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

490. Telegram From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State ¹

Havana , March 21, 1960—5 p.m.

2459. I made a preliminary call at noon today on Foreign Minister Roa. Roa’s attitude, while personally friendly, was uncompromising and unsatisfactory with respect to the following matters touched upon:

1. Referring to long friendly relationship between US and Cuba, I expressed regret GOC had now seen fit to take a position outside free world community in present tense international situation. Roa strongly objected to this statement, insisting that Cuba was freer than it had been and was a full and active participant in OAS and UN. By implication he rejected concept that community represented by US was free and communist bloc [was] slave.

2. I brought up cases of extralegal seizure of American properties and expressed dissatisfaction with GOC’s reply to our representations (Embassy notes 203, January 11 and 236, February 29 and Cuban note February 15: see Embassy despatches 1144, February 16 and 1218, February 29²). He said he had passed all our memoranda on this subject to INRA, and that parties were free to pursue these cases through Cuban judicial channels if dissatisfied. He rejected charge that these seizures were extralegal. I insisted on getting answers through Foreign Office in specific cases raised by us. He was vague.

3. Roa said Cuba had grievances against US. He mentioned sugar legislation. He then stated there were some 500 cases of war criminals in US for whom extradition had been denied. I challenged him on this gross exaggeration and asked him for a list of such cases, since to my knowledge actual instances where GOC had introduced extradition actions in American courts did not number more than two or three.

Roa said GOC was prepared to resume negotiation of differences with us through normal diplomatic channels. No specific arrangements for doing so were discussed at this preliminary meeting. I am skeptical that talks will produce any satisfactory results but am firmly of opinion we must go through procedure.

Roa leaves Friday³ for four day stay in Venezuela on invitation Foreign Minister Arcaya.

Bonsal

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611. 37/3–2160. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Caracas. Bonsal returned to Havana on March 20.
2. Regarding Embassy Note No. 203, January 11, see Document 422. Regarding Embassy Note No. 236, February 29, which was sent to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 1218, see Document 467. The Cuban Foreign Ministry’s Note of February 15 was sent to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 1144 from Havana, February 16. (Department of State, Central Files, 837.16/2–1660)
3. March 25.