143. Editorial Note
The text of the statement to be released by the Embassy in Havana regarding tribute demanded by the rebels of American businesses was revised slightly in telegram 180 to Havana, October 1 (Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/9–2958), and as a result of further telephone conversations between the Embassy and the Department of State (telegram 184 to Havana, October 2; ibid., 737.00/ 10–258).
In the evening of October 2, the Embassy released the amended statement to the press. (Telegram 337 from Havana, October 2; ibid.) On the morning of October 3, Foreign Minister Guell telephoned Ambassador Smith to relay President Batista’s request that the first paragraph of the statement be deleted since Batista objected to the Cuban Government being “listed as extortionist in the same category with rebels.” Smith and Guell agreed to discuss the matter later in the day, with Smith assuming that the Cuban Government in the meanwhile would curtail dissemination of the statement.
Early in the afternoon, Guell again called Smith to say that he had been summoned by Batista who had heard the full text on the radio and was greatly upset. Batista authorized publication in Havana newspapers of only the last two paragraphs of the statement. Smith, however, recommended that the U.S. Government make no issue about the censorship since the abbreviated statement “still accomplishes our primary purpose and since it seems to Embassy to reflect no bias.” Smith said he would await Departmental approval before mailing the statement to American firms in Cuba. (Telegram 338 from Havana, October 3; ibid., 737.00/10–358)
On the evening of October 3, the Department informed the Embassy that it released to the press in Washington the full text of the Embassy statement and concurred in the Embassy’s delivery of the complete statement to American firms. (Telegram 187 to Havana, October 3; ibid.)