350. Memorandum for the Record by the Acting Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- Munoz Marin’s Views on Cuba
While in Puerto Rico2 I had the opportunity of talking with Munoz Marin regarding Cuba on several occasions. His attitude is easily summed up as one of belief that there is a great social revolution now under way in Cuba—a revolution which is bringing honest government to Cuba for the first time in its history. On the other hand, he feels that the Cubans are making an incredible number of mistakes in carrying out their revolution. However, he feels it important that the United States not allow its distaste of these mistakes to color its attitude toward the social revolution which is in progress, and in particular toward Fidel Castro. He thinks that these errors will eventually be cured by the Cubans themselves, although he recognizes that this may cost them dearly. He feels that they must be left to learn by experience and that any strong pressures on them should be avoided. He compared the Cuban situation to that in Venezuela where he also feels a broad revolution is under way. In Venezuela he considers that the revolution has been handled in an infinitely more sensible and practical way.