III-24

INTERIM REPORT ON EXTENT OF SOVIET TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM CUBA: Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, April 3, 1963 (Excerpt)$2

We estimate that 5,000 Soviet troops left in November, immediately with the missiles and with the bombers. And we estimate that in the last month approximately 4,000 Soviets have left. If we accept the figure, which was always a rough calculation, that there were 21,000, 22,000, Soviets there at the height of the crisis, we could get some idea of where approximately we think the figures are today. It is bound to be a generalized figure because it is impossible to take a detailed head count. That still leaves some thousands on the island. We hope they're going to be withdrawn. And we will continue to observe very closely in the next days, the immediate weeks ahead, whether there are going to be further withdrawals which, of course, we wish for.

III-25

"WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE ACTIONS WHICH WE FEEL ADVANCES THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND THESE HIT-AND-RUN RAIDS WHICH WE DO NOT FEEL ADVANCES THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, AND WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DISCOURAGE THOSE": Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, April 3, 1963 63

III-26

"I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF OUR ALLIES TO CARRY OUT EITHER AN INVASION OR BLOCKADE [OF CUBA] UNDER THESE PRESENT CONDITIONS": Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to Questions Asked Following an Address Before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 19, 1963 €4

"The reply printed here is taken from pp. 304–305 of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963.

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, p. 306. Ibid., pp. 329-330.

III-27

"I THINK THE MEMBERS OF THE OAS HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MARXIST-LENINISM AND THE SOVIET PRESENCE IS NOT A MATTER WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE HEMISPHERE": Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, April 24, 1963 6

65

I know there is a good deal of concern in the United States because Castro is still there. I think it is unfortunate that he was permitted to assume control in the 1950's, and perhaps it would have been easier to take an action then than it is now. But those who were in positions of responsibility did not make that judgment.

Now, as to what the present situation-we have, as you know, without going through the entire list, we have-and the other countries of the free world have-cut free world trade in the last 2 years from $800 million to $80 million. We are working with the OAS to set up an organization which will limit the movement of potential guerrillas in and out of Cuba. We have-the OAS have almost diplomatically isolated Castro in this hemisphere. I think the members of the OAS have made it very clear that Marxist-Leninism and the Soviet presence is not a matter which is acceptable to the people of the hemisphere. We have been working through the Alliance for Progress to prevent a repetition of the Cuba incident. We have made it very clear we would not permit the movement of troops from Cuba to another country for offensive purposes. We maintain surveillance. We do a good many things.

Now, coming down to the question which is rather sidestepped, that is, if the United States should go to war in order to remove Castro. That nettle is not grasped, and it would seem to me that we have pretty much done all of those things that can be done to demonstrate hostility to the concept of a Soviet satellite in the Caribbean except take these other steps which bring in their wake violence, and may bring a good deal of worldwide difficulty. If they are advocating that, then I recognize that as an alternate policy, but if it is merely a policy which says that we should do something without defining it, except perhaps as I have said, unleashing the exiles, which cannot do the job, it seems to me that we deserve in a question of this importance a good deal more precision in our prescriptions for its solution.

65

The reply printed here is taken from p. 345 of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963.

III-28

"THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA PROCEED FROM THE PREMISE THAT REVOLUTIONARY CUBA DOES NOT THREATEN ANYONE": Joint Soviet-Cuban Statement Signed in Moscow by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. (Khrushchev) and the Prime Minister of Cuba (Castro), May 23, 1963 (Excerpt) 66

Views were exchanged in the course of the meetings and talks between Comrades Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro on the further development of cooperation between the Soviet Union and Cuba and the situation in the area of the Caribbean Sea.

The two sides note that the construction of the new Cuba is being carried out in difficult and complex conditions. From the very first days of the existence of the revolutionary Cuban state, the reactionary circles of the United States have done everything to wipe out the gains of the Cuban people and to impose the yoke of imperialist exploitation on it once again.

Flagrantly flouting the United Nations Charter and the generally acknowledged standards of international law, the United States is trying to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Cuban Republic, organizing and guiding subversive activities against the new social and state system in Cuba, and sending armed bands of counter-revolutionary riff-raff to the Island of Freedom.

The United States is promoting a policy of economic aggression against Cuba and is exerting unprecedented pressure on its allies in military blocs, and on other countries, to try to make them follow their policy.

The United States of America would like to isolate the Cuban Republic politically, especially from the peoples of the Latin American countries. For this purpose, they are using the Organization of American States, basing themselves there on representatives of dictatorial military regimes.

Freedom-loving Cuba, however, did not flinch either before political blackmail and economic pressure, or before direct armed intervention. In April 1961, at Playa Giron," the armed forces of the Cuban Republic routed the army of mercenaries which was equipped with American military material and was trained in military camps on the territory of the United States and its henchmen.

Revolutionary Cuba carried the banner of freedom and independence high in the grim days of October 1962,6 when having prepared a new armed intervention against the Cuban people, the United States, by its aggressive actions, strained the situation in the area of the Caribbean Sea to the limit, as a result of which an international crisis emerged and the world was placed on the brink of a nuclear-missile world war.

At that tense moment, the leaders of the Revolutionary Government of the Cuban Republic, led by Fidel Castro, and the whole Cuban people displayed unbending determination to uphold the gains of their revolution, and the honour and freedom of Cuba.

True to their heroic traditions, the Cuban people rose to the defence of their country, ready to fight to the last man against the foreign interventionists. The firm stand of the Soviet Union and the other socialist countries in the cause of defending revolutionary Cuba, the restrained and sober evaluation by the responsible statesmen of the Soviet Union and Cuba of the situation that

Text as printed in Soviet News, May 27, 1963, pp. 109-113. Prime Minister Castro was in the Soviet Union from Apr. 27-June 4, 1963.

