Aug. 22, 1962 - President Kennedy said today there was evidence that the Communist bloc had sent large numbers of technicians and supplies to Cuba. He said the U.S. was studying the matter. The President said rather extensive quantities of material and men had been arriving in Cuba from Communist lands. The President spoke of “technicians,” not troops. He added that there was no evidence that Cuba was preparing for an invasion of another country. Asked what Communist countries the shipments were coming from, Mr. Kennedy replied: “The bloc.” Informants have stated that between July 21 and 27 an estimated total of 3,000 to 5,000 technicians arrived in Cuba aboard 5 passenger vessels from Communist-bloc countries. Also in this period, it was said, 11 Communist ships docked in Cuba with cargoes that were unloaded by bloc personnel.
