When Washington banned to sell medicines and food to Cuba

When Washington banned to sell medicines and food to Cuba
Fecha de publicación: 
14 May 2019
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Over half a century ago and until today, the US government suspended those transactions with Havana.

It happened on May 14, 1964, and the decision stirred up harsh criticisms even from humanitarian and learned sectors of that country.

Perhaps, the best synthesis of what was then written on that respect came from famous The New York Times newspaper.

It was published the following morning reflecting the concern of important sectors of the US society in the face of the new Cuba policy.

Using an unusually harsh language, The Times voiced alarm at the decision to extend the blockade to medicines and food.

Disclosed by the Associated Press (AP), the text of that editorial also said: “The complexity of U.S. policy towards Cuba has been demonstrated by two facts these days:

The decision to restrict its medicine and food sales to Cuba and its severe reprimand against young exiles who attacked a Cuban port and issued a triumphant statement in Miami”.

The New York Times continued to assert:

“Food and medicines were until today the only goods that could be shipped to Cuba without permission from the Government.

Now, specific licenses will be needed, clearly to reduce shipments.

Then, it pronounced itself: This is not the way to win the cold war against Cuba, nor is it the way to show the world the image of a humanitarian United States as a magnanimous country.

Immediately after, The Times wisely warned:

“United States will win nothing making Cubans starve more, nor will it win friends in Cuba making them suffer for the lack of medicines”.

55 years after that event, life absolutely sides with the very influential newspaper of New York.

Translated Jorge Mesa Benjamin / CubaSi Translation Staff

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