660. Annex 6 to printed Document 320, undated1

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL’S STANDING GROUP

Annex 6

ECONOMIC RESTRICTIONS

a) Shipping

The results of our démarches to cut down Free World shipping to Cuba are best explained by figures. During the period January 1 to March 31, 1962 a total of 337 Free World vessels entered Cuban ports. During the same period in 1963, only 62 Free World vessels entered Cuban ports. A proposal is presently before the President to expand NSAM No. 220 to bar U.S.-financed cargoes to all vessels owned or controlled by persons owning or controlling vessels engaged in the Cuban trade. Such a measure will affect several hundred vessels and we anticipate it will result in a further decline in Free World shipping to Cuba.

Other measures being considered include closing OAS ports to all vessels engaged in the Cuban trade on continuous voyage, requesting U.S.-owned oil companies to voluntarily deny bunkers in the Western Hemisphere to ships known to be engaged in the Cuban trade, reassessment of the definitions within the terms of Section 107 (B) of the Foreign Aid and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1963 and closing United States ports completely to certain classes of vessels.

b) Civil Aviation

Before the missile crisis, five international airlines served Cuba with about 20 frequencies weekly. Through our efforts, all Free World international airlines except IBERIA (Spain) have ceased operations to the island. IBERIA has one-to-two flights per month.

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CUBANA (Cuba) has a bi-weekly service to Mexico City. The Mexicans have taken several measures to tighten the controls on this service.

These are the only scheduled links Cuba now has with the Free World.

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Continued efforts by CSA (Czechoslovakia) and CUBANA to obtain servicing and/or passenger rights in other Free World cities have been thus far successfully blocked by Departmental efforts.

Any requests for transit, servicing or passenger privileges by CUBANA, CSA or AEROFLOT at any point are strenuously opposed on a continuing basis.

c) Trade

The decline in Free World trade with Cuba has materially affected her ability to maintain the former relatively high standard of living enjoyed before the Castro take-over. The 4th quarter 1959 GNP of $2.391 billion pesos has declined an estimated 25% to about $1.790 billion pesos (Est. 1962) while the population has increased roughly 6% from 6,661,000 to 7,068,000 in 1962. From these data it appears that the per capita GNP has declined from about 360 pesos in 1959 to 253 pesos per annum in 1962. This decrease in income and the rise in prices caused by the increasing shortage of consumer goods has further reduced the average Cuban standard of living, causing widespread discontent. Some selected trade figures may be illustrative of the effects of the United States efforts.

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Trade with Cuba
(Millions of dollars)

Country 1959 1961 1962 (Est)
USA 881 49 7
Canada 27 35 13
United Kingdom 52 28 27
Japan 38 36 54
Latin America 86 22 15
Fed. Rep. of Germany 44 14 11
France 23 6 4
Netherlands 25 15 13
Spain 14 13 9

Geographic Areas
(Millions of dollars)

Area 1959 1961 1962 (Est)
North America 908 849 20
Europe 228 108 107
Latin America 86 22 15
Near and Far East 67 111 118
1,289 315 260
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d) Strategic Commodities

We are continually endeavoring to halt the flow of strategic commodities which formerly were supplied to a great extent by the United [Typeset Page 1691] States to Cuba. We have recently through the combined efforts of State, Commerce and private industry successfully blocked the exportation of 500 small tractors from Britain to Spain to Cuba and the sale of 2.5 million tons of Egyptian oil.

Additionally, several shipments of bright stock (oil additive) have been denied Cuba. In several instances export sales of Cuban sugar were blocked.

Efforts to further disrupt Cuba’s economy through cutting off needed imports and prevent the earning of badly needed foreign exchange by reducing sales of sugar, tobacco, molasses and other products are being carried forward on a continuing basis.

  1. Economic Restrictions: Shipping; Civil Aviation Trade; Strategic Commodities. Secret. 4 pp. Kennedy Library, NSF, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Standing Group Meeting, 4/23/63 (Part A).