Consideration by the U.S. Government of possible severance of diplomatic relations with Cuba, September–December 1960


611. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.001/11–1660. Secret. Drafted by Wayne Smith, who was responsible for the political sections; Henry S. Hammond, labor section; Paul D. Bethel, psychological sections; Samuel G. Kail, Army section; and Fred D. Stevers, Air Force sections. Passed to Santiago de Cuba.


613. Memorandum of a Meeting With the President, White House, Washington, November 29, 1960, 11 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Records, 1960 Meetings with the President. Top Secret. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1985, 1290.


614. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 29, 1960

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/11–2960. Confidential; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Devine.


615. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DullesHerter Series. Top Secret. No drafting or clearance information is given on the source text.


616. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.37/12–560. Secret. The drafter is not indicated, but presumably was Braddock. Cleared with Gilmore, Wellman, Paul D. Bethel, (less than 1 line not declassified) and in draft with the Navy, Air, Army, and Agriculture Attachés. A copy was sent to Santiago de Cuba.


617. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737. 00/12–660. Drafted by Bowdler and concurred in by Gilmore, Wellman, (less than 1 line not declassified), the Service Attachés, and USIS. Kail indicated that he concurred but “with reservations about 7a” in the conclusions. A copy was sent to Santiago de Cuba.


618. Memorandum From the President to the Secretary of State

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles-Herter Series. Top Secret. Also published in part in Declassified Documents, 1983, 1346. In his memorandum of a meeting with the President on December 7, at 8: 45 a.m., Gordon Gray noted that he gave the President this memorandum “which had been prepared by General Goodpaster which reflected General Goodpaster’s impression of the President’s views. The President signed the memorandum as drafted.” (Ibid., Project “Clean Up” Records, Cuba)


619. Memorandum From the Legal Adviser (Hager) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Merchant)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737. 00/12–260. Top Secret. Drafted by Hager.


620. Special National Intelligence Estimate

Source: Department of State, INRNIE Files. Secret/Noforn Except UK and Canada. Submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence and concurred in by the United States Intelligence Board on December 8. According to a note on the cover sheet, the following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of the estimate: the Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, The Joint Staff, and the Department of Defense. Concurring were the Director of Intelligence and Research, Department of State; the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army; the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Intelligence), Department of the Navy; the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, USAF; the Director for Intelligence, Joint Staff; the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Special Operations; and the Director of the National Security Agency. The Atomic Energy Commission representative on the USIB and the Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, abstained, the subject being outside their jurisdiction. Also published in part in Declassified Documents, 1984, 1514.


622. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611. 37/12–1360. Confidential. Drafted by Wayne S. Smith.


623. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611. 37/12–1660. Secret. Drafted by Wellman and cleared in draft with (less than 1 line not declassified), the Service Attachés, and USIS. A copy was sent to Santiago de Cuba.


624. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Intelligence Research and Analysis for the American Republics (Hall) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter American Affairs’ Staff Assistant (Devine)

Source: Department of State, ARA Special Assistant Files: Lot 62 D 24, Cuba Miscellaneous Jan. –Feb. 1961. Confidential. Drafted by Lawrence S. Eagleburger (INR/RAR) and initialed by Hall.


625. Notes on the Meeting of the Working Group on Cuba, Department of State, Washington, December 22, 1960

Source: Department of State, ARA Special Assistant Files: Lot 62 D 24, Working Group Notes. Confidential. Drafted by Devine on January 9, 1961. Participants at the meeting were identified only as members of the “10: 30 Working Group.”


626. Memorandum of Discussion at the 472d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, December 29, 1960, 10 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Boggs.


627. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, December 29, 1960, 10: 30–10: 38 a.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737. 00/12–2960. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Merchant. The time of the meeting is taken from the President’s Appointment Book. (Eisenhower Library)


628. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Office of Caribbean and Mexican Affairs (Stevenson) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Coerr)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737. 00/12–3060. Secret. Drafted by Stevenson. Written in the margin of the source text in an unidentified hand is the word “Bravo!”


629. Telegram From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611. 37/12–3160. Official Use Only; Niact. Repeated to USUN.