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> Cuba remains the bone in the U.S. throat. The U.S. is committed to a relatively inactive policy of trying to isolate Castro from foreign trade. The embargo is not working perfectly by any means, for Britain recently made a trade deal with the Communist dictator. And last week while Castro was in Moscow, a new Soviet-Cuban trade agreement was announced. In return for the favor, Castro promised to sign the atomic test ban treaty. All the while, he continues to try to export his revolution to other Latin American countries.
> Argentina is wealthy, 92% literate, has relatively good transport and communications systems—and chronic political problems. The government, backed by the military, which threw out the previous freely elected President, has strong nationalistic leanings—some State Department officials are worried that the country could turn to isolationism. The party of exiled Dictator Juan Perón is still a force, but the strength of Castro Communism has declined.
> Bolivia has a liberal, anti-Communist government that gets heavy U.S. aid to ease the threat of a tough Communist Party movement well-stocked with Castro-trained saboteurs.
> Brazil lives in an endless financial crisis, is so deeply in debt to other countries that it is on the brink of bankruptcy. The country's inflation is incredible: prices went up about 85% last year. Much to blame is the government of demagogic President João Goulart, who hints that he would turn to the Soviet Union if the U.S. cut its financial aid. The U.S. continues to pour in money, will probably reschedule all Brazil's debts soon for easier payment.
> Chile's government is conservative, but the popular trend is toward nationalization of copper mines owned by U.S. companies. A powerful and worrisome Communist Party controls 30% of Chilean voters, but Chile remains a solid U.S. friend.
> Colombia has been cursed by a senseless spree of murder and looting that began with a political assassination in 1948, has since claimed more than 200,000 lives. U.S. Army Special Forces are in Colombia to give advice. Colombia's democratic government is relatively progressive but is less impressive than was the regime of brilliant ex-President Alberto Lleras Camargo, who left office in 1962.
> Costa Rica in prospering under one of Latin America's strongest democratic governments.
> The Dominican Republic has embarrassed the U.S. for decades. After the U.S.-encouraged assassination of Dictator Trujillo in 1961, the U.S. in 1962 ardently supported Author Juan Bosch, an exile for 24 years, in presidential elections. He won, then allowed Dominican Communists to organize openly and proved to be inept. Fed up, the Dominican army threw Bosch out, but the U.S.—with a fixed policy in favor of constitutional government even when it is bad—broke off relations with the junta. Later it got promises that there would be free elections, and relations were restored. But U.S. Ambassador John Bartlow Martin, primary backer of Bosch, resigned, and a new ambassador has not yet been named.
> Ecuador's military leaders last year ousted liquor-loaded President Carlos Arosemena, now promise free elections in 1965. The government is friendly to the U.S., recently headed off a blooming Castro-Communist movement.