COMMITTEE EXHIBIT No. 5-Continued ONLY THE PEOPLE CAN PERFORM MIRACLES In a speech on July 26, 1970, Prime Minister Fidel Castro gave to the Cuban people the final figures on the ten million tons harvest. They had missed their goal by some 15%, or had processed 8.5 million of the hoped-for 10 million tons of sugar. Immediately and almost with glee in many parts of the world statements and articles appeared talking about the failure of Cuban socialism and Fidel's leadership. Interpreting this to be a grave crisis with erosion of mass political support for the Revolution, some U.S. policy makers have seen the failure of the harvest as an opportunity for renewed counter-revolutionary offensives. This kind of thinking misjudges the whole history of the Cuban people and their long drive for independence and self-determination. Theirs is a history that has as its identifying characteristic learning from mistakes to generate new forms of action. The drive for independence began with an unsuccessful ten-year war against the Spanish (1868-78). In 1895 the military struggle was renewed and in 1898, as the Cubans were on the verge of victory, the U.S. intervened and replaced Spain as the imperial power. U.S. domination was temporarily interrupted in 1933, when the Cuban people rose up and overthrew the Machado dictatorship. Again U.S. intervention saved the day and again the Cubans were denied their independence. The last stage of the struggle began with Fidel's attack on the Moncada fortress in 1953. Although that attack did not succeed, it launched the final insurrectionary phase which ended some six years later when the U.S.-supported dictator Batista fled. It is at this point that the battle against a different kind of oppression begins, that is the battle against underdevelopment. If this battle was to be won, the whole society would have to undergo a complete revolutionary transformation. No longer could there be a Havana serving as a playground for rich U.S. businessmen and controlled by U.S. gambling interests. No longer would the tremendous profits from the sugar industry go to fatten U.S. bank accounts while the families of cane cutters and refinery workers suffered from lack of employment, housing, food, education, and medical care. To eradicate the problems of underdevelopment, the revolutionary leadership knew that Cuba had to develop an agricultural and industrial base of its own. But the development of this base has continually had man as its central focus. As Fidel has said, "The great task of the Revolution is basically the task of forming the new man, the man of a truly revolutionary consciousness....(we will do this) not by creating political awareness with money or with wealth, but by creating wealth with political awareness." This means that production is organized around the needs of people, rather than people organized around the needs of production. The revolutionary leadership perceived this theme as the energizing force of. the Cuban people Out of this framework we can begin to judge the battle for the ten million tons. As originally conceived the plan called for a dramatic increase in sugar production. The sale of this sugar would provide the critical surplus capital for purchasing new equipment, enabling them to increase and diversify industrialization. Such a massive harvest required the mobilization of the entire population for cutting cane as well as the intricate coordination of transportation and refining facilities. Moreover, this was all to be achieved without sacrificing higher production quotas in other sectors of the economy. Throughout the harvest regular reports kept the people abreast of all developments, including major problems. By mid-May it became clear the ten million could not be reached; on national television and radic Fidel delivered a major address (May 20) analyzing the failure. Although this was still the largest harvest in Cuban history, they had fallen short of their goal by 1.5 million tons. While pratsing the people for their extraordinary effort -- they cut more than enough cane to reach the goal he placed responsibility for the failure squarely on the shoulders of the leadership. Their technical and administrative underdevelopment had made it impossible for them to process all the cane and produce the ten million tons of sugar. - COMMITTEE EXHIBIT NO. 5-Continued (This On July 26 Fidel engaged in a thorough self-criticism session with the people. date commemorates the heroic attack on the Moncada Barracks, and marked the official termination of the harvest and the commencement of nationwide celebrations.) Both his frank assessment of the economic crisis and his call for sweeping reforms inside the Party and the administration testify to the leadership's confidence in and respect for the people. It would be hard to imagine any leader of the "free world" giving a similar speech. Only a leadership with close ties to and the total confidence of its people could make such an admission of failure, and even talk