Senator KENNEDY. You mentioned in your testimony on page 3 that:

At this time also, we are waiting for our relatives to arrive from Cuba, since we have already claimed them and there is no logical reason why they should not be able to come.

From your own personal experience and contacts with other refugees who have families in Cuba, have you been satisfied that they have been permitted to leave Cuba within a reasonable period of time?

Mr. LOPEZ. I mentioned logical. The only problem is that Castro is not logical. If any morning he wakes up and says, well, that nobody else is going to leave, nothing is going to stop. But I believe it was mentioned that before a person leaves he has to hand in his rationing card, everything, and then something which was overlooked, when about 3 or 4 years ago they changed the currency in Cuba, any person having over $10,000, I believe, they had to deposit that in a bank. So if anybody had been taking money out of that bank, $100 a month is the maximum they allow, in order to leave the country they have to restore that money to the Government, otherwise they won't be able to leave.

Of course, we have known of some other cases in which the husbands and wives have been on the plane, ready to leave for the United States, and some of the husbands have been brought down and made to stay in Cuba with no reason why that should happen.

Senator KENNEDY. Do you know of instances where Cuban refugees in this country are requested or required to pay exorbitant prices to have relatives released from Cuba?

Mr. LOPEZ. I have heard rumors about it. I don't know exactly, as to myself, from personal experience.

Senator KENNEDY. I want to thank you very much for appearing here. You have certainly been very helpful. What are you going to do when you get out of school?

Mr. LOPEZ. I will go to graduate school, and I will then see how things develop, because I have faith that if we will be able to free Cuba it will be the greatest showcase of what two systems, democracy and communism, can do for a country. I think when the rest of the Latin America has seen the things that communism has done for Cuba and what a system of democracy can do for one's country, there will be no alternative. That will be very beneficial not only for the people, but to the entire country.

Senator KENNEDY. Are you politically minded?

Mr. LOPEZ. Yes, I have to be.

Senator KENNEDY. Many thanks.

The next panel of witnesses are accompanied by Monsignor Trainor, who is the executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark.

Senator KENNEDY. For the record, would you please name the witnesses?

Monsignor TRAINOR. This is Miss Marcia M. Meehan and Rev. Michael J. Feketie, Armando Cainas, Ronald Blair, Dr. Alberto Gonzales, Albert Gonzales Mendoza, Rafael Sanches, and Amato Vila.

Senator KENNEDY. Fine, Monsignor. If you will be kind enough to proceed; do you have a statement?

Monsignor TRAINOR. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. If you'd like to summarize it very briefly, I will include it in the record as read.

(The following is the statement by Msgr. Patrick J. Trainor :)

Territorially, the Archdiocese includes the heavily populated northern counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union, with more than 3 million people, of which more than half are Catholic. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark provides many forms of social welfare to the people of this area. In the nomenclature of social work, we are a multifunctioning private social agency with a professionally trained staff. One of these functions is carried on by the Resettlement Department. In virtue of this, I hold the title of Resettlement Director, as well as the overall title of Executive Director of the Associated Catholic Charities. The Resettlement Department's major concern at the present time is the Cuban Refugees.

To clearly understand the operation of our resettlement program, it must be kept in mind that while the central or main office from which it functions is located here in Newark, the major part of the resettlement is taking place outside of the city, but still within the four counties already mentioned. According to our records of 533 Cuban families resettled since January 1st, 1966, there are the following statistics:

This same pattern is reflected in 424 families resettled in 1965.

Since our resettlement program did not come into existence with the plight of the Cuban refugees, when the need did arise we were ready to bring our experience to bear. However, as those familiar with the program from the beginning know, it was difficult to get the general program moving for a variety of reasons. One very important reason was the uncertainties surrounding the financing of resettlement. This was important especially to agencies as ourselves who were ready and willing to go to work but had to have some source of funds to meet part of the costs of resettlement. Appeals were made to volunteer groups but the response did not meet the needs.

The problem of financing was worked out between the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the recognized national organizations doing resettlement, such as the National Catholic Welfare Conference. We are an extension of this Resettlement Department and as such, became eligible for reimbursement for certain expenses incurred in our resettlement program. It may be an exaggeration to so state, but we would not have been able to accomplish what we have done had it not been for this financial program. This is particu larly true of the past few months of accelerated resettlement.

The principal costs that are reimbursable are those for temporary living quar ters and for the furnishing of apartments. There is also provision for salaries of our staff who are working directly with the resettlement. However, we have not been reimbursed for the actual total cost. There are a number of our staff who must necessarily work on the fringe of the resettlement program and they are a part of our total administrative costs. For 1965, beyond the reimbursed costs, our expenses for resettlement were over $45,000.

Our activity in the present accelerated phase of resettlement was able to expand on the basis of our previous experience. Along with others, we were not too sure whether this phase would become a reality. Nevertheless, we had over 15,000 application forms printed and distributed. Our office here in Newark looked like a bargain basement, as the many already resettled Cuban refugees were anxious to initiate the process of bringing their relatives to the U.S.A. Despite the uncertainties of this phase materializing, we prepared for the arrival of the predicted influx by increasing our staff of Spanish speaking and extending our office space. We were able to secure without cost, additional office space in a nearby hotel where we had previously housed on a temporary basis Cuban refugees. In addition to this, we have had an office operating at first in West New York, and now in Union City two days a week. This office is located in the buildings of St. Augustine's Church where Father Feketie who is present here is assistant pastor. Needless to say, this office is made available to this program gratis. Resettlement programs have their problems, they have varied with the different groups. The most disorderly resettlement occurred with the Hungarians, due in large part to the abruptness of their arrival and that was right here in our backyard down in Camp Kilmer. In turn, the most orderly and effective has been

that of the Cuban refugees. It might be that Miami and Florida would have some questions on this assertion.

