Senator Supports U.S. Intervention If Necessary to Halt Cuban Regime

Sen. Barry M. Goldwater declared yesterday that he would support United States military intervention in Cuba "If it becomes necessary."

"We cannot have a Communist country 90 miles south of us when we have the power to stop it," Goldwater told a group of reporters at a press conference in Quincy House. Noting that he supported armed intervention only "as a last step," the Senator advocated first trying "a complete embargo, enforced if need be by a military blockade."

Asked if he thought Russia would go to war should the United States attempt to remove Castro's government by force, Goldwater replied, "I don't see how she can. I couldn't see Russia sending men and arms across seas we control."

"I'm not convinced Russia looks on Cuba as a Communist country or Castro as a credit to Communism," Goldwater commented.

"Latin America doesn't want Communism in Cuba," the Senator said. In Latin America, he claimed, "respect for the United States has slipped decidedly," but could be regained through intervention in Cuba.

Opposes Troops for Laos

The Senator denied, however, that he would support sending U.S. forces to Laos. "The Laotians don't seem to have much interest in defending their own country. I don't know how many American boys I want to risk to save a country that won't fight for itself."

If the Laotians decide they are willing to provide manpower for a war effort, the United States' role is "heavy supply of arms," Goldwater noted. He approved President Kennedy's "tough" policy pronouncements on Laos and declared, "I wish the Eisenhower Administration had made the same strong statements."

Turning to domestic affairs, the Senator explained his proposed amendment to the bill on federal aid to education. (The amendment would provide for loans to private and parochial schools.) "I don't believe in federal aid to education, but I don't see how we can morally take money from all segments of the population to give to one part," he said.