The Nome Nugget

U.S. Takes Strong Stand on Bomber Removal in Cuba

WASHINGTON (AP) The United States has told the Soviet Union that it hopes to have a satisfactory answer about withdrawal of bombers from Cuba today or Tuesday.

State Department authorities said today.

This word was given by U.S. negotiator John McCloy to Soviet representative Vasily Kuznetsov in New York on Sunday, the authorities said.

As of yet, the authorities added, the United States has not received a satisfactory answer from the Soviets on removal of the bombers.

President Kennedy says the aircraft must be pulled out as part of a Cuba settlement.

A White House spokesman said a report from McCloy, head of the U.S. Coordinating Committee on Cuban policy, on his talks with Kuznetsov figured in a hour's meeting Kennedy had today with the Executive Committee of the National Security Council.

State Department informants reported that McCloy told Kuznetsov forcefully that the negotiations on a Cuba settlement could not make progress until the bombers are pulled out. Kuznetsov gave what U.S. authorities described as a confused, evasive and unsatisfactory answer. Thus the negotiations remained deadlocked.

And, informants said, there is no indication as yet that the Soviets are crating up the craft for shipment. Approximately 30 are believed to be in Cuba.

State Department authorities said that it would certainly be helpful from their standpoint if the Soviets would supply a clear-cut answer on the bombers by the time of Kennedy's news conference scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Kennedy's news conference to be broadcast and telecast by all major radio and television networks--is expected to be in effect a report to the nation on the Cuban situation.

U.S. officials have said the time is growing near when the United States might have to take more forceful action to get the bombers out.