUBA TO GIVE ASYLUM TO NOTORIOUS US CRIMINALS. HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD LEGAL PROCEDURES UNDER EXTRADITION
TREATY ARE IN PROCESS BUT EXPRESSED DOUBT AS TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. HE ADDED HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT FOLLOW EXAMPLE OF TRUNJILLO IN SENDING AGENTS TO ASSASSINATE ITS ENEMIES WHO HAVE TAKEN REFUGE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ON TRIALS OF WAR CRIMINALS HE ASSERTED CUBA HAS MORE RIGHT TO APPLY REVOLUTIONARY JUSTICE THAN DID ALLIES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO TO GERMAN WAR CRIMINALS, BECAUSE CUBA WAS ENGAGED IN CIVIL WAR WHEREAS ALLIES WITHOUT ANY PRECEDENT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW CONDEMNED DEFEATED FOREIGN ENEMIES.

6. ASKED HOW HE RECONCILED HIS CRITICISM US POLICY TOWARD BATISTA AND HIS CRITICISM OF OAS WITH DOCTRINE OF NON-INTERVENTION, HE REPLIED HE HAD NOT CRITICIZED US FOR NOT AIDING REVOLUTION BUT FOR SUPPORT GIVEN BATISTA. HE REPEATED HIS INTERPRETATION CONSEQUENCES AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN CUBAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (SEE PARAGRAPH 7, EMBTEL 1004), AND NAMED JEFFERSON CAFFREY AS US OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING BATISTA FOLLOWING MACHADO
DOWNFALL. THERE WAS NO REFERENCE IN HIS REPLY TO OAS.

7. CUBA IS INTERESTED IN SELLING SUGAR TO US AT LOWER PRICES THAN HERETOFORE. HE ASKED WHY US CONSUMERS DO NOT PROTEST HIGH US SUGAR PRICES. CUBA ALSO HOPES TO STIMULATE LOCAL PRODUCTION OF MANY PRODUCTS FOR ITS INTERNAL MARKET. IT HAS NO EXPECTATION OF DEVELOPING EXPORT INDUSTRIES COMPETITIVE WITH US.