1.
GV. Cuban peasants outside customs house.
0.04

2.
CU. Man saying farewells to women.
0.08

3.
CU. Man kissing little girl.
0.12

4.
CU. Girl waves.
0.15

5.
SV. Man kissing wife and child.
0.18

6.
LV. Men filing past towards ship.
0.24

7.
LV & SV. Men walk towards carrying baggage.
0.33

8.
CU. Hammer and sickle on bow of ship.
0.36

9.
LV. Men waiting to board ship.
0.40

10.
SV & LV. Men go aboard ship.
0.49


OPTICAL


11.
GV. Russians and Cubans work in fields.
0.54

12.
CU. Girl chews sugar cane.
0.57

13.
SV. Russian student drinks.
1.03

14.
CU. Russian girl and Cuban girl eat sugar cane.
1.07

15.
CU. Russian student.
1.11

16.
SV. Cuban cuts down sugar cane.
1.15

17.
CU. Russian cuts cane.
1.20

18.
LV. Russian students cut cane.
1.24

19.
CU. Girl cuts cane.
1.29

20.
SV. Cuban with Russian.
1.34

21.
LV. Russians and Cubans cut cane
1.37



Initials TDH/S/JH/MMcG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Chanting revolutionary songs and slogans, a thousand Cuban peasants sailed from Havana, June 11, aboard the Soviet ship "Gruzia" to begin a year's study on Russian collective farms. At the same time, 300 Soviet agricultural technicians were trying their hand at cutting sugar cane on a plantation outside Havana. This was the first phase of a students/technicians exchange between Cuba and the Soviet Union.

Before the boarding the "Gruzia", there were sad farewells to be said on the dockside. Then, dressed in blue militiamen's uniforms and straw hats with Cuban flags stuck in the upturned brims, the peasants boarded the ship and set sail for Odessa. An official communique said the young Cubans, scheduled to arrive in Odessa in about three weeks, are to learn Soviet "modern agricultural methods" and apply them to Cuban needs when they return in twelve month's time.

Three hundred Soviet agricultural technicians, who arrived in Havana June 5 aboard the "Gruzia", volunteered to cut help Cubans get it into the mills in time. They are behind schedule this year in harvesting the cane, and depend so greatly upon the crop to repay loans and other international purchasing agreements. Seven hundred more Soviet technicians are expected to arrive in Cuba shortly.