UR–15. Memorandum of Conversation1
PARTICIPANTS
United States
- Christian A. Herter, Secretary of State
- Roy R. Rubottom, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs
- Henry A. Hoyt, Counselor of U.S. Embassy, Montevideo
Uruguay
- Lieut. Hanero Martinéz Montero, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Juan F. Yriart, Director General of the Foreign Office
- Carlos Clulow, Uruguayans Ambassador to Washington2
- Diego de Arteaga, Uruguay Rascher–civilian aide to Secretary Herter
SUBJECT
- Official Call on Minister of Foreign Affairs; Cuban Problems - (Separate Memorandum of Conversation have been prepared on “Law of the Sea Hatiters”; “General World Situation”; and “Exchange of Gifts,”)
There was an exchange of amenities during which the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the personal relationship which had been developed with the Secretary beginning with the Santiago FM Conference would be considered as evidence of the friendly and cooperative relationship which the Uruguayan Government wished to have with the United States.
The Secretary then brought up the question of Cuba which he had touched upon briefly with the Foreign Minister in the motorcade earlier in the day. The Secretary pointed out that the Cuban situation poses a very serious problem for the United States, but that it is not just a problem for the United States but one for all of the American Republics. The Secretary said he would appreciate having the Foreign Minister’s views of the situation. The Secretary said that since the withdrawal of our Ambassador from Cuba there had been a lessening of attacks on the United States; on the Secretary; on Assistant Secretary Rubottom and on Ambassador Bonsal. Nevertheless, the Cuban Government had continued to place in important positions within the Government persons who were known to be of the extreme left, if not Communists. This is of concern to the United States because it may indicate that the Cuban Government is likely to follow on extremist course and take extremist actions which will further complicate our relations, despite a reduction in criticism of the United States. The Secretary said that it would be hard to predict just where such a course might end.
The Secretary made it very plain that we are not concerned with Cuba’s Agrarion Reform Law. He said that this is a domestic matter for the Cubans to determine. All that we ask is that there be just, adequate and prompt payment to any Americans whose property is taken. In this convection, the Secretary pointed out that the Cubans have just announced that all further foreign capital investment will be prohibited. This might be a further indication of a trend which is developing within the Cuban Government. Such a law would, of course, be of concern not only to the United States but to all other foreign countries.
The Secretary also explained that the Cubans are desirous of negotiating with us on certain matters, and had recently proposed such negotiations but with conditions which were one-sided and completely unacceptable to the United States. We have replied to the Cubans that we would not be able to negotiate on this basis. The Secretary pointed out that the unrealistic and unilateral approach of the Cubans on the question of negotiations might be a further indication of the trend of events in Cuba, and certainly will have a hearing on our relations with that country.
The Foreign Minister at this point, after indicating surprise at the news of this new Cuban action of foreign investments, said he understood completely that the Cuban situation presented a very difficult [Typeset Page 1178] problem for [Facsimile Page 3] the United States, particularly because of the geographic proximity of Cuba to the United States. He said he believed, however, that it was not just a problem of Cuba but of the whole Caribbean area. He referred particularly to the Dominican Republic (called it Santo Domingo) as another part of the Caribbean problem. The Minister said he believed that it would be necessary for the United States to try and determine the causes of the trouble in the area. He suspected that these causes were economic and that a settlement of the economic situation might have important repercussion in the political field in the Caribbean.
The Secretary then commented on the problems in our relations with Cuba which are of immediate concern and are important because of the effect they may have on our relations with that country. First, it will soon be necessary to determine whether or not to send Ambassador Bonsal back to Cuba. If the decision is made to send him back, and he is then subjected once again to insults or is hindered in carrying out his official mission, he would be withdrawn very very quickly. Obviously this problem and its solution could have an important hearing on normal relations with Cuba. Secondly, there is the question of the Sugar Act which expires this year. The Secretary emphasized that this is better for Congress to decide and that the Executive Branch, therefore, cannot predict the outcome. The Secretary outlined for the Foreign Minister the advantages which Cuba obtains through its special position in our market including the sale of three million tons of sugar at the United States domestic price which is about 2 cents above world price. This means about 150 million dollars to Cuba annually.
The Foreign Minister again expressed his understanding of the very difficult problem. He said that Uruguay also had been studying the problem very carefully as evidenced by the fact that Uruguay had not as yet replied to the approach made by the Cuban Ambassadors who were here last month and who had invited Cuba to attend the conference on under-developed countries. Martinez Montero did not state categorically that Uruguay’s reply would be negative although he did give that implication.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that Cuba is very active in espousing its own cause, and that we can expect a continuance of Cuban activity in this respect. He mentioned that Cuba had, after considerable length of time, suddenly named diplomatic representatives to vacant posts, including Uruguay. He also said that the 150th anniversary of Argentina’s independence might furnish another propaganda forum for the Cubans because Argentina is inviting the countries of the hemisphere to attend celebrations of this anniversary. The Minister concluded by expressing the hope that the United States, through its “very able diplomacy” would be able to solve the Caribbean problem.
[Typeset Page 1179] [Facsimile Page 4]SUMMARY:
Although the conversation offered a very good opportunity for the Secretary to explain fully our positions vis-à-vis Cuba, the Uruguayan Foreign Minister did not respond with any assurances that Uruguay understood it was a hemisphere problem nor did he give any indication of any official Uruguayan position on the Cuban case. He did make the point that, in the minds of the Uruguayans, the Cuban and Dominican problems are linked, and should be considered together. This, of course, was a reflection of the very strong anti-Dominican attitude in Uruguay. The Minister soon wondered off the Cuban question and started talking in generalities about the world of situation. Whether this was deliberate or merely represented his lack of coordinated thinking on the problem is conjectural.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files, Lot 64 D 559, OF 1607. Confidential. Drafted by Henry A. Hoyt on March 3, and approved in the office of the Secretary of State on March 17, 1960. Information on the source text indicates that the conversation took place in the Uruguayan Foreign offices at 7:00 p.m.↩
- Carlos A. Chelw presented his credentials as Ambassador to President Eisenhower of February 16, 1960.↩