611. Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State 1

No. 1126

REF

  • Embassy despatch 1480, dated April 13, 19602

SUBJECT

  • Communist Infiltration and Influence in Cuba Since April 1960

[Here follows a brief introduction, in which Braddock explains that the “removal of files, reduction in staff and the volume of reporting” made it difficult for the Embassy to prepare periodic reports on this subject.]

Summary

The communist position in Cuba has changed from April 1960 to November 1960 from one of influence and increasing infiltration to one of effective control. Cuban involvement in the international communist apparatus has reached the point of no return and is still increasing. [Page 1125] The Castro regime is now believed to be so firmly committed to the communist camp that it could not extract itself even in the unlikely event that it might wish to do so.

Though Cuba is not a Soviet satellite in the traditional sense, it plays as active and as effective a role in Soviet plans for world conquest as any of the countries openly ruled by a communist party and directly controlled from the Kremlin (or from Peking). Though there is some question as to how completely and in what form the Castro regime falls within the Soviet discipline, the attitude, methods and objectives of Cuba’s leaders are such that Cuba must now be regarded as an extension in the Western Hemisphere of the Sino-Soviet bloc.

It appears, then, that, far from indicating that the Castro regime is an independent, nationalist force, the fact that his movement and revolution are not at once ostensibly communist is simply in keeping with the united front tactics outlined by the communists for use in Latin America. Their Guatemalan experience would seem to have taught them that, chameleon-like, they must skirt around the communist label, changing colors at will. They can pass through the initial phases of a power seizure much more easily in a vehicle provided by an extremist, nationalist group such as Castro’s than they can in a vehicle provided by the Communist Party itself. Yet they preserve their freedom of action.

Thus, the movement begins by advertising itself as nationalist. While playing on the theme of anti-Americanism and speaking much of economic progress, it gradually arrives at a virtual identification with the goals and ideology of the Communist Party. This step has now been reached in Cuba, as demonstrated at the recent Cuban Communist Party Congress where the Party almost totally identified itself with the Castro revolution. In the months ahead, ever closer cooperation and identification between the Castro regime and international communism are to be expected.

[Here follows the remainder of the 11-page despatch with the following sections: (1) Cuba’s leaders and International Communism, (2) Communist Infiltration and Influence in the Armed Forces, (3) Infiltration in Public Communications Media, (4) Infiltration in INRA, (5) Infiltration in Other Government Agencies, (6) Infiltration in Labor, (7) Infiltration in the University, (8) Cuban Communist Party and Front Groups, and (9) International Activities.]

Daniel M. Braddock
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.001/11–1660. Secret. Drafted by Wayne Smith, who was responsible for the political sections; Henry S. Hammond, labor section; Paul D. Bethel, psychological sections; Samuel G. Kail, Army section; and Fred D. Stevers, Air Force sections. Passed to Santiago de Cuba.
  2. Not printed. (ibid., 737.001/4–1360)