Khrushchev Is Coming

Ever since Christopher Columbus' first voyage, Cuba has been a steppingstone to Latin America, and last week Nikita Khrushchev prepared to set foot there. Invited by Fidel Castro to visit Cuba, the Soviet chief accepted "with gratitude." He did not set a date for his trip, apparently in hope of getting other invitations that would take him to the mainland too.

His chance of a warm official welcome elsewhere is slight. All the major Latin American Presidents--Argentina's Frondizi, Mexico's Lopez Mateos, Brazil's Kubitschek, Venezuela's Betancourt, Chile's Alessandri, Colombia's Lleras Camargo--are authentic, elected democrats, friendly to the U.S. and fearful of letting Khrushchev get a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. But though Latin America is gifted with many mature and responsible top officials, it also has masses of poor and illiterate people whose grievances can be exploited. From his platform in Cuba, Khrushchev undoubtedly hopes to talk to them over the heads of their leaders.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.