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CTC
Congress November 19, 1959
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Fidel
Castro speeches to CTC Congress on November 19, 1959
(Source: Havana, Radio
Progreso, in Spanish,
recorded: November 20, 1959, by Foreign Broadcast Information Service
(FBIS),
USA, remarks in the text are from the USA-administration)
Warning:
this text is translated by the USA-administration and from USA
databases, recording Cuban radio broadcasts!
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 Delegates from labor movement of other countries visiting us,
CTC delegates, (Thunderous Applause): We are always moved by
identification of the workers with their government. We are even more
moved this time by this symbolic tribute. This is the first congress in
revolutionary Cuba. It is the first meeting after many years of struggle
and sacrifice in a completely free gathering. Many compatriots have fallen
in the struggle. An equally large number have had to suffer all kinds of
humiliation and physical torture to achieve this. Much blood has been shed
to make it possible today for the workers to hold this congress. It is not
a congress attended by puppets only. The delegates present here were
designated by the workers and the views expressed here are the freely
expressed views of the workers. Decisions made here will be the expression
of the free will of the Cuban workers. This must necessarily be a reason
for pride for all of us. For seven years the working class was ruled by
terror methods of the tyranny in complicity with trained accomplices
serving the worst enemies of the people. For seven years the working class
was not allowed to parade on May 1. (Applause). These were sad years which
are gone forever. (Applause). Those who believe we will forget the past
are mistaken. (Applause) The working class, which for seven years could
not parade on May 1, has, by its efforts by its triumph since Jan. 1
become the decisive factor in the political life of the country, because
it was the working class which in the general strike, promoted in
conjunction with the rebel army, prevented efforts to snatch victory away
at the last moment. It was the working class which in these 10 months of
revolution has been in the front lines, as it was in the first gathering of
a million Cubans, as it was on May 1. Cuban workers protested the criminal
attack on the national territory by planes from abroad. (Applause).
Finally, it was the workers who organized the Oct. 27 rally. Whenever the
workers have been called on, they have answered with enthusiasm and unity
(Applause). This is a disciplined army which always answers
"present" and is in the front ranks. It is the workers who have
contributed most generously to buy tractors, to contribute to a day's work
to our agrarian reform, to make their contribution to the defense of the
sovereignty of the country, to buy arms to defend the national territory.
Never has it failed the revolution. We have asked sacrifices of the
workers. We know today that when the day comes when it may be necessary to
defend the revolution by arms we shall turn to the workers. The destiny of
Cuba and of the revolution is in the hands of the working class (applause)
and it is vitally important that the working class understand that it
holds the future of the country in its hands. The destiny of Cuba could
not be in better hands. Fortunately, we can also count on another sector
of the nation, the Cuban campesinos (applause). The campesinos and working
class need each other fighting side by side. In view of the threats and
maneuvers by those who want to bring down upon them the yoke of privilege
and injustice, what can they do against the united campesinos and workers?
Of what use would it be for them to try to take back power against our
united workers and campesinos? Against our soldiers, the campesinos, and
workers with arms? Anyone who makes a mistake now is either irresponsible
or stupid and unable to understand his own interests and the interests of
the enemies of the country. if the workers should be defeated they would
be made to pay a terrible price for freeing themselves from centuries-old
evils. The people must be saved. Not only do we have the revolution's
military with the workers and campesinos, but also most of the
intellectuals. They are defending the interests of the people of Cuba.