about further hardships to be faced. Through this self-criticism Fidel has set in motion a process of criticism and change on the local level, in every farm, factory, place of learning, and community. Perhaps the most significant thing about the outcome of the harvest is that, although Fidel acknowledges it to have been a serious economic failure, it has not resulted in a political defeat. "On the road to turning setback into victory" his speech is called. And on May 20th he said, "We must get more out of this setback than we would have gotten out of a victory, with respect to improving our work, the sense of responsibility, of duty, dedication, a more complete and even more absolute surrender to the tasks of the Revolution." Lessons learned from this failure will lead to changes in the future. Especially emphasized is the search for new collective forms: developing closer ties between home and work, pressing leadership at all levels to place greater trust in the people, thus giving more local responsibility to workers. "Only the people can perform miracles." Fidel does not gloss over the enormous difficulties of underdevelopment which the Cuban people still face -- especially the shortage of workers and trained personnel and their lack of experience in every aspect of the economy. from the agricultural sector to education to the highest technical and administrative levels. Yet his speech reflects his confidence that they can and will take hold, making possible the seemingly impossible. This confidence and this conclusion is reminiscent of a central New Testament theme that only he who loses his life in the service of others will be able to "save" it. - Immediately after finishing the speech Fidel added a postscript which included his own quasi-eschatological vision of the future. It is the best possible introduction to the effort of the Cuban people, the goal of the ten million tons harvest, and the significance of the July 26 speech. "The day will come when everything we have will be shared by all people. We do not want to build a paradise at the foot of a volcano. We work hard and with confidence in the future. We face arduous battles and we will win those battles. But one day we will have to form part of the community of revolutionary peoples of Latin America. One day our countries will no longer be fragments of a balkanized continent enslaved by imperialism. "We are the trailblazers on this revolutionary path. The first, but not the last! And some day, sooner or later, we will be the peoples of Latin Anerica; some day the resources and the power will be those of hundreds of millions. Not to face a powerful imperialism but to live together united also with a great people, the day that people has shaken off the imperialist vole, the day that people has made the revolution in its own country: the people of the United States! We are not the enemy of that people but of its criminal, imperial rulers. And that is why we can say to the American people, as we say to those young people who came here to cut cane and give us a hand and who sent us such an expressive and moving message, 'Yes, all of us together! The peoples of Latir America united, the peoples of Indochina united, the revolutionary peoples united, and, together with the peoples of the United States, we will win. Venceremos!!!! Prepared by: Corky Benedict, Alice Hageman, and Mike Locker On the COMMITTEE EXHIBIT NO. 5- Continued road to turning the setback into a victory I also wish to express our profound pleasure at the presence here of the large number of high-level delega. tions from various other friendly countries. (APPLAUSE) I especially wish to express our pleasure at the presence of a high-level delegation from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, (APPLAUSE) headed by Comrade Katushev, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR. (APPLAUSE) The delegation of the German Democratic Republic headed by Comrade Werner Harowitsky, candidate to the Political Bureau of the Socialist Unified German Party (APPLAUSE) The delegatio of the Workers' Socialist Party of Hungary, headed by Arpad Pollai, Secretary of the Party. (APPLAUSE) The delegation of the Lao Patriotic Front, headed by Phoumi Vonvichit, Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Lao Patriotic Front. (APPLAUSE) The delegation of the Palestinian fighters. (AP. PLAUSE) headed by Abu Iad member of the Political Bureau and the High Command of the Palestinian Com. mandos of Al Fath. (APPLAUSE) The delegation of the African Party for the IndeRendence of Guinea and Cape Verde headed by Amilcar Cabral, Secretary-General of the PAIGC (APPLAUSE) The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (APPLAUSE) The delegations of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (APPLAUSE) The dhegations of the Alg.rian People's Democratic Republic (APPLAUSE) of the United Arab Republic. of the Republic of syna, si tan Pepublic of South Yemen, of the Republic ut Salon, of the Republic of Gure and of the