The New York Times
October 18, 1958

Cuba Will Accept Voting Observers

Special to The New York Times.

HAVANA, Oct. 17--The Cuban Government will accept observers from some international organization for the general elections Nov. 3, the Ministry of State announced tonight.

The request of opposition parties to have observers here from the Organization of American States has been forwarded to the United Nations, the Ministry said.

Tonight President Fulgencio Batista met with the joint staff of the armed forces reportedly to decide whether or not constitutional guarantees will be restored before the election.  Civil rights have been in suspense for most of the time since the rebellion of Fidel Castro started in Oriente Province in December, 1956.

During the day, President Batista urged the people of Cuba to cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 elections.  He assured them that the voters "and all political parties will have the fullest guarantees" of safety.

Senor Castro, from his headquarters in the Sierra Maestra of Oriente Province, has declared that his forces will penalize candidates in the election.

A report from Camaguey Province said rebels with a bulldozer destroyed about four miles of railway track between the town of Marti and Manzanillo in Oriente to the east.