Dictators' Duet

From the Caribbean, a new and powerful radio voice broadcasts anti-U.S. propaganda: "The North American diplomatic mission is right now carrying out a new and dangerous activity within our country. Its members have dedicated themselves to terrorist propaganda."

The words are familiar, but not the source. The broadcasts come not from Havana, but from Ciudad Trujillo's Radio Caribe. A month ago, to get revenge on Washington, a former friend now cold to him, Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo began vilifying the U.S. with a powerful transmitter--20,000 watts on medium wave, 50,000 watts on short wave.

For 16 hours a day, between Cuban cha cha chas and American pop tunes, the station lambastes the U.S. It also courts Fidel Castro, an ally in mutual hatred of the U.S. Radio Caribe shrugs off last year's Cuba-based Dominican invasion as "the result of errors in the first steps of a euphoric and warlike youth" and says: "We wish Fidel happiness." A few days later the charge went: "Raul Castro is right. The OAS serves for nothing." Venezuela's President Romulo Betancourt is described as "an employee of the State Department."

Such denunciations from Dictator Trujillo do not wholly displease Washington which has suffered the stigma among Latin Americans of being considered his friend.

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