Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. These are only airlift statistics. Mr. FASCELL. If you are looking for the total number of Cubans admitted to the United States, you would have to add those refugees who were admitted to the United States prior to the time the airlift started? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. What is that total? Mr. PALMATIER. The best estimate we have from the Department of State and the Immigration Service is that, since 1959, approximately half a million Cubans have come to the United States. Mr. FASCELL. Is that inclusive or exclusive of the two lists? Mr. PALMATIER. That would include the lists. It would include also the people that came via Spain and Mexico and by small boat. That is the total. Mr. FASCELL. From the estimate of 500,000 would have to be deducted those that have entered on the two lists; is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER, Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. You would have to deduct 188,000 who came in under the lists from the estimated 500,000 total, and that would give you an estimate of the number of Cubans who came in prior to the airlift. Is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. Or through other countries? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. By whatever means? REGISTERED REFUGEES IN MIAMI, FLA. Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. The total that registered with us at the center in Miami since the inception have been 379,229. Mr. FASCELL. That is a misleading figure though? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, in terms of total Cuban refugees in the United States; that is misleading. Mr. FASCELL. That is voluntary registration at the Cuban Refugee Center for assistance. That is all that figure means. It has nothing to do with the totals, one way or the other. Three hundred seventy-nine thousand have registered at the center for inclusion in the Cuban refugee program? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. We have actually admitted to the United States an estimated total of 500,000 Cubans since the Castro government took over? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. One hundred and eighty-eight thousand have come in, by virtue of the airlift, on two lists, the United States list and the Cuban list. Is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER. No. Mr. FASCELL. That would leave Mr. PALMATIER. No, sir. Since the airlift started, a total of 196,000 have come in on the airlift. Mr. FASCELL. Well, I cannot reconcile that with your figure of 179,912, plus 8, 662. Mr. PALMATIER. Well, the 179,000-I think it would be better, Mr. Chairman, if you were working from the type of table that I have here. As I mentioned to you in several private discussions that we have had over a several year period, the business of working with lists becomes very complicated. Mr. FASCELL. I am just trying to figure this out. One hundred and seventy-nine thousand and nine hundred and twelve and 8,662 gives me 188,474. That is the total people, as of July 5, who have come in under the airlift pursuant to the two lists. Is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. VARIANCE IN REFUGEE LISTINGS Mr. FASCELL. There are some people who have come in via the airlife who were not on those two lists? Mr. PALMATIER. That is what it is, exactly. Since the lists were initiated-remember, the registration took place back in 1965 and 1966-there have been births in the family, and in the case of a birth in the family the child, while not registered, would be allowed to come with the family and is in the airlift count. Mr. FASCELL. So you would have to raise the figure of 188,474 if we are talking about the airlift? Mr. PALMATIER. The total comes up to-if we use this figure as of July 5, that is probably the best one to use the total would be 196,794, as of July 5, from all lists. Mr. FASCELL. Then you would have to deduct 196,794 from the estimated 500,000 to determine the number of refugees who came in other than by means of the airlift? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. Now we are talking there of 303,000? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. Estimated? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. We have no accurate count there? Mr. PALMATIER. No, sir. (The table referred to above on airlift arrivals by list follows:) STATUS OF LISTS AND AIRLIFT: AS OF JULY 5, 1970 1 U.S. supplementary master list. 2 UNAC equals parents and immediate family members claimed by unaccompanied Cuban children in United States. 3 Includes about 9,000 persons considered inactive cases because claimants have not been located or have not verified claim. Mr. FASCELL. We are going to have to terminate this now and go to the full committee meeting. Gentlemen, we will advise you when we have to get together to pursue some other details with respect to this program. We appreciate your cooperation with the subcommittee on this very important subject and we will get together just as soon as we can. Mr. HURWITCH. We are at your disposition, Mr. Chairman. (Whereupon, at 11:08 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned.) CUBA AND THE CARIBBEAN FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1970 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTER-AMERICAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. The Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs met in executive session at 10 a.m., in room 2255, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Dante B. Fascell (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. FASCELL. The subcommittee will come to order. We meet this morning to continue our inquiry into the situation regarding Cuba and the Caribbean. We are taking this testimony in executive session because we are focusing