380. Memorandum of Discussion at the 422d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, October 29, 19591
[Here follows discussion of matters unrelated to Cuba.]
Mr. Dulles indicated that he had little to add to the press reports on the Cuban situation. Developments of the past week indicated that the threat of extremist control is worse than ever. Only events within Cuba could change the course of present developments; nothing done from outside was likely to do so. He noted that Raul Castro was now in charge of the police and the armed forces and that Guevara was in charge of industrial planning and development. A law had been promulgated on October 27 withdrawing mineral concessions and increasing taxes on mining operations. Tuesday2 the Cuban Government had also reinstituted the revolutionary tribunals and had indicated that anyone advocating elections in Cuba was to be considered a counterrevolutionary. The two moderates in the government were being largely ignored. Many Cubans do not sympathize with the current trend of developments but they see no choice but to go along. Mr. Dulles concluded by characterizing the situation as “drab and dangerous.”
[Here follows discussion of matters unrelated to Cuba.]