The Hemisphere: Oil from Russia

Lacking water power, coal or petroleum, Cuba runs on imported oil. For many years, the oil has flowed from Shell, Jersey Standard or Texaco wells in Venezuela, traveled in Shell, Jersey Standard or Texaco tankers to Cuba, been refined at Shell, Jersey Standard or Texaco refineries at Santiago or Havana. It was paid for with dollars earned by selling sugar in the U.S.

Tempted by visions of bartering sugar for oil, and taking the advice of the Communist who is his chief economic brain, Ernesto ("Che") Guevara, Fidel Castro last week turned to Russia for the oil to run Cuba. In doing...

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