By WILLIAM DEVINE Tribune Staff Correspondent HAVANA SHE overall atmosphere seemed one of depression. It’s easy to mis- read the sentiments of a group of people, but if the mood wasn’t a depressed one, it was anything but buoyant. I think it was the sense of finality that lead to the depression. In a few minutes there would be no turn- ing back. For those gathered in the check-out room, lit by bright morning sunlight, this was the moment of truth. If they were joyful in it, this was not perceived. What smiles there were seemed nervous and strained. And as they filed out of the room, most heads bowed a trifle, rather grimly. They seemed less like persons shedding a burden, than those about to take one on. These weré “gusanos,”’ about to leave Cuba. They had just passed through the brief, final formalities pre- paratory to boarding an American plane that would take them from the airport near Veradero Beach to Miami. I was one of a small group of journal- ists invited for this occasion to wit- ness their departure. Two flights a day leave the Veradero airport, both in the morning, with a combined passenger list of about 180. The flights are designed specially for those Cubans with relatives in the United States. The procedure is for the U.S.-resident Cuban to request his re- latives in Cuba to join them. Cuban authorities then check with the rela- tives concerned, and if they wish to go, they are put on a list and await their turn. When that turn comes, notification is given, ranging from five days to 72 hours in advance of the de- parture date. Those notified must then arrange to be at the Veradero airport en the evening prior to their depar- ture. Here they spend the night. One myth in particular we saw de- cisively debunked. I’ve read, and I’m sure you have, that those leaving Cuba are deprived of all valuable belong- ings, such as jewelry, watches, etc., and sent on their way without a scrap of luggage. Well, I watched carefully as my group left. There were watches and rings aplenty on the wrists and fingers of those leaving. And their suitcases, full of luggage, had earlier been piled neatly onto a truck. Before the plane took off, these were safely stowed on_ board. One of the Cuban officials told us 1962—100,000 voluntary teachers smash illiteracy. that each person leaving is entitled to 40 pounds of luggage and $200 worth of valuables. However, he added, some of the rings and jewelry worn out are worth much more than that. But it is an exception when anything is ever said about this. In addition to the relative-flights from Veradero, other Cubans leave in- dividually from regular airports. These thorities became concerned since they were unable to exercise effective im- migration control over the incoming Cubans. So they proposed the plane arrangement, to which the Cuban gov- ernment agreed, and thus the Veradero flights began. The only exceptions to those allowed to leave are males rang- ing from 17 to 27 years of age and, in some cases, doctors. CUBA What are are the ones who have negotiated their own visa and exit arrangements, and flights take them either to Mexico or Spain. Some remain in these countries. Others continue elsewhere. The first flight out from Veradero took place on December 1, 1965. In September of that year, Fidel Castro had made a speech at Camarioca, a port town near Havana. He took note of those leav- ing in their small boats, and said that if there were Cubans who wished to leave, the government would open up Camarioca for this purpose. Ships from Miami began taking peo- ple out from the port (at exorbitant fees, incidentally). However, U.S. au- gusanos ? Well, why do Cubans leave? Not too long ago, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Raul Roa, answered questions on this point. He spoke of five waves of peo- ple leaving Cuba. First, he said, were the criminals. Then the wealthy Cubans who were closely associated with U.S. interests. After these he put the counter-revolu- tionaries working with the CIA. The next group he referred to were those who fled in small boats when they didn’t need to—mainly to make pro- paganda. After these, he placed those who won’t or can’t adapt to a different way of life. As a group, if they belong in any of these categories, a leavers would probably 110 one. But with the 4 a ) they have relatives hither. As I spoke about to leave, who United States, it app = is indeed thicker thal jae was one aspect of the seemed tragic, howev family units were takine |, them. Here were YoUNr ig being privy to the (ig taken by their paren'S” life back into the O° jig We were to discon i ny of these children a to have g l! “ ' On a visit to 4 sch ai side” project (more 't time), I was told Od! whose parents ha at ia They had grown up &) fits of the Revolution ig! friends were in ube ot was about to be id were, their friends 10° about the prospect "1p letter we were SOV. gf! na Cuba, we learnt g This was a 10-year® wy been sent to the Use th who followed latet. ~~ aici became emotiona ; was finally sent 0” pi them. wht Nevertheless, thos? be will not fit continv® | ten leave. In a recent well-known Ameri ba i Castro said that “en free society 0 would be very di ino tg q mer cane-cutters 10-09, After a recent red i island, I'd be Pieters Mg those words of plist, 4 tremendous a¢ Revolution, from cess agh public health serv, the reform and on! word t that is being laid t t0 be Cuban would puck try. And then ime Vial them don’t. Next Hirai port about the MU, thi! gi remember th jookt! ! conveniently OV" ‘post million who havé Belgium, U.S. fight for Congo EHIND all the adventurism of the mercenaries in the Congro is a plot by the Belgian imperialists to restore their hegemony over mineral- rich Kantanga province. Back in 1906 a Belgian Com- pany, Union Miniere du Haute Kantanga was established. It’s lease, on a 7,700 square mile area was to run until 1990. This area is rich in copper, zinc, co- balt, cadmium, germanium, ra- dium, gold, silver, iron, tin, etc. In January of this year Presi- dent Mobutu expropriated the property and established a gov- ernment controlled company called Societe Congalese des Minerals. Sixty percent of the stocks were to be controlled by the Congolese government and the remaining 40 percent were to be controlled for sale to for- eign interests. (In Union Miniere the government only controlled 17.9 percent.) Union Miniere threatened to pull out its 2,000 European technicians and attempted a boycott of the Katanga copper declaring that any buyer of this copper would be getting “pur- loined property.” The Mobutu government, how- ever, instead of seeking align- ment with pro-independence forces, tried to get other foreign financial circles, especially in the U.S., to participate in the new company. It announced in late January that a consortium July 28, 1967—PAGIFIG TRIBUNE—Page 6» had been formed of French and U.S. companies, including the Rothchild - controlled Penarroya Company of France and. the Newmount Mining Corp., of the U.S., linked to Lazard. Freres, Wall Street investment bankers, to buy stocks in the new Congo company. This consortium fell apart, however. The Newmont compa- ny said it had never planned any such deal and Penarroya Com- pany declared Union Miniere would have to be “fully compen- sated” for expropriated prop- erty before it did business with the new company. In this conflict, U.S. interests saw an opportunity, however, to carve out a bigger slice of the Congo pie. When mercena- ries sought to restore Union Miniere domination, the John- son administration therefore sided with Mobutu. Theodore C. Sorensen, former aide to John F. Kennedy, was hired by the Congo government in January as counsel. Sorensen advised a compromise settle- ment. : The U.S. government, faced by a shortage of copper at a time when the demand is rising because of the war in Vietnam, pressured Moboutu to let Union Miniere buy into the new com- pany. Union Miniere, under this compromise is to continue full operating and marketing con- trol, but policy is to be deter- mined by a board composed of Congolese friendly to the U.S. The representatives of Union Miniere said Union Miniere re- tains control “for all practical purposes.” This is belied, how- ever, by the fact that Union Miniere must resort to mercen- ary attacks. Yet the reactionary clique in the Congo led by Mo- butu continues to rely on Wall Street’ and the Johnson Admini- stration as an ally in its quarrels with the Belgians. The only party that can gain in this ar- rangement is U.S. imperialism. Thus far U.S. interests in the Congo are growing but are not yet dominant. Rockefeller inter- ests, for example, exploiting uranium in the Congo, have 22% ‘ y, “ ”