253. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Cuban Attitude toward U.S., Outlook, and Recommendation
Summary:
Castro has led the new Cuba into a critical attitude toward the United States. This feeling is not deep-seated, and will give way in time to a general desire based largely on self-interest, for good relations with the United States. We should hasten this process by showing patience, goodwill, and cooperation toward Cuba.
Castro’s Attitude and Its Effect
Fidel Castro has set the general pattern for Cuba’s current attitude toward the United States by his public speeches since January 1 and by his replies to questions put by press representatives. This attitude may be described as critical in specific respects but not generally unfriendly. It has long been clear that Castro felt that the United States gave moral support to the Batista Government when it should have been giving moral support to the revolutionary movement, and that it should have ceased arms shipments to Batista much sooner than it did and withdrawn at the same time its Military Missions.
[Page 402]Castro’s feeling toward the United States became one of indignation after January 1 [when] the conduct of the revolutionary trials and executions of war criminals called forth some sharp criticism in the United States. At that time he made his much-publicized remark to an American reporter that if the United States tried to intervene by sending Marines to Cuba, there would be “200,000 dead gringos” in the streets—a remark he promptly regretted and attempted to soften by making another one almost equally unfortunate, that if the United States intervened in Cuba, it would have to kill six million Cubans first.
Castro is impetuous and emotional, and his worst enemy is his tongue, which he himself often acknowledges and then promptly forgets. There has not been a single public speech by Castro since the triumph of the revolution in which he has not shown some feeling against the United States, the American press or big American business concerns in Cuba, but he has also had a few kind words for the American public as a whole, for the United States Government, and for specific individuals. The Cuban press and people have for the most part followed blindly where Castro has led.
There is some reason to believe that Castro is not as anti-American as he sounds in his public pronouncements, and that he often resorts to this kind of nationalistic demagoguery because of its popular appeal. He has shown he is sensitive to criticism in the United States and wants a good press, and, busy and harried as he is, he can always find time to talk with an American reporter. Moreover, most responsible Cubans, including Castro himself, and probably the majority of the masses as well, recognize that good relations with the United States are a political and economic necessity for Cuba.
Cooperation at the Working Level
At the Ministerial and other working levels the Revolutionary Government shows signs of wanting good relations with the United States. The Minister of State, Dr. Agramonte, has been most cooperative and friendly. In every matter in which his assistance has been sought by the Embassy he has taken an active personal interest. The Minister of Agriculture has shown definite interest in a Point IV program in agriculture, and the Minister of Education has expressed interest in the educational exchange program. A financial mission is presently in the United States to explore the possibility of financial assistance from the United States as well as from international lending institutions. The President of the Banco Nacional and the Minister of National Economy recently informed Embassy officers that the Revolutionary Government would welcome new American investment. [Page 403] The Legal Attaché has found the new police force, disorganized and inexperienced as it is, eager to assist in the apprehension of criminals wanted in the United States.
The same spirit of cooperation has not been generally evident in the Cuban military organization. It is in the Revolutionary Army that the prejudice against the United States Military Missions has been strongest; the Cuban Navy, which is comprised almost entirely of young officers of the former Navy, is an exception and has continued to show goodwill toward members of the U.S. Naval Mission. Raul Castro who since Fidel Castro’s designation as Prime Minister is now the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has at no time to the Embassy’s knowledge shown any noticeable friendliness toward the United States. He is generally credited with more leftist sympathies than Fidel. It may prove possible in time to establish good relations with Raul Castro, but for the moment the prospect is not promising. It is still less promising as regards “Che” Guevara, Commander of La Cabana fortress. Guevara is believed to be definitely anti-American and is acting like a Communist. It is not clear whether Guevara now follows directly after Raul Castro or after Camilo Cienfuegos in the military hierarchy of the revolution, but in either case he seems to have considerable freedom of action and to be growing in influence.
Outlook
I believe that we can expect the resentment of Fidel Castro against the United States to take a while to cool off, but that in time a fully friendly relationship can be established between the United States and the new Cuba. The Revolutionary Government may seek to develop closer ties with countries of Latin America. While unobjectionable in itself, this would tend to draw Cuba somewhat away from the United States. I believe we can even now count on continued good support from Cuba in issues between the free world and the Communist world, even though at home the Revolutionary Government will probably not take as strong action against the local Communists as we might like to see.
On the economic front, I see no reason why the American companies now in Cuba will not be able, with possibly one or two exceptions, to adjust themselves to the new situation, and I believe we can look forward to an increase in opportunities for business investment. United States exports to Cuba will in all probability be hurt in some respects by the higher protective tariffs which the Government means to adopt, but any growth of the Cuban economy should benefit United States trade in other respects. In the long run the United States should be far more comfortable in dealing with a government which advocates and is genuinely trying to carry out democratic procedure than it was with the Batista dictatorship.
[Page 404]Recommendations
In view of the attitude and outlook as evaluated above, I recommend that the United States show a friendly and conciliatory disposition toward the Revolutionary Government; that it be patient with the latter’s mistakes and, to a reasonable degree, with its nationalistic gestures, even when these are directed at us; and that the United States respond promptly to any reasonable, specific request from Cuba for assistance.
Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.37/2–1859. Confidential. Drafted by Braddock.↩