Enemies of Revolution Who will be against the revolution? Those whose
interests are not the interests of Cuba and the Cuban people. The
frustrated, those who sell themselves, those who betray, all those who
conceived the revolution as a satisfaction of personal ambition, not a
people's undertaking, will be against the revolution, as well as all those
who wanted to continue the past. When you analyze those who write against
the revolution you will realize they serve the big interests, the enemies
of the revolution. When you analyze the antirevolution press you will
understand that a press developed by paid subsidies is the enemy of the
revolution. The revolution has destroyed privileges. Those enjoying the
privileges are against the revolution. Those who lack ideals are against
it. In the early days of the revolution, when we spoke of latifundists,
exploiters, war criminals, and Trujilloists, some thought we were
exaggerating. It was difficult then to conceive that some of those who
wrote little articles in favor of the revolution when it triumphed would
joint those elements. Scarcely a few months had passed when we found a
small group of latifundists associated not only with war criminals, but
with a foreign tyrant who has been maintaining a bloody rule in his
country for 30 years--Trujillo. Today it is evident that there is a
connection between reactionary foreign press charges--between those who
say there is no freedom of the press and those who receive prizes from
certain international organs (not specified--Ed.). One of these shameless
ones has written an article "Lenin and Cuba." All agree on
imputing to the revolutionary government the same charges. They insinuate
that this is a foreign revolution (applause) when they themselves are the
real supporters of foreigners. They come here to quote cables manufactured
abroad against us and lies invented abroad against our revolution. They
are defending the worst foreign interests. (Applause) The measures taken
by the revolutionary government and the agrarian reform will recover more
than 800,000 caballerias of land in the hands of a group of foreign
countries to deliver it to the campesinos who live in hunger in our
canefields. (Applause) Is this serving foreign interests? Is defense of
the people against monopoly serving foreign interests, or a measure such
as reducing the cost of electricity, putting an end to gambling and
exploitation of the people, rice production (applause), protection of
currency, customs measures, school construction, a clean administration,
investment in public works instead of putting money into New York or Swiss
banks, establishing justice (applause)--are these serving foreign
interests? I ask the people: Are the measures taken by the revolutionary
government just? (Applause) if we are to be fought for taking just
measures, let us be fought? If we must be invaded for this, let us be
invaded. Our just revolution fulfills an historic mission. Can it be said
after 10 months of government that there has been a single minister who
has grown rich in office? The revolutionary government cannot be charged
with promoting gambling, traffic in drugs, vice--all traditional evils in
our country. it is enough to read a cable such as I received here at this
congress. It reveals enemies of our country. The cable reads: Washington,
Nov. 18--There is evidence that in Cuba a rocket launching base is being
established which could destroy Cape Canaveral and even the Pentagon, says
Emilio Nunez Portuondo (Boos) in a weekly Latin American publication which
is again circulating here. Almost all comment by Nunez Portuondo attacks
our government and alleges dangers of communism. I am convinced, he says,
that Cuba is becoming as dangerous for U.S. security as any captive
country of East Europe. Thus they openly promote a policy of foreign
intervention in our country. To justify this, they invent tales such as
this ridiculous story. What and whom do reactionary press insinuations
serve? In articles such as one yesterday, titled: "Lenin and
Cuba," they simply tend to promote foreign intervention. The problem
is clear. You must think as workers, campesinos, as Cubans. (Applaud) Our
strength lies in our identification with the revolution. Is there a single
worker who does not agree with us? (Applause). The revolution stands above
all. This is the party of the country. (Applaud). It is justice which
unites comrades, it is patriotic ideals which unite us. When a criminal
bomb falls over a district of Cuba, or when terrorists and bandits carry
out acts, they do not discriminate or ask on which house it is going to
fall, or what Cuban it is going to kill. The enemy who unites forces us to
unite. This is our strength. The spectacle which would most please our
enemies is any division in this labor congress. (Applaud) They fear the
tremendous strength of the working class. They know that it is invincible.
They are going to listen carefully to the congress to see whether there
are problems of difficulties. This means it is the duty of all of us to
see that this congress is an example of revolutionary unit. (Applaud) We
know of the plans made to turn certain social groups against us. We can
see how they are trying to set one social group against another. They have
no inkling of the revolutionary fevers which nowadays affect Cuban workers
and farmers. (Applaud) These privileged groups are incapable of realizing
that the measures which have affected certain privileged classes are the
same which have brought hope and happiness to the immense majority of our
people. The Enemy's Power Despite the injustices and nonsense which
motivates them, they are still powerful. It is a struggle between those
who possess it all and those who possess nothing. The same group who had a
monopoly on the wealth of the country also possessed a monopoly of the
means of publicity and information. They have the wealth necessary to lie
around conspiring against the revolution. Their strength lies not in their
numbers but in their resources and cunning. They also possess the
education which the immense majority of our people lacks. The revolution
is attacked by these privileged circles because it is trying to wipe out
social ills and raise the social standards of the masses. In the face of
aggression by these groups we have only one alternative--to unite farmers
and workers in order to defend the revolution. There must be discipline in
the army of workers. You are the officers and leaders of that army. We
must maintain the strength necessary to defend this revolution which will
continue to forge ahead to its goals if we know how to defend it. When
each farm, factory, household, ship, is a bulwark of the revolution, who
will be able to defeat it? We must be aware that we will be attacked and
that we shall have to defend it. Camilo was of the people just like you
(applause). Our revolution had many men who were ready to die. They did
not have any education, yet they knew their duty. It would have been
logical that those fighters would have passed into government offices once
the revolutionary cause was victorious. However they were not equipped for
it. However, in the future they will be able to serve. This demonstrates
the difficulties we face, but it also shows that in the long run victory
will be ours. The Workers' Contribution Our most difficult task now is
that of defending the revolution. Without a revolutionary government there
can be no revolutionary program. I was very impressed by the resolution of
the workers to contribute four percent of their earnings for the purchase
of farm machinery. This shows what the workers have learned. They know
that this is their government. They know that the agrarian reforms affects
precisely that part of our economy which we can improve. Our rice and
cotton production this year will be great. We must be able to meet our
consumer needs. We have invested much money in agricultural production.
