WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 1962 (UPI) -- The United States said today that air photos taken over Cuba show that the Russians are dismantling their missile bases there, despite Premier Fidel Castro's objections to allowing on-the-spot verification.
The announcement was made shortly before Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan said in New York that Russia backed Castro's demand that the U. S. give up its base at Guantanamo Bay. He made the statement just before flying to Havana for talks with Castro.
The Defense Department said that "preliminary analysis of the aerial photographs collected in reconnaissance missions over Cuba yesterday provide clear evidence that work is proceeding on the dismantling of the missiles."
This would be in keeping with the pledge made last weekend by Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev that he would remove the long-range missile bases from Cuban soil.
President Kennedy viewed the pictures early today. Later he spent more than an hour discussing their significance and other aspects of the Cuban situation with the executive committee of his National Security Council. The group comprises his top policy advisers.
A Defense Department spokesman said the photos taken yesterday show such evidence of dismantling as the removal of missile erectors and associated launch equipment; the breaking up of cable conduits between control points and launching pads; plowed and bulldozed areas at the missile sites and concrete pads apparently broken up by air hammers.
Asked whether the blockade is still in effect, the spokesman said "the ships are on station."
There was speculation here and at the United Nations that Castro might be seeking a face-saving way out of the impasse he has created over verification.
It was expected that talks between Castro and Mikoyan today in Havana will play a vital role in what the U. S. will do next.
Castro remained firm in objecting to any United Nations inspection but the possibility arose that the International Red Cross might be acceptable.
U. S. officials emphasized they would settle for nothing less than a ground inspection. They pointed out that Soviet missiles could be hidden and later put into operational status in a few days.
A high Administration official indicated that key decisions would be made within a matter of hours depending on outcome of Castro's talks with Mikoyan.
He called policy meeting last night "one of the most hectic periods since President Kennedy addressed the nation on the Cuban crisis a week ago."
There were reports that Russia might let the U. S. Navy or Red Cross check its ships carrying the missiles home. This would take place outside of Cuba's territorial limits.
In a radio and television speech last night, Castro denounced the U. S. and said he would not yield in international inspection. He said that included Red Cross inspection.
Mikoyan's visit may convince him to change his mind, it was reported.
Possible involvement of the International Red Cross had not been made public before. But U. S. officials confirmed that it had been among Khrushchev's proposals, possibly brought by Vasily Kuznetsov, the deputy Soviet foreign minister who was sent to the United Nations earlier this week.
Khrushchev suggested the Red Cross as a verifying body if the United Nations inspection was not acceptable. This apparently was relayed in a private communication to President Kennedy.
Mikoyan had dinner in New York last night with U. S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson and John J. McCloy, chief of Kennedy's Cuban crisis diplomatic task force.
Earlier, Mikoyan talked with acting UN Secretary General Thant, just back from two days of unsuccessful efforts to win agreement from Castro on a UN inspection agreement.
Despite Castro's oratorical thunder, there was no relaxation in the U. S. position of having to be entirely certain that Soviet weapons of offense were out of Cuba. These would include new Russia jet bombers as well as missiles.
Castro in his speech conceded Russia's right to remove her weapons, but he said the United States could not insist on international inspection of the dismantling of the bases "imposed by force."
He admitted "misunderstandings" with the Soviet Union but praised Russia's role in building up Cuban defenses and said "differences" between the two countries would be settled in private by both governments acting as equals.
Castro also told the Cuban people for the first time that the missile bases belong to Russia and are operated by Russian personnel.
He said Cuba will not have to pay for Russian arms it has received because "the Soviet Union decided several months ago to cancel the debt on all arms shipped to us."
