ae I have just read the text of Fidel Castro's speech given at the meeting commemorating the eighth anniversary of the Cuban revolution and I think that readers of The Week will be interested to see what he had to say about Che Guevara: "In the commemoration of this anniversery,we have in mind the memory of dear comrades like Camilo (applause), whose legendary portrait has presided over this meeting, and Major Guevara (applause) whose pictures have also presided over this celebration ...... we send our special message of warmth and love, because it is something we feel very deeply, to Major Ernesto Guevara and his comrades, wherever they may be! (ovation). The imperialists have killed Che many times and in many places (hissing), but we are expecting that one day, where imperialism least expects it, a battle-hardened, healthy, fighting Major Ernesto Guevara will arise from his ashes like the phoenix (prohonged applause); and that some day we will again have very concrete news from Che (prolonged applause).
The issue of Grama which figured this speech had a cartoon by the famous Cuban artist Nuez which showed an American eagle exclaiming, "Holy Smokes! The phoenix!" when it discovered Che sha@ting at him from a mountain top, Also of significance is what Castro had to say about the Vietnam war: "We have talked a great desl about Viet Nam, we have often analysed all that the heroic struggle in Viet Nam means (Shouts of 'Long live Viet Nam!"), what Viet Nam means for the world and for the liberation movements and for all the people harassed by imperialism: we have said that the battle in Viet Nam is being waged for all humanity, and that Viet Nam, victoriously and heroically standing up to the most powerful, aggressive and hated imperialists in the world, is also waging a battle for us, "The heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people has been creating a formidable political consciousness the world over, that has reduced the prestige of imperialism to the lowest level in all history. And this loss of prestige has been directly proportionate to the escalation of the war, and to the most recent imperialist crime of bombing the capital of Viet Nam. Viet Nam has rallied sympathy throughout the world, it has rallied the sharpest minds and the most radical pronouncements, such as those of Bertrand Russell and of Jean-Paul Sartre, and hundreds of other intellectuals in Europe, in Latin America, and everywhere in the world. "It is not necessary for us to reiterate our fervent solidarity with Viet Nam, because it is something so natural and logical for a country such as ours, also threatened with similar perils, to feel the most profound solidarity with Viet Nam. For our country, which recognises that imperialism is the enemy of all the peoples, this bond with Viet Nam is facing a life and death struggle, a decisive struggle which is growing in depth and intensity. "For this reason, rather than continuing with words, we would like to make a gesture that will say it all: that we-dedicate this year to Viet Nam (Applause). We are going to call this year 'The Year of Heroic Viet Nam'. (Prolonged applause) This is what we propose to you: to call 1967 'The Year of Heroic Viet Nam.' (Everyone present raises his hand). (Prolonged Applause)."
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