810.20 Defense/11–944
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba (Braden)
Sir: Reference is made to the Embassy’s secret despatch no. 8202 of November 9, 1944 in connection with the post-war use of military air bases in Cuba. The Department appreciates the careful and helpful study you and your staff have given to the letter of September 21, 1944 from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Department has reviewed your despatch with representatives of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which have the following comments to make thereon:
1. Lease or Joint Use Arrangement
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that you should thoroughly explore with the Cuban Government the possibility of arranging a long term lease of Batista and San Julián air bases before making any proposal involving joint use and maintenance. Plans of the President and of the Joint Chiefs of Staff call for a defense facility in western Cuba under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Government, although it is understood that it may not be possible to obtain exclusive jurisdiction. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the air bases at San Antonio de los Baños and San Julián constitute such a defense facility and that the two bases may be considered as a unit, the latter complementing the operations of the former.
Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have requested that a thorough exploration of a lease agreement be undertaken with the Cuban Government. It would in their opinion be preferable to suffer a [Page 904] delay in concluding an agreement than to accept terms less satisfactory than exclusive jurisdiction, if a delay will assist in attaining the maximum proposal.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have suggested that the Cuban Government would not be particularly interested in maintaining these, air bases since the military airfield at Camp Columbia already appears to afford sufficient facilities. Consequently, the Cuban Government may not object to leasing to this Government the two air bases in which it has no particular interest.
2. Reciprocity
This Government would find no objection to granting reciprocal treatment of a nature that would permit Cuban military aircraft to fly to the United States.
3. Radio, Weather, Communication and Other Facilities
As indicated in paragraph one above, the Joint Chiefs of Staff hope that this Government will obtain exclusive control of the air bases and with it liberty to install and maintain radio, weather, communication or other facilities for the operation of the base. However, if the maximum proposal is not realized, then, of course, arrangements along the lines you have suggested may be necessary.
4. Security of the Bases
If a lease agreement is arranged with the Cuban Government, it is assumed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the United States Government would be responsible for the internal security of the bases. Should a less favorable arrangement be made security responsibility will be appropriately adjusted.
5. Free Entry
As indicated in Admiral Leahy’s letter of September 21, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are interested in arranging for free importation of matériel, equipment and supplies. They are hopeful that such an arrangement can be worked out in spite of the local Cuban situation mentioned in your despatch, concerning which they will be ready to cooperate fully with the Cuban Government.
6. Operation of Cuban Aircraft at Air Bases
There would be no objection to the use of the two air bases by Cuban military aircraft under United States Government operation. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff would not favor the assignment of permanent Cuban military personnel to the bases.
7. Maintenance and Repair of the Airfields
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have indicated that the United States Government will expect to defray expenses in connection with the maintenance and repair of the air bases, whether they are used by this Government exclusively or in conjunction with the Cuban Government. It may be possible to arrange an adjustment of the relative expense to be borne by each Government in accordance with the degree of use of the facilities by Cuba.
It is hoped that there will be no difficulty in reaching an agreement with the Cuban Government for the repair and maintenance of the roads which service the air bases.
[Page 905]8. Use of Bases by Commercial Aircraft
The Joint Chiefs of Staff suggest that use of the air bases be granted to no commercial aircraft, except by mutual agreement of the two governments.
9. Los Canos Airport
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have shown no interest in including Los Canos airfield in the contemplated agreement.
10. Command Over Bases
Your suggestion that the two air bases be placed under the command of a single United States officer meets with the entire approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
11. Possible Procedure at the Time of Outbreak of War
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are reluctant to enter into any detailed agreement as to the procedure that might be followed in the event of the outbreak of another war. They prefer to omit this topic from discussion. They believe that changing conditions in the future may make its exceedingly difficult to undertake a satisfactory agreement of this nature with another Government.
As indicated in its instruction no. 4602 of October 26, the Department, in fulfilling the directive of the President, is eager to obtain an agreement that will most nearly coincide with the maximum proposal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, responsibility for the negotiations, timing, etc. is in the hands of the Department and Embassy and it is understood that the maximum program may not be attainable. Accordingly, in connection with paragraph one of this instruction the Department would appreciate receiving your views as to the possibility of: (1) obtaining agreement to the maximum proposal either at present or after a reasonable period of delay, or (2) having eventually to accept a less satisfactory agreement than may be attainable now.
Very truly yours,