Perpters Aublic of the Congo (Brazzaville) (APPLAUSE The delegation of Brazen tighter, representing the revolutionary movement in their country. (APPLAUSE) On 13 way rare even though it hasn't been able to arrive in t. s. delegation representing the revolu COMMITTEE EXHIBIT No. 5- Continued tionary movement of the Tupamaros, from Uruguay. (APPLAUSE) I would like to mention a number of distinguished personalities present here today: Henry Winston, Chairman of the Communist Party of the United States; (APPLAUSE) Rodney Arismendi, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Uruguay; (APPLAUSE) architect Ernesto Guevara Lynch, the father of Major Guevara; (APPLAUSE) Sra. Selvira Leigue, the mother of Coco and Inti Peredo and of the present chief of the National Army of Liberation of Bolivia, Osvaldo Peredo; (APPLAUSE) Nadia and Erik Bunke, the parents of Tamara Bunke (Tania); (APPLAUSE) Isabel Restrepo, the mother of Camilo Torres Restrepo; (AP. PLAUSE) Janine Debray and Elizabeth Burgos, the mother and the wife, respectively, of Régis Debray; (APPLAUSE) the delegation of rectors and professors of the University of Chile; (APPLAUSE) the delegation of the National Committee of the Venceremos Brigade; (APPLAUSE) and Dr. Antonio Arguedas, former Minister of the Interior of Bolivia, who made it possible for us to receive Che's field diary. (APPLAUSE) We would also like to express our heartfelt recognition to the internationalist canecutters' brigades that took part with us in the giant sugar harvest: (APPLAUSE) the Nordic Brigade, made up of young people from Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway; (APPLAUSE) the Victoria de Girón Brigade, representing the LatinAmerican countries; (APPLAUSE) the brigade of young workers and fighters from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and from South Vietnam; (APPLAUSE) the Chulilma Riders Brigade, from Korea; (APPLAUSE) the Ever Onward to Victory Brigade, from Japan; (AP. PLAUSE) the George Dimitrov Brigade, from Bulgaria; (APPLAUSE) the Leninist Youth Brigade, from the USSR; (APPLAUSE) the August 23 Brigade, from Romania; (APPLAUSE) the Ernst Thaelmann Brigade, from the German Democratic Republic; (APPLAUSE) and the Brigade from South Yemen. (APPLAUSE) One brigade is not with us today, although its members participated for many long weeks of work in our country, but it has sent us a warm message from the United States, which reads as follows: "Fidel: From the sadly notorious entrails of the well-known monster we send revolutionary greetings to our brothers and sisters in Cuba. "By turning the setback into a victory Cuba ha once again demonstrated the power of a humanity that has begun to recover from the illness of oppression. "We, who are still infected with that illness and can feel it spread from Harlem, A. gusta, Jackson and Kent to Playa Girón, Indochina and Puerto Rico, realize that we must fight that illness together. We, spawn of the system that gives birth to the murderers of humanity, salute you, Cuba. We have given ourselves this name because Cuba, Vietnam and we will win. (Signed) "Venceremos Brigade." (APPLAUSE) Guests and comrade workers, today we are not going to make a commemoration speech. That is, we are not going to recall achievements and successes scored by the Revolution. Neither are we going to recall past heroic events. It is not with words but with action and work that one pays tribute to those who have given their all. Neither are we going to deal today with problems of an international nature - about which we could and would like to say a great deal. Today we are going to talk about our problems and difficulties; (APPLAUSE) our setbacks rather than our successes, and we would like to make a series of analyses, even though we realize that a forum of this type is hardly the ideal place for either cold analysis or figures. I don't usually come to events such as this loaded down with papers. However, this time I had no alcerative but to bring some papers with me, (AP. PLAUSE) since there are a lot of data and figures. Let's express the essence of our difficulties in the simplest possible terms. Above all, we want the people to be informed. We want the people to understand. We want the people to gird themselves for battic. (APPLAUSE) This is because our problems will not be solved by means of miracles performed by individuals or even by groups of individuals. Only the people can perform miracles. (APPLAUSE) So that you will better understand what I am going to explain, I would like to give you some data: In 1958, on the eve of the triumph of the Revolution, Cuba's population was 6 547 000. In 1970 it is estimated that the population wHI reach a figure of approximately 8 256 000. Our population has increased. We will know the exact figure after the census that is going to be made within a few weeks has been finished; this will be made very carefully to include everybody - that is, everybody but those who want to stop being a part of this conglomerate.. (APPLAUSE) For