Foreign Support Sought By Castro

Cuban Revolt Leader Names 4-Man Group For Effort – Sugar Fires Threatened

By Peter Kihss

Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary leader, has appointed a four-member committee abroad to rally support for his movement against the regime of President Fulgencio Batista.

In New York yesterday, Dr. Raúl Chibas, a committee member, said the revolt, which is centered in the Sierra Maestra region in Oriente Province, would move into a new phase in the next five or six months: the burning of sugar cane fields just coming into harvest.

The committee has been designated as follows:

Dr. Mario Llerena, a teacher and writer, who is to be chairman and have charge of propaganda and public relations.

Carlos Franqui, a journalist, in charge of organization.

Lester Rodriguez, a civil engineering student, in charge of general affairs.

Dr. Chibas, former president of the Orthodox party, in charge of finances.

Dr. Chibas, 45 years old, left Cuba Oct. 31 under a safe conduct after he had obtained asylum in the Argentine Embassy.He had just been paroled after seven weeks’ imprisonment on charges growing out of his having joined Señor Castro in a July 12 declaration calling for creation of a provisional Government by Cuban civic organizations.

Early Meeting Expected

Dr. Chibas said the new committee probably would hold its first meeting soon in Miami.He added that the movement—named after a July 26, 1953, uprising Señor Castro led—would continue cooperation with the new Council of Cuban Liberation.This counsel was set up by seven parties in Miami Nov. 1 with Señor Rodriguez as one of three Castro representatives.

In a hand-written letter to Dr. Llerena, Señor Castro praised him for his clarity in expressing ideals “in the midst of the chaotic confusion of the political parties” and for this “capacity and integrity.”The letter termed Dr. Chibas “the most disinterested and noble man I have known.”

“The twenty-sixth of July movement is very strong at this moment,” Señor Castro wrote.“Act knowing that you represent an undisputed majority of the people of Cuba.”

Señor Castro wrote that the Sierra Maestra region “is totally dominated by us, 100 percent of the population actively supports us, and we prepare to resist what perhaps may be the last push of the dictatorship."

The Castro forces now number about 1,000 soldiers, Dr. Chibas said.He asserted, however, that they had received no arms from abroad since the first rebel contingent landed last Dec. 2.

The destruction of sugar fields, Dr. Chibas said, will be the first such revolutionary effort since the days of the Gerardo Machado dictatorship more than twenty-five years ago.Preparations are also underway for a general strike whenever conditions are propitious, he said.

Circulars have reached here signed by the “Authentic Organization,” diagramming methods of setting fires to cane-fields and tobacco storehouses by incendiary tubes, gasoline-soaked sponges dragged by rats or cats and flaming matches hurled by slingshot.