Office of the Historian

354. Memorandum of a Conversation, Ambassador Howe’s Residence, Santiago, August 15, 1959, 5:30 p.m.1

US/MC/6
Santiago, August 15, 1959, 5:30 p.m.

PARTICIPANTS

  • United States
    • The Secretary
    • Ambassador Howe
    • Mr. Rubottom
    • Mr. DeSeabra (interpreter)
  • Cuba
    • Ministor of State Roa
    • Ambassador Lechuga, Ambassador to Chile

SUBJECT

  • Cuban-United States Relations

After the opening amenities, Senor Roa expressed great appreciation for the Secretary’s remarks at the luncheon given for Fidel Castro during the latter’s recent visit to the United States.2 He went on to praise Ambassador Bonsal enthusiastically, especially his approach to Cuban problems, adding that Cuban Ambassador Dihigo was a perfect counterpart.

The Secretary then said that he was hoping for an early meeting between Bonsal and Castro. The Minister explained how busy Castro had been of late, particularly with the preparations for the July 26 rally, and stated that Bonsal always had direct access to Roa. He emphasized the importance of asking full use of diplomatic channels in considering any problem and stated that he expected to meet with Ambassador Bonsal, together with the President of the Cuban National Bank and the Minister of Economy, as soon as the Cuban Delegation to the Meeting of Foreign Ministers returned to Habana. Both the Secretary and Mr. Rubottom agreed that full use should be made of diplomatic channels, adding that in the present Cuban situation many misunderstandings and eventual frictions could be avoided if prompt diplomatic action took place before rigid criteria were adopted.

The Secretary recalled the importance of foreign capital in the early phases of the U.S. growth as an industrial power in pointing out that vital flow of private capital into Cuba was conditioned by the confidence that the regime inspired.

At this point, Senor Roa embarked on a long and repetitious tirade, stating his great concern over the activities of “conspirators” in the Miami area, which were most harmful to Cuban–U.S. relations. He recalled how difficult it was even for the United States to effectively curb such activities and remarked that such developments in Cuba [Page 589] were even more difficult to prevent. He repeatedly said that he was aware that the U.S. Government was not to blame, but he hoped that something could be done. He also expressed concern over the unfavorable public opinion reaction as the result of the Diaz Lanz congressional hearings as well as the attitude of the Time-Life-Fortune group. However, he praised the attitude of President Eisenhower in the Diaz Lanz case.

The Secretary remarked that it was quite difficult to take legal action against those who enjoyed the generous freedom granted under the laws regulating political asylum. He also made clear that the acquisition of arms was strictly controlled, and most of the arms reaching the Caribbean area were smuggled from European sources. As for the “hearing”, the U.S. Government had nothing to do with the case. This, he said, is a good example of the workings of the separation of powers in a democratic government. If the executive had authority commensurate with its responsibilities there would no longer be any democracy.

The meeting ended on assurances of friendship and continued good will in endeavoring to solve problems, present and future.

  1. Source: Department of State, S/P Files: Lot 67 D 548, American Republics 1957–1959. Confidential. Drafted by DeSeabra and concurred in by Rubottom.↩
  2. See Document 287.↩