Statement of Raul Castro Ruz Pertaining to Cuba’s Minister of Industry, Ernesto "Che" Guevara

In one of the conversations between a member of the PB CC PUWP, Cde. Z. Kliszko, and Cde. R. Castro, a referral was made to the position assumed by the Minister of Industry in Cuba, Ernesto Guevara, at the economic seminar of Afro-Asian countries in Algeria in February this year. Cde. R. Castro stated that he was not prepared to discuss the essence of the issue (the extent of aid from socialist countries to developing countries), but he stated that:

Cde. Guevara had recently spent a long time outside of the country and the position taken [lit. presented] by him should be treated as [his] personal view;

One should search for some kind of a solution regarding world [lit. international] prices which are unfair [detrimental]¹ to the developing countries. However, the propositions of E. Guevara are too extreme;

The Algerian Seminar was not the right forum for a discussion of the matters raised by E. Guevara;

E. Guevara is an unusually valued member of the UPSR leadership and he commands general respect. He is, however, marked by obstinacy, which was a cause of serious discussions within the Cuban leadership;

One of the biggest merits of the UPSR leadership is freedom of discussion and an unrestricted atmosphere which enables one to state his individual views. However, a decision that was once made is observed without exception by all comrades who comprise the Nationwide Leadership of the UPSR.

Drafted by R. Czyżycki

Prepared in 5 copies

[1] Krzywdzące can mean both detrimental and unfair.