Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, American Republics; Cuba 1961–1962; Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Volumes X/XI/XII, Microfiche Supplement

448. Letter from U Thant to the President, October 28, enclosing text of Secretary General’s reply to Castro¹

New York, October 28, 1962

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

I should be grateful if you could transmit the following message to President Kennedy:

“Yesterday I sent to Mr. Stevenson a copy of the reply dated 27 October sent to me by Prime Minister Fidel Castro of Cuba. Today I enclose a copy of my reply to the Prime Minister of Cuba.

Mr. Stevenson has also given me a copy of your letter dated October 27 addressed to Chairman Khrushchev. I am very happy to note your spirit of cooperation and your concern for peace. In particular, I note that in this letter you have stated as follows:

’1. You would agree to remove these weapons systems from Cuba under appropriate UN observation and supervision; and undertake, with suitable safeguards, to halt the further introduction of such weapons systems into Cuba.

2. We, on our part, would agree—upon the establishment of adequate arrangements through the UN to insure the carrying out and continuation of these commitments—(a) to remove promptly the quarantine measures now in effect and (b) to give assurances against an invasion of Cuba and I am confident that other nations of the Western Hemisphere would be prepared to do likewise.’

I would also like to be able to convey to Premier Fidel Castro the assurances contained in your letter to Chairman Khrushchev that upon the establishment of adequate arrangements to insure the carrying out of the objectives mentioned as the first condition in your letter to Chairman Khrushchev as quoted above, the U.S. Government would remove promptly the quarantine measures now in effect, and also give assurances against the invasion of Cuba, in which other nations of the Western Hemisphere would be prepared to join.

I hope that my understanding of the lines on which a satisfactory solution of this problem could be reached is correct.”

1. Comments on President’s spirit of cooperation and concern for peace. No classification marking. 1 p. DOS, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 65 D 438, Miscellaneous.