685. Memorandum from Helms to McCone, June 51
SUBJECT
- Reported Desire of the Cuban Government for Rapprochement with the United States
1. In late May 1963 the subject of possible rapprochement with the United States was commented on by a source [1½ lines not declassified] who travels periodically to Habana. Source’s reliability has not been fully established but he appears to have access to high-level officials of the Cuban Government and has provided information of value in the past. The source said that the possibility of rapprochement is talked about frequently among Cuban Government officials, who believe that it is the only solution to the Cuban problem but that Latin pride and the U.S. attitude make it difficult to accomplish. Fidel Castro wants the United States to make the first move. It appears that James B. Donovan would probably be acceptable to the Cubans as negotiator, and that some conversations along this line have already been held in Habana.
2. Similar information concerning Cuban desire for rapprochement has been reported by an untested source who has close contacts in Cuban diplomatic circles in Latin America. However, this information should not be considered as confirmation of that in paragraph 1, above, since the possibility exists that the ultimate unidentified informant may be the same for both sources. According to the untested source, a medium-level Cuban diplomat in Latin America has recently commented that the U.S. intransigent attitude and desire for an economic blockade supersede any desire for an amicable settlement. The diplomat, who is probably aware that his statements are relayed to U.S. officials, claims that the Cuban Government is willing to pay indemnities for U.S. properties expropriated in Cuba but states that the [Facsimile Page 2] U.S. does not understand that Latin pride will not permit Cuba to humiliate itself in the eyes of the world by making the first overture toward rapprochement. However, the U.S., he says, can afford to be charitable and take the initiative.
[Typeset Page 1755]3. Information in the following reports also suggested Cuban interest in rapprochement with the United States:
a. CSDB–3/654, 439, a memorandum dated 1 May 1963, on the interview of [less than 1 line not declassified] U.S. newswoman, with Fidel Castro.
b. TDCSDB–3/654, 700, dated 18 May 1963, containing comments of the Yugoslav Ambassador in Cuba on the reasons for the Soviet invitation to Fidel Castro to visit Moscow.
c. TDCSDB–3/654, 790, dated 24 May 1963, a report received from a high-ranking Cuban official who spoke with top-level Cuban Government personalities, according to which Cuban Foreign Minister Raul Roa Garcia spoke highly of James B. Donovan.
d. TDCSDB–3/654, 884, dated 1 June 1963, quoting remarks by Carlos Franqui, editor of Revolucion, Cuban newspaper, in which he indicated his personal doubt as to the sageness of Cuba’s leaving the tutorship of the U.S.
e. TDCS–3/549, 301, dated 4 June 1963, the source of which was a Cuban economist who is a Communist Party member and advisor to a high-level Cuban Government official, reporting on a discussion by Cuban Communist leaders regarding suggested U.S.-Cuban policy.
f. TDCS–3/549, 367, dated 4 June 1963, according to which Castro had allegedly indirectly informed Juan Peron in Madrid that, at the request [Facsimile Page 3] of Khrushchev, Castro was returning to Cuba with the intention of adopting a conciliatory policy toward the Kennedy administration “for the time being.”
- Reported desire of the Cuban Government for rapprochement with the United States. Secret. 3 pp. Kennedy Library, NSF, Countries Series, Cuba, Intelligence Material, Vol. V.↩