Double Traveler

It used to be that a neutralist wishing to show how even-handed his politics were had to journey half a world, to Washington and Moscow. Now he can achieve the same effect on the cheap, by a trip to the U.N. with layovers in Washington and Havana. Last week Algeria's Premier Ahmed ben Bella, 45, leading his new nation into "constructive neutrality," said goodbye to President Kennedy one day and hello to Fidel Castro the next day.

Gestures All Around. Determined to outdo the traditional 21-gun salute that Ben Bella got on the White House lawn, Castro had an old Communist satellite gimmick to impress his guest--a 21-tank salute. As the long rifles of the Russian-built tanks barked their welcome, the bearded Cuban gave the slim Algerian rebel a mighty abrazo and then led him to the microphones. Said Castro: "To make this visit at a time when the powerful Yankee empire has redoubled its hostility against our country ... is, on your part, Senor Premier, an act of courage and a gesture we shall never forget."

From then on, it was one gesture after another. Ben Bella gushed praise for the "extraordinary advances and progress of this revolution despite the maneuvers of enemy forces." Every Algerian, he said, "knows, follows and admires" the Cuban revolution; Algerians celebrate "as a national event, the victory of Playa Giron."* As a new nation, he said, Algeria has struck only one medal of honor, and this will be given to Castro.

"You Too." Ben Bella saw little of Castro's hungry, rundown island during his day in Cuba. Most of the time was spent huddled with Castro officialdom. Castro and Cuban President Osvaldo Dorticos were particularly insistent that Ben Bella agree to a specific denunciation of the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base. So was Che Guevara, the Argentine Communist in charge of Cuba's economy. "Sooner or later," he told Ben Bella, "you, too, will have to face the issue of the French naval base of Mers-el-Kebir." According to a later Algerian account of the session, Ben Bella urged Castro to ease tension with the U.S. "And just how?" asked Castro. A little less rattling of Russian rockets would help, Ben Bella reportedly said. The final joint communique reflected no such exchange. Ben Bella approved a statement demanding an end to "imperialist oppression," and "foreign military bases in other countries, including the naval base at Guantanamo."

Washington, which hopes to get along with Ben Bella, reacted with a pained official silence, and a private explanation that Ben Bella has a large body of leftist support to keep happy. Flying back to New York the Algerian Premier would say no more about Cuba. But Algerians at the U.N. reported some interesting observations by Ben Bella and his aides about their Cuban hosts. They got the feeling that Che Guevara and Armed Forces Commander Raul Castro were the real "strongmen" of the regime. President Osvaldo Dorticos, long considered a mere Castro puppet, was a surprisingly "strong personality." What about Castro himself? "Still immature, and too nervous."

* Cuba's name for the Bay of Pigs invasion.

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