Inside Report (2)

Some US observers have wondered why Latin America hasn't been more help in resettling the 87,469 Cuban refugees who have poured into Key West, Fla., in recent weeks.

The reason is quite simple, explains a top-ranking South American diplomat. Many nations in Latin America are afraid Cuba will use the refugees as a cover to smuggle hundreds of terrorists and saboteurs past their borders.

The US has gotten almost no help from its Latin neighbors with the refugee crisis. They agreed to meet with US diplomats on the problem recently only at the strong insistence of the Carter administration. But little progress was made.m