654. Memorandum from Gordon Chase to McGeorge Bundy, April 171
SUBJECT
- Cuba
1. I understand the President spoke to Bob Manning this morning regarding the Secretary’s speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors tomorrow afternoon. Senator Keating will be speaking before the group prior to the Secretary’s appearance.
The President asked Manning to get the following points into the Secretary’s speech:
(a) Raids by exiles—put this in perspective (e.g. effectiveness of invasion by motor boat).
(b) Free World shipping to Cuba (there has been an increase recently)—State should be in a position to show that we have noted the increase, are studying the situation, and are contemplating further action to discourage Free World shipping to Cuba.
(c) Withdrawal of Soviet troops from Cuba—restate our position on the removal of Soviet troops.
The President also told Manning that our handling of press inquiries about the Miro resignation remains the same. We have stated our position and have nothing further to say.
2. The statement about cutting off U.S. financial support to the CRC evidently did not originate either at Palm Beach or in State (at least intentionally).
3. The President asked Bob Hurwitch about today’s press stories regarding Bob’s conversations with Miro last week. The stories apparently originated with a Cuban UPI man in Miami named Merino. Bob is now writing a memorandum for the President who may use it to crack UPI over the head.
[Facsimile Page 2]4. I talked to Andy Hatcher about the Miro problem. Palm Beach remains generally calm. Andy agreed that there is no immediate rush on the Schlesinger statement.
- Rusk’s speech before American Society of Newspaper Editors; Miro resignation; support to CRC. Secret. 2 pp. Kennedy Library, NSF, Countries Series, Cuba, General, Vol. VII (D), 4/1–4/20/63.↩