85. Editorial Note
A Cuban proposal to include an item entitled “Economic Underdevelopment and Political Instability” on the agenda of the Fifth Meeting of Consultation failed of adoption in the Council of the Organization of American States on July 30 by a vote of 8 in favor to 4 against, with 9 abstentions (including the United States). The Cuban Interim Representative, Leví Marrero, then stated that his government would have to consider whether it should be represented at Santiago because of “serious reservations” about the “limited orientation” of the meeting. The Council adopted the agenda without reference to the Cuban item by a vote of 20 to 0, with Cuba absent. For text of the agenda, see Council of the Organization of American States, Decisions Taken at the Meetings, January–December 1959, volume XII, page 147.
At an informal meeting of the Council on August 5, Chairman Gonzalo Escudero of Ecuador explained that a proposal to include the Cuban item under point I of the agenda had been drawn up by some [Page 306] Council Members to make possible Cuban attendance at the meeting of foreign ministers. In a memorandum of August 6 to Secretary Herter, Assistant Secretary Rubottom stated that “though this move does not appeal to us, we are inclined to go along with the majority on this resolution. We, of course, also desire that the Cubans attend the Meeting.” (Department of State, Rubottom Files: Lot 61 D 279, Foreign Ministers Meeting—Santiago 1959) The Council adopted this resolution on August 6 by a vote of 17 (including the United States) to 1, with 2 abstentions (including Cuba) and one absent. For text of this resolution, see Council of the Organization of American States, Decisions Taken at the Meetings, January–December 1959, volume XII, page 149.