:34:00
and Mr. Khrushchev at the conclusion
of the summit.
:34:03
I am prepared to speak with
Chairman Khrushchev,
:34:05
but we have our obligations in Berlin
:34:07
and other nations are deeply involved.
:34:10
Mr. President,
I know you enjoy frank talk,
:34:15
let me speak about the anti-Castro
campaign in this country.
:34:18
We believe that your government
should stop threatening Cuba,
:34:21
and should restrain the attack
on Cuban shipping by exile groups.
:34:25
Cuba, after all, belongs to
the Cuban people,
:34:27
not to the United States.
:34:29
I do enjoy frank talk, Mr. Gromyko,
:34:31
but is not the United States,
:34:33
is the Soviet Union
who is creating the conflict.
:34:36
You've been supplying
the Castro government
:34:37
with sophisticated weapons.
:34:39
Now, I've received, repeated
personal assurances from your government
:34:42
that no action is required.
:34:44
I tried to calm American opinion,
:34:46
but your activities are very serious,
:34:48
and you haven't explained
them satisfactorily.
:34:51
Cuba has a right to the means
to defend herself.
:34:53
Sir, we are not paranoid,
you did attempt to invade Cuba.
:34:56
The Bay of Pigs was not a precedent.
:34:58
This government has no intention
of invading Cuba.
:35:02
For your part, Mr. Gromyko,
:35:03
did I understand you to say that
the weapons you send to Cuba
:35:05
are only anti-aircraft weapons,
:35:08
incapable of striking at targets
in the United States, is that true?
:35:11
Absolutely, Mr. President.
:35:12
I want to avoid
any misunderstandings here.
:35:17
This government will not tolerate
the establishment
:35:21
of a Soviet strategic base in Cuba.
:35:24
Mr. President, I assure you,
:35:26
the United States need not be concerned.
:35:29
We have given bread to Cuba, yes,
some military supplies,
:35:32
all defensive, defensive weapons
that will never
:35:35
constitute a threat to the United States.
:35:39
And I have personally assured
the American people
:35:41
that the Soviet assistance programs
in Cuba are purely defensive.
:35:46
I have also said, Mr. Gromyko,
and I say now,
:35:50
that any change will have
the gravest consequences.
:35:53
The origin of the Cold War can be found
:35:55
in the unremitting hostility
of the United States
:35:58
to socialism as we understand it.