The more we produce on all types of necessary articles, the sooner our
living standard will rise. Our strategy must be to put all unemployed to
work. In this way I am such we will reach our goals. The four percent the
worker gives now represents an investment he will enjoy later. He will
receive (bonds?) which will not be redeemable for five years. The worker
not only will receive more from his investment but will also enjoy a
rising standard of living. These sacrifices will repay us three or
four-fold. We are going to undertake the task of training you as soon and
rapidly as we can (applause). Former governments here had large armies to
protect the privileges and investments of the wealthy landholders. Who was
then in a position to do anything for the farmers? Nobody! Now, on the
other hand, the farmers are being defended against the large landholders.
The same applies to the workers. They have won their rights. The
privileged classes tremble--they know that their privileges are a thing of
the past. Let them return if they dare, but they will find an armed Cuba
awaiting them--and armed Cuba which will defend its hard-won rights.
Foreign Lies You know the efforts of foreign news agencies to subvert the
revolutionary government. They continue to print lines and slander. You
can imagine how it hurts us to read those slanderous lies about Camilo
Cienfuegos. We shall always keep the people abreast of the news and latest
slanderous and subverting campaigns of our enemies so that they will know
the truth. To be a revolutionary is to have the courage to face the truth.
The efforts and sacrifices of the people have not been in vain. They did
it once and will do it again, as many times as necessary. We shall take
care of each problem and difficulty as it arises. If the rich
antirevolutionaries begin to conspire, the farmers and workers are lined
up, ready to defend the revolution. We can say with certainty that none of
their maneuvers, will succeed here. (Announcer: You have just heard Fidel
Castro, the leader of revolutionary government) Property Confiscation
Managua, Radio Mundial in Spanish to Nicaragua, Nov. 19, 1959, 1630 GMT--P
(Text) Havana--Fidel Castro told the labor congress that a law will be
promulgated which will authorize the government to confiscate all or part
of the properties of the rich who undertake revolutionary activities as a
means of obstructing the agrarian reform. CTC PASSES MOTION BANNING
STRIKES Havana, Radio Progreso, in Spanish to Cuba, Nov. 20, 1959, 1300
GMT--E (Summary) The first plenary session of the 10th National Labor
Congress opened at CTC headquarters Nov. 19, with 2,938 attending. After a
report by the credentials committee, Conrado Becquer was elected chairman
of the congress. David Salvador presented a two-hour report on the work of
the CTC since Jan. 1, which was unanimously approved by the congress. The
congress appointed a committee charged with purging from the CTC
"supporters of (Mujal?) still in the labor movement." The
congress approved a motion banning strikes during 1960 "in order not
to create problems for the government." Nine working committees were
appointed to begin work on Nov. 20. it is reported that within the
congress an effort is being made to present as candidates for the new
revolutionary executive committee a united slate representing various
groups, but it appears that the leaders of the July 26 labor movement,
members of the national Autentico labor committee, members of the
Orthodoxo labor section, and members of the labor committee of the Mar. 13
directorate, have expressed opposition to such a slate. Labor leaders of
the Escambray second front favor a united slate and advocated the
inclusion of both Catholics and communists. Mexican labor leader Vicente
Lomberdo Toledano spoke at the congress. Other international labor leaders
are expected to speak later. On Nov. 19 numerous motions were presented
which will be submitted at the Nov. 20 and 21 plenary sessions. Among them
is a motion supporting the revolutionary policy of the government, the
agrarian reform, and the formation of a labor militia. David Salvador's
report proposes that the CTC withdraw from the ORIT. This proposal will be
discussed and decided on by the plenary session of the congress. Also
proposed is the creation of another Latin American central labor
organization. The 10th National Labor Congress will close on Nov. 21 with
the election of the new CTC executive committee. - O - PLOT
DISCOVERED--"An important conspiracy" was discovered on Nov. 20
in Marianao and it is reported that more than 30 persons have been
arrested. Arms were found at the residence where the conspirators were
meeting. Shots were also heard and it is reported that a number of persons
were wounded, although no official announcement of this has been made.
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Republic of Cuba
