reference to the fact that Cuba, under the leadership of Fidel Castro (1926 - ), had become a firm ally of Russia and the only communiststate in Latin America in 1959. As a result relations between the United States and Cuba began to deteriorate with the Cuban government confiscating American property in Cuba and the United States suspending further purchases of Cuban sugar. In January, 1961 the United States broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in an effort to isolate Cuba from the rest of Latin America. In 1898, the United States had engaged in and won a war with Spain on behalf of Cuba. —3rd South African published appr gls (14.4.92)