them, it will be the dolce vita and the consumer society. We will stay with other things that are harder but more honorable and worthy. (APPLAUSE) Though in the social order the real harshness of life is the lot only of cowards. As I said before, our population has registered an increase of 1709 000, of whom 844 000 are minors under working age and 188 000 are men and women over working age. Out of that 1709 000, there are 1 032 000 that is, 60 percent who are either under 17 or over working age-women over 55 and men over 60. In other words, 60 percent who do not participate in production. Not counting those who are studying or are physically or socially disabled, the net increase in labor resources in these last 12 years has been 580 000. On the other hand, the needs of the economy for its new economic and social activities and the replacement of those who have reached retirement age call for 1 200 000 people. What with our new labor resources and the number of unemployed that existed before the Revolution, we have been partly - only partly able to meet our growing manpower needs. Of course, at the beginning, in 1958, there were 586 000 unemployed. A large number of them are working today; others have reached an age that no longer makes them fit for work; and there remain 75 000 who, neither housewives, students nor disabled, simply do not work. There are 75 000 of them. These are the figures showing our population growth along these years and the makeup of the population. A TOTAL OF 379 842 NEW RETIREMENTS According to estimates, how will things stand between 1970 and 1975? The situation will be even more serious. It is estimated that between 1970 and 1975 there will be a population increase of 660 000. Of these 660 000, the increase in minors - that is, the increase in those under work'ng age - will be 280 000, the increase in people over working age will be 108 000 and the increase in people of working age will be 275 000. Thus, not counting those who will have to study and others who, for various other reasons, will not work, there will be a net increase in our labor resources of 167 000 people in the next five years. Therefore, our problem in connection with manpower and the makeup of the population will continue to worsen in the next five years and will only begin to improve toward the end of the decade, close to 1990. It is estimated that the population increase between 1975 and 1930 will be $28 CC0. The increase in those under working age will be 160 000, the increase in those over working age will be 121 000, the increase in those of working age will be 550 000 and the net increase in our labor resources between 1975 and 1920 will be 535 000 Therefore, the population makeup you understand COMMITTEE EXHIBIT No. 5- Continued perfectly well what this is: it's the composition of the population according to age, we have just been talking about. This is what the trend will be for the next five years, and I repeat -it will begin to improve from 1975 to 1930. Now, then, this population makeup this happens not only in our country but also in other countries that have experienced a population explosion, which means almost all of the underdeveloped countries -means that only 32 percent of the population is engaged in activities related to our economy That is less than a third of the population is engaged in furnishing goods or services. And that third includes those who are furnishing services that constitute investments for the future, such as public health services and education, and those engaged in services that are absolutely necessary to the defense of the Revolution and the homeland. We must know these figures, first of all, in order to be fully aware of the situation, so we will know some of the obstacles that must be overcome. I would like to point out that some of the services have increased, as a result of this population makeup and also as a result of elementary measures of justice that the Revolution had to adopt measures which, in our opinion, could not be postponed. Social security, first of all. A total of 379 842 retirement and survivors' pensions have been granted since the triumph of the Revolution. That is, in the revolutionary process, a total of 379 842 people have had their right to these benefits recognized and these allotments have been paid to them. In addition, a total of 193 260 survivors and retired people most of whom had received pensions as low as under ten pesos a month have had their allotment increased to a minimum of 60 pesos a month. The outlay for social security services increased from 114.7 million pesos in 1958 to 320 million in 1970. Public health services: In 1958 there were 8209 workers in public health services. In 1989 the number increased to 87 646 87 846! Outlay for public health services, which in 1938 was 22.7 million pesos, increased to 236.1 million in 1969. Outlay in education or in general services in education: In 1958 there were 936 723 people enrolled in schools throughout the country. A