680. Memorandum from Joseph Califano to Vance, May 271
SUBJECT
- Meeting of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee of Cuban Affairs on Friday, May 24, 1963
The meeting was called to discuss U.S. policy with respect to Cuban exiles in the United States. At the meeting, a draft paper was presented and four alternative courses were discussed: (1) give immediate support to a selected group, (2) give no support to any group, (3) support individually those groups with the most effective internal operations in Cuba and (4) a “wait and see” policy (to allow the exiles to sort out their objectives and later determine which, if any, groups have the vitality and deserve the support of the United States). At the meeting, various changes were recommended in the paper, the third alternative was deleted at the request of the CIA (on the ground that it was a covert matter) and it was tentatively agreed that, for the time being, a wait and see policy (subject to covert use of selected groups) might be the best. Mr. Cottrell said that a new draft of the paper would be circulated this week for formal comments.
Mr. Cottrell then announced that he was going to give full time to his job as Ed Martin’s deputy and that he would be succeeded as Coordinator of Cuban Affairs by Mr. John Crimmins who had been acting as the Miami coordinator. Mr. Cottrell briefly discussed a list of problems that he had compiled for consideration by Mr. Crimmins and the Committee. These included broadening of shipping restrictions, developing joint State-Defense contingency plans for reaction to an internal revolt within Cuba (General Taylor on May 10, 1963, sent to you a study that the Chiefs had submitted to him on the courses of action which might be taken if a spontaneous revolt occurred in Cuba), problems in the area of Latin American subversion of Cuba, speaking tours of Latin America by former Brigade members, and many of the problems that we have already considered.
[Facsimile Page 2]Mr. Cottrell noted that the Attorney General was a vigorous proponent of a speaking tour of Latin America by Cuban Brigade members. State and USIA were opposed to such a tour for fear it would raise a series of ugly questions about the Bay of Pigs and because the Brigade members were, in their mind, more a symbol of defeat than of victory. [Typeset Page 1742] They believe that any prepared speeches on the horrors of Castro/Communism in Cuba would be overcome by stories about the abortive invasion.
As the meeting adjourned, Mr. Crimmins stated that he would hold another meeting sometime this week to give us a picture of his plans for the future.
Secretary of the Army
- Meeting of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee of Cuban Affairs, which discussed U.S. policy on Cuban exiles in the United States. Secret. 2 pp. WNRC, RG 330, OASD (C) A Files: FRC 71 A 2896, Yarmolinsky Files.↩