Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The American Republics, Volume XI

811.24537/2–946

The Secretary of State to the Cuban Ambassador ( Belt )

confidential

Washington , February 13, 1946.

Excellency: Reference is made to your note of September 24, 1945,² requesting that by March 2, 1946, the Government of the United States turn over to the Government of Cuba the San Antonio and San Julián bases, as well as the structures built at the Camagüey Airport.

I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that, without reference to the correctness of the assumption appearing in your note as to the date of re-establishment of peace between the United States and the Axis Powers, this Government will proceed to evacuate the airports at San Antonio de los Baños and San Julián. Every endeavor will be made to complete the evacuation by March 2, 1946, the date suggested by Your Excellency’s note, or as soon as possible thereafter. These operations will be carried out in conformity with the pertinent provisions of the Agreement for Military Cooperation of June 19, 1942,³ and of the exchange of notes of July 17–20, 1942,⁴ to which Your Excellency’s note refers, concerning the transfer to the Cuban Government of fixed installations placed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States.

This Government will presently despatch a special Military Commission from Washington to plan and coordinate the details of the transfer. The Commission will, among other things, make an inventory of the installations and constructions of every kind which are to be removed. Your Excellency’s Government is cordially invited to designate representatives to meet with the Commission and to observe its work.

Inasmuch as I am not aware, however, of the precise structures at the Camagüey Airport⁵ which your Excellency’s note contemplates, I am referring this aspect of the matter to the appropriate authorities of this Government for their consideration; and I hope to be able to advise you further in the premises in the near future.

Accept [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:

Spruille Braden

2. Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. ix, p. 909.
3. For text of agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. vi, p. 267.
4. Not printed; see telegrams 584, July 17, 10 p.m., and 588, July 19, 10 p.m., from Habana, ibid., pp. 278 and 279.
5. For data on Cuban authorization for the Camagüey project, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. vi, pp. 262, 281–282, and 288.