Mr. PALMATIER. We have received about 31 installments covering about 246,629 names. Mr. FASCELL. What is the average number of names on each installment? Mr. PALMATIER. The average would be about 8,000. Some lists have had only 3,000 names on them. We have had lists with as high as 12,000 on them. Mr. FASCELL. What is the current number of the installment you are now working on? Mr. PALMATIER. Thirty. Mr. FASCELL. You are working on installment 30? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir; just received one several days ago. Mr. FASCELL. Do you have any knowledge, at this point, as to whether or not there are any pending installments which are about to be put into transit? Mr. PALMATIER. We have no knowledge that there are. We would assume that there are. Mr. HURWITCH. We think there are. The Swiss Embassy has advised us that the Cubans have indicated that they are working on lists that will take them well into 1971. TIMING OF INSTALLMENT LISTS Mr. FASCELL. Are the installments submitted with any kind of chronological regularity? Quarterly or bimonthly, or is there anyMr. PALMATIER. Intervals vary, but we receive lists about four times a year. Mr. FASCELL. It has varied? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. There is no definitive chronological submission? Mr. PALMATIER. Yes, sir. Mr. FASCELL. Identifiable? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. In these 30 installments? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. The total number of names that appear on the 30 installations amounted to 246,629; is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. TOTAL NUMBER OF REFUGEES ADMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES Mr. FASCELL. How many of those that appeared on the Cuban master list approved by the United States were admitted? Mr. HURWITCH. That came to the United States? Mr. FASCELL. Of the 246,629, how many were admitted to the United States? Mr. PALMATIER. From the Cuban master list, 179,912 through July 5. Mr. FASCELL. To that has to be added the 8,000 from the U.S. supplementary list; is that correct? Mr. PALMATIER. That is correct. Mr. FASCELL. To that we also have to add those refugees who were admitted prior to the time the airlift commenced? 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. 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, 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. |