Modern History Sourcebook:
Nikita Khruschchev:
Speech to the RFSR Teacher's Congress - on Cuba, Moscow, July 9, 1960
[]A few days ago the Governor of New York State, Rockefeller, openly called for struggle
against the government of Cuba and the Cuban people. He advised that a course directed
against Cuba should be taken and that the regime chosen by the people should be stifled
through economic blockade.Rockefeller's pronouncements are an obvious example of the aggressive actions of
American politicians who arc not accustomed to taking the will of the people into account.But the time when the United States diktat prevailed is over. The Soviet Union
is raising its voice on behalf of, and is offering help to, the people of Cuba who are
fighting for their independence. The times are not now the same as they were when only one
working class-the working people of former tsarist Russia-was raising the banner of
struggle, when not only economic blockade but also armed intervention was organised
against us.Times are quite different now. Over 1,000 million people live in states where the
working class and the working people have triumphed and where the glorious banner of
Marxism-Leninism is flying. The world socialist camp is now stronger than ever before. The
peoples of the socialist countries will help their Cuban brothers to uphold their
independence with the object of frustrating the economic blockade the United States of
America has just declared against Cuba.And not only we, the working people of the socialist camp, but the peoples of all
countries must be vigilant against the intrigues of the American imperialists.It is clear to everybody that economic blockade by the American monopolists can be a
prelude to intervention against Cuba. Therefore we must speak up in defence of Cuba and
give warning that the imperialists can no longer rob and divide the world as they please,
each choosing any piece for himself, as they used to do in the past. Today the peoples of
the colonial and dependent countries rebel and fight successfully to rid themselves of the
shameful colonial yoke and of enslavement by the United States imperialists. For our part,
we shall do everything to support Cuba and her couragcous people in their struggle for the
freedom and national independence which they have Won under the leadership of their
national leader Fidel Castro.The socialist states and all peoples who stand for peace will support the Cuban people
in their just struggle and no one will succeed in enslaving the Cubans.It should be borne in mind that the United States is now not at such an inaccessible
distance from the Soviet Union as formerly. Figuratively speaking, if need be, Soviet
artillerymen can support the Cuban people with their rocket fire, should the aggressive
forces in the Pentagon dare to start intervention against Cuba. And the Pentagon would be
Well advised not to forget that, as has been shown by the latest tests, we have rockets
which land accurately in a predetermined square target 13,000 kilometres [about 8,000
miles] away. This, if you wish, is a warning to those Who might like to solve
international problems by force and riot by reason.I have a note here that has been handed to me which say's that I have apparently, made
a slip. The rocket covered not 30,000 kilometres, but 13,000. Well, that is enough! Of
course, 30,000 kilometres was a slip and I want to correct the figure, for my speech is
being broadcast. Let the Pentagon record that it was a slip; so far we have shot over a
distance of 13,000 kilometres, and there is no need to shoot over 30,000. Am 1 correct,
Comrade Malinovsky? Rodion Yakolcvich Malinovsky has confirmed this. []
Source:from Soviet News, No. 4304 (July 11, 1960), pp. 28-29.
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© Paul Halsall, November 1998
halsall@fordham.edu
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