203. Editorial Note
On February 13, 1963, Paul Hoffman signed the plan of operations that allowed the agricultural project in Cuba to proceed. Hoffman approved the project after receiving confirmation from the Food and Agriculture Organization about technical points he had raised. The plan of operation included provision for three phases, the first of which would determine whether suitable working arrangements would permit the implementation of the second and third phases.
Later the same day, Secretary Rusk made two statements that reiterated U.S. objections to the U.N. project. For texts, see Department of State Bulletin, March 11, 1963, pages 357-358. When Paul Hoffman was shown the first of the Secretary’s two statements, he remarked it was “another instance ‘stupidity’ US in this matter. Stated that, if he felt project was against US national interest, he would have resigned rather than permit project to proceed.” (Telegram 3028 from USUN, February 13; Department of State, Central Files, AID (UN)) Additional documentation on the issue is ibid., UN 13-1 and AID (UN).
For the Congressional testimony on February 18 by Richard N. Gardner, who reviewed the U.S. position on the Cuban project, see United Nations Special Fund: Hearing Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Eighty-eighth Congress, First Session (Washington, 1963), passim.