355. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of Intelligence and Research (Arneson) to the Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- “Chè” Guevara’s Mission to Afro-Asian Countries
Initiating a new phase in Cuban foreign relations, Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba in mid-June dispatched a small mission to visit various Afro-Asian countries. The mission, ostensibly economic, also has the avowed purposes of strengthening the bonds of friendship with those countries and of explaining the policies of the Castro Government. The mission is headed by Fidel Castro’s trusted lieutenant, the controversial Argentine Ernesto “Chè” Guevara, who has displayed strong anti-US and nationalistic views and whose viewpoints in many respects [Page 590] closely parallel the communist ideology. Other members of the mission represent special interest groups in Cuba. Thus far, the mission has visited seven Afro-Asian countries and Yugoslavia.
During the trip Guevara has discussed a wide range of economic subjects, vigorously defended the Cuban revolution, and often made direct or implied criticisms of the United States. The first country visited by the Cubans was Egypt, where they were received as official guests of the government. In that country, the mission was apparently successful in establishing at least some basis for future trade relations between Cuba and Egypt. No such ties were established during the visit to India, where the Cuban mission met with little success. The Burmese visit was classified as “satisfactory” by Guevara, and according to a Burmese official, an agreement was reached between Cuba and Burma for the exchange of unspecified amounts of rice and sugar. The Guevara group seems to have made a good impression on Japanese officials who initially viewed it with skepticism. Discussions and public statements in Japan were largely confined to economic matters, with no concrete agreements apparently having been reached. During their short visits to Indonesia, Ceylon, and Pakistan the Cubans accomplished little and their efforts were devoted to laying the groundwork for improved diplomatic and trade relations. In Yugoslavia, where he and his mission were guests of the Federal Executive Council, Guevara told news correspondents that Cuba wanted to develop friendly diplomatic, trade and cultural relations with Yugoslavia and to apply those Yugoslav experiences which might prove useful to Cuba.
In each country he has visited Guevara has taken the occasion to make public and private statements critical of the United States. In Egypt, he stated that the United States opposes the Castro regime because it fears that if Castro succeeds, Cuba will become a model for all Latin America and this will mean the end of “American imperialism” there. He also referred to the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, stating that its presence would mean Cuba’s total destruction in the event of a third world war. In India, Guevara strongly attacked US policies in Latin America. He condemned what he thought to be the consistent support by the US Government and business interests of Latin American dictators. He charged improper collaboration with Cuban ex-President Batista on the part of the former US Ambassador and military mission to Cuba. Guevara also said he was still suspicious of United States intentions with regard to Cuba, citing as grounds for his suspicion an alleged military build-up at the US Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, the precedent of US intervention in Guatemala, and the irresponsibility of the US press in labeling people as Communists. In Indonesia, referring to the testimony of the Cuban Pedro Diaz Lanz [Page 591] before a US senatorial committee,2 Guevara accused the United States of “aggression” against Cuba. He further stated that “United Fruit is playing the same role in Cuba as in Guatemala ....3 It is fomenting incidents against us.” In Pakistan, Guevara reportedly accused the United States of inspiring the mid-August counter-revolutionary activities in Cuba. And, in Yugoslavia, obviously referring to the United States, he underscored his government’s fight against “the influence of foreign companies which are now in key positions in the Cuban economy.”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.3700/8–1959. Secret. Initialed by Arneson. No drafting or clearance information is given on the source text.↩
- See Document 327.↩
- Ellipsis in the source text.↩