completely on the security situation in the Caribbean and how that situation affects the ability of the United States (1) to operate in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and (2) to advance the legitimate interests of intrahemispheric security. Our earlier hearings in this series drew attention to some disquieting developments in the region under study. Among these were the intrusions into the Caribbean region of Soviet military aircraft and naval units, including a nuclear-powered submarine, and the rising potential for violence in the Caribbean area. Other issues, still untouched, relate to the status of the Panama Canal, and of the Canal Zone; the functions and responsibilities of the U.S. Southern Command; the operation in the Canal Zone of a system of military schools and U.S. military assistance to Latin American countries. To help us pursue some of these subjects, we are pleased to welcome Gen. George R. Mather, Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command; and Maj. Gen. Walter P. Leber, Governor of the Canal Zone. Gentlemen, we are delighted that you have responded so promptly to our invitation. We have your statements before us and we would like you to proceed in delivering them. We appreciate you gentlemen taking the time to make this record for us. We assure you it will be most helpful to the subcommittee. We are going to take considerable time to explore the subject in depth. In carrying out our responsibilities with regard to the foreign policy implications of the whole area, we will try to leap-frog some troubles for a change. I don't know if we will succeed, but we will try our best. Whatever congressional input can be made-if, indeed, it can-with respect to executive branch decisionmaking, we want to try to make it ahead of time and not after the fact. We feel that these are very important hearings. We appreciate the time and effort you are giving to the subject. Both of you have distinguished careers. What you have to say should be given a great deal of weight and consideration at the very highest levels in government. (57) I would like to start with General Mather, if I may. You may proceed. (A biographical sketch of General Mather follows:) GENERAL GEORGE R. MATHER Gen. George Robinson Mather was born in Watertown, South Dakota, in 1911. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy and commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry upon his graduation in 1932. The next five years of his military career included the normal posts and schooling of a Cavalry officer. He then spent a year at the University of Mexico, followed by service as instructor of Spanish from 1938 to 1942 at West Point. From 1942 to 1944 he was with the War Department General Staff's Operations Division, departing for Europe in 1944 where he served in combat, and was seriously wounded. Upon his return to the United States in 1945 he was again assigned to the War Department General Staff, and in 1946 joined the Headquarters, Caribbean Command, Panama Canal Zone. Later assignments in the United States included duty at the United Nations; command of a Tank Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and a year at Fort Knox, Ky. at the Army Field Forces Board. He departed for Europe in August 1952 to become Chief of Staff to the U.S. Commander in Berlin; from 1953 to 1954 be held a command with the 2nd Armored Division in Europe; then became Chief of Staff of the Division (1954). In 1955 General Mather became the first President of the newly activated Army Maintenance Board at Fort Knox, Kentucky; in 1956 he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army. General Mather then went to Korea, serving as Assistant Division Commander, 7th Infantry (Bayonet) Division from August 1959 to October 1960. He assumed duties as Chief of Staff, Fourth U.S. Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in October 1960. In December 1961 he became Chairman, U.S. Delegation, Joint Brazil-U.S. Military Commission and Chief, MAAG, Brazil, stationed in Rio de Janeiro. Returning to the United States in 1964, General Mather assumed command of the 2d Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He then served as U.S. Representative, and later as Chairman (1965-66) of the Permanent Military Deputy Group, Central Treaty Organization, in Ankara, Turkey. From February 1966 to May 1967 he served as Commanding General of the V Corps, USAREUR, Frankfort, Germany. In June 1967 General Mather assumed command of the U.S. Army III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas. Reassigned in April of 1968 to the Pentagon, he became Director for Civil Disturbance Planning and Operations, Department of the Army, until February 1969 when he was appointed Commander in Chief, Southern Command. Among his citations and awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal (with V Device). STATEMENT OF GEN. GEORGE R. MATHER, U.S. ARMY, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND General MATHER. Mr. Chairman, it is a privilege for me to appear before you and assist in your inquiries concerning defense matters in the Caribbean and Latin America. I have submitted my prepared statement for the record and would like to summarize its highlights. My testimony does not deal with the presence of foreign naval units in the Caribbean nor with the status of our naval forces there. I will defer to Admiral Holmes on those topics. As Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command, my responsibilities in the Caribbean are limited to military assistance matters, specifically to the activities of the U.S. Military Advisory Group in the Dominican Republic. This is not the extent of my command interest in the Caribbean, however, since the waters of the Caribbean wash the shores of 10 countries and the Panama Canal Zone within my area of responsi |