As in any of the resettlement efforts, the language difference has been a major problem. Since the intelligence level of the Cuban is relatively high, their desire to escape not being merely instinctive, many have overcome the language obstacle. In the first years of this program they were not too concerned about language since there was still a hope they would soon be returning to Cuba. They are now more anxious to learn. Several of the Spanish speaking Centers here in Newark have classes, one in particular has an attendance of 60 Cubans three nights a week.

They have a pride in what they would like their nation to be and a pride in themselves. Perforce of circumstances they have controlled this but there remains a core which is their impetus to individual independence. This could be the explanation of why they refuse public housing.

Generally they are accepted in the various communities although there are instances of prejudice. Over a period of time we were feeding quite a few in a local Diner. They were subject to insulting remarks and insulting actions. We switched the feeding program to the local hotel where the same problem arose but was solved by the Manager when he fired the Chef and a Waitress.

Do they look for financial assistance? It is obvious that they have to but on the whole they do not look for extended public welfare. There are some who have the attitude they have a right to a continuing assistance. This can be traced to the propaganda in Miami in the effort there to have the Cubans move out with the promise of what will be theirs if they resettle elsewhere.

On the other hand, thereare the Cuban refugees designated as Residents who have come in from Mexico, Spain and elsewhere, in other words, not through the Miami Center. They are eligible for little or nothing in terms of welfare assistance and have to turn to the private agencies.

The public welfare agencies have displayed good cooperation and understanding. There is one exception where apparently they have been unable to expand their staff and have limited the number of applicants to six a day. This means that we have to provide for the refugees until their applications are processed. While we seemingly are belaboring the point, the fact that we as private agency have been able to receive Federal funds has certainly made the program of resettlement more effective. Where we have set up families in resettlement their number have been few that have remained on public welfare. It has been made possible for us to work with and to know better the Cuban refugee. They have shown appreciation and gratitude. Certainly they should not be left in the noncitizen Limbo.

Monsignor TRAINOR. One or two points I think that should be made is the territory, first of all, the territory that's covered by the functioning of the Catholic Charities. The archdiocese covers four counties here in northern New Jersey, where we have a concentration, really, of the Cuban refugees.

The impression might have been given, since our main or central office is in Newark, that most of the Cuban refugees came into Newark, or have settled in Newark, which is not true, and on the second page you have the breakdown of 424 families that were resettled in 1965, and on page 2 you have 533 families that were resettled since the first of the year, since the accelerated program. Not in contrast, but also upholding the pattern of percentages of resettlement of the 424 families there were resettled in 1965 when the program was not moving along as fast as it is now.

So that actually, as we break it down into counties, the county, which includes Union City and West New York, has the highest percentage. That percentage is 60 percent of all those resettled, in contrast to about 30 percent in Essex County, so that by far the greater number of those resettled through our operation have been resettled outside of Newark and Essex County.

The other point is that we have been in the resettlement business, if you wish to use that term-I do-for many years. One of the prob

lems has been the financing of it. We have moved along exceptionally well in this particular program because of the Federal funds that were available to us as an extension of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, which in turn has a contract with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. We anticipated the possibility of this acceleration by making available application forms to the already-resettled Cuban refugees, and expanded our department, epsecially of the Spanish speaking, and securing office space.

Part of our office operation is in Union City at the parish building of St. Augustine's Church, and Father Feketie is assisting in that parish and has worked very closely with the Cubans in their resettlement and in their local problems.

I might close by using the last paragraph:

While we seemingly are belaboring the point the fact that we as private agency have been able to receive Federal funds has certainly made the program of resettlement more effective. Where we have set up families in resettlement their number have been few that have remained on public welfare. It has been made possible for us to work with and to know better the Cuban refugee. They have shown appreciation and gratitude. Certainly they should not be left in the noncitizen limbo.

Senator KENNEDY. Mr. Armando Cainas, as I understand, you were born in Manzanilla?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes, Senator.

Senator KENNEDY. You are a graduate of the University of Oriente and Institute of Havana University, and you received a doctor of law in 1940?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. And you received a doctorate in social and economic science in 1942 at the University of Havana?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. You were a Member of the Congress from 1942 to 1950?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. Vice President, 1942 to 1946. You were a practicing lawyer in Cuba, 1959, when you were imprisoned as a political prisoner for 5 years?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. And you arrived in 1964 as a refugee?

Mr. CAINAS. Yes.

Senator KENNEDY. Can you describe how you got out of Cuba: is that difficult?

Mr. CAINAS. Well, sir

Senator KENNEDY. How did you get out of-which prison were you in?

Mr. CAINAS. Isle of Pines, La Cabana.

Senator KENNEDY. You were there for 5 years?

Mr. CAINAS. Most of the time at the Isle of Pines.

Senator KENNEDY. Can you describe the conditions there at the Isle of Pines?

Mr. CAINAS. Terrible, sir.

Senator KENNEDY. How many other prisoners were there at the time you were there?

Mr. CAINAS. Well, there are four buildings that we call circular buildings, and two what we call square buildings; that is, the regular