Where is Che Guevara?

Apr. 13, 1965 - Premier Fidel Castro’s government announced today it had agreed in principle with the Soviet Union on the development of some Cuban industries. The announcement came amid renewed speculation on the future of Ernesto Che Guevara, the Minister of Industry and a key figure in the Castro regime.

The announcement of the preliminary accord between a Soviet delegation and Cuban officials in Havana did not list Guevara as a participant. This spurred rumors that he might soon assume a new role in the Government or had fallen out of favor with Castro.

Guevara has been Industry Minister since 1961. He pushed an ambitious four-year plan to build up heavy industry in Cuba, which up to then had been relying almost exclusively on agricultural cash crops — sugar, tobacco, and coffee.

The country’s overall production slumped, however, because industrial advances were not sufficient to set off serious declines in farming. Early in 1964, Guevara announced cutbacks in industrial investment, while the regime started a new drive to raise the output of sugar and other agricultural produce.

A new Ministry of the Sugar Industry was set up, leaving Guevara’s department responsible only for other industrial activities. From December to March, Guevara was absent from Cuba, first as Castro’s representative at the U.N. General Assembly in New York and then on an extended tour of African and Asian countries, including Communist China.

Since his return to Cuba last month, Guevara has not been in the news much.

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