FROM THE ARCHIVES:Features editor Jack White visited Cuba in summer 1960 as its 18 month-old revolution was seizing American property and there was much debate abroad about whether the new regime was communist or not. Among the people he met was Che Guevara. – JOE JOYCE
AS THE taxi nosed its way along the narrow streets of old Havana, the driver leaned out to ask directions of a soldier who was lounging on a corner, nursing his automatic rifle. Where, he asked, would we find the office of the President of the National Bank? The soldier stared at him for a moment, and then comprehension dawned. “Ah!” he said, “Che!”
Che is the stock nickname in Cuba for anybody from the Argentine. But in the Cuba of 1960 Che means one Argentine in particular: El Commandante Dr. Ernesto Guevara, who is now regarded as the the chief economic brain – and many people say the chief brain – without qualification of the Revolution. And he has given the nickname formal adoption of an unusual kind: as President of the National Bank, he has signed the new banknotes simply – Che.
He arrived ten minutes late – which for this part of the world is pretty good timing – and stopped at once to shake my hand and apologise. He was in uniform, with commando boots and beret; he has a tough, quick-moving body, the beard of the revolutionary, and keenly alive brown eyes. We went and sat in a big panelled office, and he called for coffee. I had, by the way, gone to considerable trouble in the morning to find out whether I should bring an interpreter, and was assured that there would be one available. There wasn’t; but, happily, we were able to compromise on French. To my deficiencies in the medium you may attribute the deficiencies in this report.
WHITE:I understand that in a recent speech you said that the Cuban Revolution was Marxist but not Communist. Can you explain?
CHE:This is very difficult, so much depends on the meaning of words . . . Marxism is a scientific process which explains what has happened. But our revolution has had its roots in our own situation, our own needs. In that way it is the same as the Russian revolution or the Chinese revolution, or any other. If you ask me whether it is Communist – well, what is the use of saying no? I can say no a million times, and still the newspapers will say yes. I don't think it is so important what you call it – what is important is: are the people happy or not?
WHITE:Are you planning to hold elections?
CHE: At present, no.
WHITE:Don't you think it would improve your credit with the rest of the world if you did?
CHE:All the Communist countries hold elections, you know! But for us it would be just a waste of time. In the future, yes, probably. But now it is more important to give the people a real Government that will do what they want.
WHITE:Democracy without elections?
CHE:Why not?
Full interview at http://url.ie/cq55