I.e., the "Bay of Pigs." See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, pp. 292 et seq.

08

See ibid., 1962, pp. 399 et seq.

resulted, and the support for Cuba from all peace-loving states, averted thermonuclear war. The immediate danger of an armed attack on Cuba was removed. Today, revolutionary Cuba is an example of unbending courage and staunchness in the struggle for independence, and for the right to create a new life without exploiters.

The two sides note that, although the immediate danger of military intervention in Cuba has been removed, the tension in the area of the Caribbean Sea still remains.

This situation could be normalized on the basis of the implementation of the five points advanced by the Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba, Fidel Castro, which include the ending of all measures of economic pressure; the ending of all subversive activities; the ending of attacks from bases situated in the United States and Puerto Rico; the ending of all intrusions by military planes and ships of the United States into the air space and territorial waters of Cuba; and the removal of the United States naval base at Guantánamo from Cuban territory.

The Soviet government emphatically supports these principles, because they are in full accord with the United Nations Charter and reflect the efforts of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba to find a peaceful solution to the outstanding issues that create tension in that part of the world.

The government of the Soviet Union and the government of Cuba proceed from the premise that revolutionary Cuba does not threaten anyone.

The road of development and social change which has been chosen by the Cuban people, is its domestic affair, and no one has the right to interfere in its affairs.

Both governments resolutely state their adherence to the principle of noninterference of states in the internal affairs of other countries, and solemnly confirm that the peace-loving principles of the United Nations, including the principle of respect for the sovereignty of states, have their full support, because they meet the interests of peace and friendship between nations.

The Cuban side declares that the people of Cuba highly appreciate the moral and political support and help rendered by the Soviet Union. The statement of the U.S.S.R. government and its head, Comrade Nikita Khrushchev, the defence by the Soviet Union of Cuba's interests in the United Nations and in other international forums, the action of mass public organizations in the U.S.S.R. in support of Cuba, and the economic and military aid of the Soviet Union, played a very important role in the struggle of the Cuban people for its freedom and independence against the external threat from imperialism.

The Soviet Union has rendered, and is rendering, effective aid to Cuba in strengthening her defence potential. At the request of the Cuban government the Soviet Union helped Cuba to create a strong army, well trained, and equipped with modern military material, capable of administering a rebuff to any attempts at encroachment on the sovereignty and freedom of the Cuban state. In the course of the talks between Comrades Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro, it was confirmed by the Soviet side that, if an attack was made on Cuba in violation of the commitments undertaken by the President of the United States not to invade Cuba, the Soviet Union would fulfill its international duty to the fraternal Cuban people, and would render it the necessary aid for the defence of the freedom and independence of the Cuban republic, with all the means at its disposal.

The organizers of aggression should remember that an invasion of Cuba will confront mankind with a devastating nuclear rocket war.

The two sides considered questions connected with the implementation of the Soviet-Cuban agreements on trade and economic, technical, scientific and cultural co-operation, and noted with satisfaction that these agreements are being successfully implemented.

The Soviet Union is constantly increasing the purchase of goods which constitute Cuba's traditional exports, and, together with other socialist countries, is doing everything to satisfy the pressing requirements of Cuba in equipment

and raw materials for her industry, and in goods to supply the country's population.

The Soviet Union is also rendering the necessary aid in transporting the goods purchased or sold by Cuba.

The two sides take note with satisfaction of the fact that economic co-operation between the U.S.S.R. and Cuba is acquiring a more and more extensive and all-around nature. The Soviet Union is rendering Cuba technical assistance in conducting geological prospecting, in expanding and reconstructing three re-smelting metallurgical works, in the construction of a big thermal power station, in the development of the nickel and chemical industries and commercial fishing, and the carrying out of priority irrigation and land improvement projects.

The construction of an engineering plant now under way with the help of the Soviet Union is of great importance.

The Soviet Union is rendering help to the Cuban Republic in creating national cadres, by training Cuban citizens in the U.S.S.R., and by setting up training centres in Cuba.

Co-operation between Soviet and Cuban organizations and institutions in the fields of culture, science, education, public health and sports is developing successfully.

Agreement was reached in the course of the talks on measures for the further development of economic, trade and scientific and cultural links between the U.S.S.R. and the Cuban Republic.

Guided by the desire to help to consolidate the socialist economy of fraternal Cuba, and taking into consideration that in recent years raw sugar prices in the world market have risen considerably, the Soviet government, on its own initiative, proposed to change the existing agreement, and to increase the price of the Cuban raw sugar to be bought in 1963, so as to bring this price into line with the level of world prices.

The Soviet government proceeded from the fact that the production of sugar is one of the staple branches of Cuba's economy, and that an increase of sugar prices will play an effective part in consolidating the economic situation in Cuba. This proposal by the Soviet government was accepted by the Cuban side.

III-29

STUDY OF THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS FOR SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CUBA AS A BASE FOR TRAINING IN TECHNIQUES OF SUBVERSION: Report of the Special Committee To Study Resolutions II.1 and VIII of the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Submitted to the Council of the OAS, June 4, 1963 (Excerpts) 69

II. STUDY OF THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS FOR SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CUBA AS A BASE FOR TRAINING IN TECHNIQUES OF SUBVERSION

A. CUBA AS A BASE FOR TRAINING IN TECHNIQUES OF SUBVERSION 1. General Considerations

OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/IV/c-i-605 Rev. 3, July 3, 1963. See footnote 37, doc. III-15, ante.