New York Times
April 18, 1961.  p. 1.

Moscow Blames U.S. For Attack
Izvestia Asserts 'American Hirelings' Invade Cuba--Khrushchev Confers

By Seymor Topping
Special to The New York Times

        MOSCOW, April 17--The Soviet Union charged tonight that the United States was responsible for the landing in Cuba by what it described as "American hirelings."
        Izvestia, the Soviet Government newspaper, contended that plans for landing anti-Castro forces in Cuba had been worked out and inspired by "American imperialists."
        "On all continents voices now are crying out determinedly for an end to the armed aggression against Cuba and for the defense of the freedom and independence of the Cuban people," Izvestia said.
        At his vacation retreat in Sochi on the Black Sea, Premier Khrushchev conferred on the Cuban crisis with Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko. A formal Government statement is expected tomorrow.
Atmosphere Is Tense
        An atmosphere of tension gripped the Soviet capital after the announcement at 4 P.M. by the Moscow radio that "an armed intervention against Cuba had begun."
        It was felt by most Western experts that the Soviet reaction would be confined to strong diplomatic representations, complaints in the United Nations and a propaganda onslaught against the United States.
        Some observers recalled that in a speech here July 10, Mr. Khrushchev had declared: "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.
        The Soviet leader also had noted that the United States was no longer out of range of Soviet missiles.
        Western experts said that Mr. Khrushchev's statement seemed to have more applicability to an invasion of Cuba by United States forces than to an attack of the type being undertaken by Cuban anti-Castro forces.
        Premier Khrushchev also has backed off somewhat from his implied threat of Oct. 22, of rocket intervention. In an interview with the Cuban newspaper men, he said he would like his statement to be only "symbolic."
        Displaying an appreciation for the logistical problems that would be involved in any conventional Soviet military intervention in the Caribbean, the Soviet Government has avoided making any specific public military commitment to Premier Fidel Castro's regime. Moscow has confined its military assistance to large-scale shipments of Soviet bloc arms to the Castro forces.
        There was apprehension in diplomatic quarters here that rising tensions over Cuba would tend to offset any progress made by President Khrushchev toward easing "cold war" tensions in such trouble spots as Laos.
        Under headlines, "Cuba is not alone. All of progressive mankind is with her," Izvestia published a cartoon showing Dr. Castro, gun in hand, confronting a monster in a helmet marked "Made in U.S.A." The monster was attempting to crawl onto the Cuban shores out of the sea. A figure with dollar signs inscribed on his hands was shown assisting the invader.
U.S. Strongly Attacked
        In one of the strongest attacks on the United States to be published since the inauguration of the Kennedy Administration, the Government newspaper said:
        "The news agencies report alarming news. Armed aggression has started against the Cuban republic. At dawn of April 15 Cuba was subjected to an attack of bombers which were based in Florida.
        "Just now a new report is received. On April 17 gangs of American hirelings undertook a landing on Cuba. The Cuban revolution, which broke the chains of American slavery, which brought the Cuban people to a genuine freedom and independence from the first days of its victory, became a cataract in the eyes of the imperialist Yankees.
        "Behind the smoke screen of every kind of propaganda about the 'penetration into Cuba of international communism' there has been worked out in the United States interventionist plans against Cuba, a repetition of the Guatemalan experience in which in 1954 the American imperialists overthrew the lawful Government of Col. Jacobo Arbenz [Guzman].
        "At the end of last month there was formed on the territory of the United States the so-called provisional government of Cuba, located in New York. Inspired by their patrons this counter-revolutionary scum with the traitor of the Cuban people [Manuel Antonio de] Cardona at its head proclaimed a crusade against the Cuban republic.
        "On all continents voices now are crying out determinedly for the defense and independence of the Cuban people."
        The official Soviet press agency Tass published a series of comments by public figures and workers denouncing the Cuban invasion. This is a procedure usually followed when Soviet authorities want to invoke strong public reaction.

Chinese Reds Assail U.S.
Special to The New York Times

        HONG KONG, April 17--Jenmin Jih Pao, official Communist Chinese newspaper, called today on the world to "unite and join forces to check United States aggression against Cuba."
        Jenmin Jih Pao declared the Chinese people resolutely supported the Cuban people's "struggle to safeguard peace."