-DATE- 19750112 -YEAR- 1975 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- SPEECH -AUTHOR- F. CASTRO -HEADLINE- 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CDR -PLACE- JOSE MARTI REVOLUTION SQUARE -SOURCE- GRANMA WEEKLY REVIEW -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19751104 -TEXT- FIDEL CASTRO KEYNOTES CDR ANNIVERSARY RALLY Havana GRANMA WEEKLY REVIEW in English 12 Oct 75 pp 2-3 [Speech given by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and prime minister of the Revolutionary Government, at the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, held in Jose Marti Revolution Square, Havana 28 September 1975, "Year of the 1st Congress"] [Excerpts] Translation of the Transcript Made by the Department of Stenographic Transcripts of the Revolutionary Government Comrades of the Party and Government; Distinguished Guests; Dear Members of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; I understand that some time before the start of this magnificent rally it rained extremely heavily here in the square. (Applause and exclamations of "it doesn't matter") We really regretted this a great deal, among other things because this untimely rain wasn't punctual. (laughter) If it had been now, all of us would be getting wet. (applause) Unfortunately, the rain, which never falls evenly or at the proper time all over the country, (laughter) soaked a large part of the crowd that had turned out for this rally. Some of us didn't get wet. For example, the outstanding members of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution didn't get wet this time. (laughter) They arrived shortly afterward, and they are dry; others arrived punctually but by then the rain had stopped. I believe that even the fireworks got wet. (laughter) With regard to the work of the CDR's in encouraging their members to actively participate in sports and recreational activities, we have seen good results. As an example of this type of activity, we can cite the Ready-to-Win CDR Family Program, which enabled CDR masses, by age groups, to take part in competitions of pushups, discus throwing track and field, jumping, etc. We can also mention the Recreational Pentathlon, which included games of chess, checkers, dominoes, fish and tackle, and target practice. In connection with these activities, 53,632 competitions were held in all, with the participation of 1,269,340 CDR members throughout the country, from the block to the provincial level. These physical education programs have been coordinated with INDER [National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation] and in the future will be held on a national scale. The growing activity, seriousness and enthusiasm of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution can be observed in all fields. And this year, of course, this is truer than ever before because CDR's are celebrating their 15th anniversary, which coincides with the 1st Congress of our Party. (applause) The 1st Congress Will Outline the Work-Policy That the People, the State, the Mass Organizations and the Country Will Follow Over the Next Five Years. The 1st Congress has enormous historical importance. After the 1st Congress we shall enter a new stage of the revolution, with a more advanced level of work on the part of the mass organizations and party, with much more evolved political awareness and with more profound analyses of all our activities. The 1st Congress will outline the work-policy that the people, the state, the mass organizations and the country will follow over the next 5 years. Our revolution and state will develop superior forms of organization. Throughout this year, the Preparatory Committee of the Congress and the numerous commissions which have been set up have worked hard and untiringly in the in-depth study of various topics, some of which have been discussed and will continue to be discussed with the people and which are to be the focal point and main objective of our work at the 1st Congress. Our party will come out of the 1st Congress much more strengthened. Our people's and country's outstanding conquests will give us greater security in the future. The security we speak of is the security that Jose Marti had in mind when he founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party; (applause) the security and the future that Balino and Mella had in mind when they founded the first Marxist-Leninist Party of our history; (applause) the security and the future that, thanks to all previous efforts,l we are able to insure today. The very government of the United States has taken some measures as regards the blockade, but they're measures that carry little weight; basically the blockade continues. And recently, they made strong declarations against us simple because we had expressed our solidarity for the people of Puerto Rico. (applause) Cuba's solidarity with Puerto Rico dates from the last century, from the period when we were two Spanish colonies, the last two colonies in this hemisphere. It dates from the period when we struggled, side by side, for our independence, from the period when Marti founded his Revolutionary Party, to struggle for the independence of Cuba and contribute to the independence to Puerto Rico. (applause) It come from history, from Marti, from our internationalist principles and from the fact that Puerto Rico is a Latin-American country (applause)--a nation that was withstood, for more than 75 years, all attempts to break it up, to abosrb it, to destroy it and that has shown its power and ability to defend its culture, its language and its national characteristics for all that time. Let It Be Known That There Can Never Be an Improvement in Relations With Cuba if Such an Improvement Presupposes the Renunciation of any of our Basic Principles Let it be known--for us, first of all, and for our adversaries, as well--that, aside from Cuba's economic interests and foreign policy (which is based on the principles of Marxism-Leninism, on peaceful coexistence and on mutual beneficial relations with other states--which are in the interests of both our state and our people), there can never be an improvement of relations with Cuba if such an improvement presupposes the renunciation of any of our basic principles. (applause and shouts of "Fidel, Fidel" and "Fidel, for sure, hit the yankees hard!") From the point of view of our economic development, the broadest commercial and technological relations with all countries, bar none, are in our people's interest. However, it is even more in our people's interest to preserve the purity of our principles and the correctness of our international conduct. (applause) And, if this isn't understood or accepted we will simply have to be patient, as patient as necessary. (applause) We will withstand the blockade, no matter how long, with dignity. (applause and shouts of "Fidel, Fidel") Slowly or quickly, we will advance, making greater or lesser sacrifice, but our unstained banners, the dignity and principles of this country will never be matters for negotiation. (applause) I say this fully convinced that this is the feeling and opinion of our people, and I say this cool-headedly. (applause) It's better to be a little poorer in wealth but richer in honor. (applause) We have been taught this ever since the time of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, at La Demajagua, (applause) when he gave up his land and freed his slaves. The residents of Bayamo taught us this in 1895 with our national anthem, which says that to live in chains is to live in ignominy and dishonor, and when they burned their city rather than surrender it to the Spaniards. (applause) Agramonte and Maximo Gomez--who set a magnificent example of internationalism--taught us this, as did Antonio Maceo, the Bronze Titan, (applause) who rose from the people. Jose Marti, (applause) that eminent teacher and guide; Mella; Guiteras; Abel Santamaria; Frank Pais; and Jose Antonio Echeverria taught us this. We were taught this by our martyrs and by Marx, Engels and Lenin. (applause) These are our people's deep convictions and we can proclaim them because we have a revolutionary, united people--a people worthy of the name. (applause) Originally Published: 9/30/75 -END-