Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba, Volume VI

456. Memorandum of Discussion at the 435th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, February 18, 1960¹

Washington, February 18, 1960

[Here follows discussion of matter unrelated to Cuba.]

Turning to Cuba, Mr. Dulles reported that Mikoyan’s visit had marked the definite espousal of Castro by the USSR. Cuba and the USSR had signed a trade agreement by which the USSR had extended $100 million in trade credits.² The two countries had also agreed to collaborate in the UN and would probably resume diplomatic relations soon. Cuba was selling five million tons of sugar to the USSR over the next three years, one-fifth of which was to be paid for in cash. Cuba had also agreed to take Soviet goods which would constitute ten per cent of Cuban foreign trade. The USSR was also supplying Soviet technicians to Cuba. Reports of the agreements between Cuba and the USSR had made no mention of the question of Soviet arms being supplied to Cuba. Mikoyan was understood to have expressed a willingness to provide aircraft to Cuba if requested. When Mikoyan made a speech at a rice cooperative concerning the assistance which the USSR would give to Cuba, the crowd had shouted “and guns and planes too” and Mikoyan had repeated “and guns and planes too.” Mr. Dulles thought, however, that provision of MIGs to Cuba by the USSR would be a development favorable to the US, since it would unmask Soviet intentions toward Cuba.

Mr. Dulles also reported that the controls imposed by the Castro government were arousing strong opposition among the middle class and students in Cuba, but the anti-Castro forces remained uncoordinated and at the moment were impotent. The Leftist trend in Cuba continued and the government was imparting an anti-US slant to all its actions. Foreign Minister Roa had recently asked for a study of the Guantanamo Naval Base agreement with a view to its possible revision. Secretary Herter said that an official in the Department of Defense had recently made an unfortunate statement to the effect that the Guantanamo Base was the cheapest US base. He asked how much we were paying for the base. Admiral Burke said we were paying only $2000 a year. Secretary Herter said he hoped this figure did not become public. This was a fantastically low price for this piece of real estate. Mr. Scribner asked whether we were providing anything else of value in return for base rights. Admiral Burke said of course we had provided Cuba with its freedom; moreover, the economy of the whole area near the base was supported by the activities of the base. Secretary Gates said that unfortunately Cuba controlled the source of water used by the base. Mr. Stans said he had recently heard the suggestion that the US should pay the world price for sugar and should put the difference between the world price and the subsidy price in escrow for payment to Americans whose properties are expropriated in Cuba.

[Here follows discussion of matters unrelated to Cuba.]

Marion W. Boggs

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Boggs.
2. Mikoyan visited Havana February 4–13. The Cuban-Soviet Commercial Agreement was signed on February 13. An analysis of the agreement, apparently prepared in the Department of State, February 18, is in Department of State, ARA Special Assistant Files: Lot 62 D 24, Cuba January–June 1960.