total of 2239 454 enrolled in the 1969-70 school year - 1560 193 of them la primary education. In 1958 there were 23 648 workers in public education. In 1969 the figure rose to 127 526. The number of scholarships - 15 698 in 1958 - is now 777 505. This figure does not include the children in day-care centers and semiboarding schools. In 1938 the outlay for public education was 77 million pesos. This figure rose to 290.6 million in 1969. The number of beneficiaries of social security that is, those who received new pensions and retire. ments public health workers, workers in education and scholarship students amount to no fewer than 900 000 in 1970. And, if we add the men engaged in the defense of our country, the figure goes over 1 100 000. - Outlay for social security, public health and education three sectors which was 213.8 million pesos in 1958, amounts to no less than 850 million for 1970. If we add the outlay for defense to these three sectors, the total comes close to 1200 million pesos a year. I wanted to give comparative figures in pesos as well as comparative figures in people. The average number of double rations distributed among industrial workers and workers in services. scholarship students, those in day-care centers and semiboarding schools, people mobilized for agricultural work and the sugar harvest, hospital patients and combatants of the Ministry of the Révolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior amounted to approximately 2 250 000 per day. At the same time, notwithstanding the number of people working in education mentioned here and our expenditures for education, we must say that those needs are still far from being fully met in both quantity and quality. There are still many cases of pupils who attend school only half a day, as a result of shortages of teachers and classrooms. We will need 7000 new primary school teachers a year from 1970 to 1975. Seven thousand new teachers must be graduated every year! Some of them will go to meet outstanding needs, another part will replace those who must retire because of old age and the rest will constitute increases in both quantity and quality. Consequently, we need 35 000 new teachers in the next five years. For the same reasons, we will need 4000 new Junior high school teachers, 4000 new junior high school teachers every year through 1975. One thousand eight hundred new senior high school teachers will be needed every year. This means that we need to graduate but this does not mean that we are going to graduate them, because, unfortunately, we can't do this yet 12 800 new primary and junior and senior high school teachers every year an aggregate of 64 000 in five years. I believe that anyone can understand the significance that the solution or our failure to solve this problem has for this country. I believe that anyone can understand what a country will become or not become if it solves or fails to solve the problem of education. And the problem has to be solved in the conditions that I have explained to you, and all those resources have to be obtained from a population whose age makeup is worsening, with 32 percenta percentage that will not grow in the near future of the population producing all the resources. By way of comparison, suffice it to say that the industrialized countries of Europe, including the socialist countries, with incomparably higher labor productivity, with much greater development of their productive forces, employ, or employed in the decade just past, approximately 45 percent of their total population. We are employing and will have to employ not only for development, not only for providing for all of our unsatisfied needs, not only for our increasing needs only 32 percent of the population. And, as we succeed in employing more women, more and more needs in the form of schools, day-care centers, semiboarding schools and the like will arise. Under the Urban Reform Law, 268 089 families have been made hom: owners and do not have to pay any kind of rent; the value of that real estate is estimated at 3500 million pesos. In the same way, more then 100 000 families in rural areas who before the Revolution had to pay rent for their land have received the lifetime use of that land absolutely free. The increase in the number of retired workers, free educational services and medical care and the essential services of the nation's defense, together with the savings in connection with home and land rentals, have caused the amount of money and savings accounts in the hands of the people to shoot up to 3000 million pesos. A price policy to compensate for this imbalance this will help us and also those abroad who are interested in such things to understand the reason for ration. ing would have been nothing short of a ruthless sacrifice of those sectors of the population with the least income. This is quite plain: a price policy almed at evening up the total amount of goods and services that the people have to purchase -the things that are 58-594 O 72 pt. 3 11 |