Office of the Historian

343. Telegram From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State1

Havana, July 24, 1959—5 p.m.

222. Joint Embassy–USOM message. Embassy and USOM have deliberated question of appropriate US attitude toward new requests for technical assistance in Cuba under present circumstances, and wish to obtain joint concurrence of Department and ICA on a proposed position.

A.
It is believed still in US interest to continue maintain an attitude of helpful cooperation in field of technical assistance for following reasons:
(1)
Despite growth of anti-American sentiment, officials of a number of GOC Ministries continue to evince generally warm interest in US technical assistance. Even those officials who are not friendly to US have not taken public position opposing US technical assistance in non-military matters. Minister of Economy, who coordinates foreign aid requests and who appears to be more neutral than unfriendly, has consistently approved requests for US assistance by other Ministries and has recently requested additional US technical advice for his own Ministry.
(2)
The economic problems confronting Cuba are now substantially more acute than previously and need for outside technical assistance is correspondingly greater. We should be prepared to furnish such assistance within reasonable limits as an investment in long-run good will of Cuban people irrespective of current attitude of some leaders.
(3)
A reversal of our present policy of giving sympathetic consideration to aid requests would be interpreted as part of a campaign to undermine revolution.
B.
However, current uncertainties re future Cuban-American relations make it advisable to avoid long-range commitments. From the various requests presented, Embassy and USOM propose to select those activities tending to support and strengthen government organizations under friendly or neutral administrators whose collaboration will tend to extend US influence. Such activities will in general be limited to short-term consultation projects in fields offering best prospects that effective USOM technicians can be recruited. More emphasis will be laid on training grants. As heretofore USOM will take no initiative to stimulate requests for assistance without previously obtaining Department-ICA policy guidance.
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Concurrence of Department and ICA is requested.2

Bonsal
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.5–MSP/7–2459. Limited Official Use; Priority.↩
  2. Concurrence was given in telegram 222 to Havana, August 14. (ibid.)↩