572. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Gates)1
Dear Tom : Thank you for taking the time to give me your views on the Cuban problem as expressed in your letter of July 26, 1960.2 I [Page 1049] am gratified to note that there is no difference in our thinking with regard to our overall objectives in this situation. As a matter of fact we have been working for several months now in readying plans which would permit the implementation of most of the various further steps which you presented as illustrations of the type of actions which might be desirable.
As I indicated in our meeting of June 273 on this general subject, the question of timing is extremely important and just now the forthcoming meeting of Foreign Ministers in San José, Costa Rica and the possible support we may get there make desirable at least some additional delay in proceeding with additional economic measures in our national interest.
It occurs to me that you may not have seen a recent study on the Guantanamo Base prepared by the Department’s Historical Division. I am enclosing a copy4 as of possible interest and as an illustration of the type of study and preparation in which we have been engaged for many months in order that we shall have both our order of attack and supporting positions well prepared in anticipation of the necessity of joining the battle on various fronts.
With warmest personal regards,
Most sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/7–2660. Secret. Drafted by Stevenson and Wieland and cleared with Martin and Merchant.↩
- Document 567.↩
- See Document 536.↩
- Not printed. (Department of State, Office of the Historian, Research Projects 438 and 441)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