56. Editorial Note
During the second week of May 1958, Ambassador Smith returned to Washington for consultations. The precise dates of his visit have not been determined, nor have any records of his conversations been found.
Smith apparently met with Department of State officials on May 9. In a memorandum of May 9 to Deputy Assistant Secretary Snow, Wieland suggested that Snow mention two subjects in his meeting scheduled that afternoon with Smith: (1) the need for U.S. Embassy officials in Havana to avoid engaging in activities that could be utilized [Page 94] by either side in the Cuban conflict to its advantage, and (2) the renewal of combat arms shipments to Cuba. Among the points he made with regard to the latter subject, Wieland said:
“This is a matter the Ambassador has indicated he wishes to discuss in the Department. His thesis, as he explained it to Mr. Leonhardy the other day, is that he can make no headway in getting Batista to grant concessions in Cuba conducive to peace until the U.S. makes some move to resume arms shipments. It was apparent in his conversation with Mr. Leonhardy on this subject that he still may not understand the reasons for our having taken the suspension action and for our continuance of the suspension. He cited, for example, Rep. Charles Porter (Oregon) as being our only real Congressional critic on this issue, which, of course, is not the case”.
Wieland concluded:
“In rebuttal to the Ambassador’s argument favoring the ‘carrot’ technique it should be emphasized that the opinion in this country of the public, press and Congress on this issue is such that a renewal of combat arms shipments at this time even on a selective basis, would be damaging to overall hemispheric defense objectives. Until such time as the GOC gives concrete evidence that it has convinced the majority of the Cuban people through positive steps of its intention to work out a peaceful solution, there probably will be no justifiable basis on which to reconsider the suspension of combat arms shipments from this country to Cuba”. (Department of State, ARA Deputy Assistant Secretary Files: Lot 61 D 411, Cuba 1958)
Sometime on May 9 Smith was also shown a copy of Snow’s memorandum of May 6 to Herter ( supra ). In telegram 772 from Havana, May 16, Smith asked that he be sent a copy of this memorandum “which was shown me during my visit to Department May 9”. In telegram 654 to Havana, May 19, the Department said that it was sending by pouch that day a copy of the memorandum. (Department of State, Central Files, 737.56/5–1658)