717. Memorandum from J. Larocque to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, October 251

[Facsimile Page 1]

SUBJECT

  • Information Report 00–B 3,279,645, Interview with Fidel Castro

The attached report is forwarded at the request of the Deputy Director (Intelligence). It represents advanced dissemination of a report which will receive normal USIB dissemination next week.

J. Larocque, Jr.
Assistant Director for Operations
[Facsimile Page 2]

Enclosure

This is unevaluated information.

COUNTRY

  • Cuba

SUBJECT

  • Interview with Fidel Castro

DATE OF INFO

  • 17 Oct and earlier

DATE ACQUIRED

  • 23 Sep–4 Oct 63

PLACE ACQUIRED

  • [text not declassified]

SOURCE

  • [text not declassified]
[Facsimile Page 3]

[1 line not declassified]

1. [2½ lines not declassified], I had two long interviews with Fidel Castro at one of the protocol houses [less than 1 line not declassified]. [Typeset Page 1832] One interview lasted from 2145 until 0145 and the second extended from 2100 until 0245.

2. [less than 1 line not declassified] brought up the question of the US blockade of Cuba. Fidel said that it is in our mutual interest to get the Soviets out of Cuba, but that as long as the blockade continues, he will not consider such a step. Should the US remove its blockade, he indicated that he would agree to evicting the Soviets. He said one of the major reasons for which Cuba needs the USSR is the shipment of Soviet oil, which will not be necessary in approximately five years when Cuba should be able to produce enough of her own.

3. When asked his views regarding the recent USSR-US wheat agreement, he said that although he had not been consulted, he had been promised wheat from the USSR and consequently did not care where it came from.

4. On permitting UN inspection of Cuba, Fidel said he would go along with and permit a multi-lateral inspection but that he would oppose any uni-lateral agreement. He said if the UN inspection committee were permitted to inspect sites in Latin America, the Bahamas and the US, where possible aggressor forces might be trained or located, he would permit the same inspection in Cuba, and would list the exact locations and mission of Soviet troops.

  1. Transmits information report on interview with Fidel Castro. Secret. 3 pp. WNRC, RG 330, OASD (C) A Files; FRC 71 A 2896, Cuba 381, May thru Dec. 1963.