U.S. Marines may be sent into Venezuela within the next 60 days to prevent a Castroite Communist takeover there. The fateful decision to use force of arms if necessary, to halt the spread of Red domination of Latin America was taken by President Kennedy early last month, it has been learnt from a highly placed Pentagon source.
"!Though the new official policy epplies to any south of the border republic threatened with seizure by subversive elements, Venezuela so far is the only country for which active planning has been undertaken. That planning involves a precise timetable already operational. Its progressive steps ares
- placing two regiments of battle-tested marines on partial alert (effective since October lst)
- Placing these regiments on full alert (from Nov. lst)
- Moving these regiments..to Pesacola, Fla., Naval Air Station with full mobile field equipment (Nov. 1 to 15)
- Airlifting marines and gear to Vieques Island (only if Venezuelan presidential election scheduled for Dec. lst is blockede...)
- Full scale airborne invasion supported by massive air cover.ee.(only if pro-Communist elements succeed in gaining control of key offices...
- Conditions requiring the last two steps are now regarded in top Washington circles as 60-40 and 50-50 probabilities..e..." COMMENT: The left must do all in its power to make sure that the Labour Government opposes any aggressive moves by the U.S. towards Latin America,