348. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American
Affairs (Martin) to the
Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)0
Washington, June 27,
1962.
SUBJECT
- Priorities Schedule for Cuba
There is attached for your information the list of the Departmentʼs courses
of action with regard to Cuba which I had shown to you and was subsequently
provided General Lansdale.
General Lansdale indicated that he
thought this was a good start, although he was, of course, disappointed that
the list contained no dramatic event that could be accomplished before the
review.
Attachment
LIST PRIORITIES SCHEDULE FOR CUBA
- 1.
- Attempt to organize impressive pro-Kennedy and pro-United States manifestations in
Mexico in connection with Presidential visit.1
[Page 834]
Feed this back into Cuba
to give impression of Mexico-United States solidarity thus
undermining one of Cubaʼs most important sources of hemispheric
support—the goodwill of Mexico.
- 2.
- Make effort to elect pro-United States, anti-Castro candidates in the Brazilian
congressional election. At the same time, encourage formation of
non-Communist campesino leagues to offset the work of Juliao.
Encourage anti-Cuban editorials and stories in Brazilian
newspapers.
- 3.
- Work toward the election of a moderate democratic government in
the Dominican government and the defeat of left extreme forces in
the Dominican Republic supporting Castro.
- 4.
- Encourage Christian democratic student groups in Venezuela and
elsewhere to make anti-Castro
statements and resist election of pro-Castro student leaders. In this connection it is
important to work with the forthcoming youth festival in Helsinki
(where there will be 2000 Latin American students) to take the
festival away from the Communists and ensure a good amount of
anti-Communist propaganda emanating from this support.
- 5.
- Increase support to Cuban exiles for travel throughout Latin
America making well publicized anti-Castro speeches.
- 6.
- In Chile work to splinter popular front support of Communist
candidates.
- 7.
- Attempt to secure anti-Castro statements by conservative members of MNR in
Bolivia as well as political action designed to lessen strength of
extremists in the MNR and in minersʼ unions.
- 8.
- Secure statements of determination to defeat Castro communism by members of
Venezuelan government and military. In addition, secure public
charges of Cuban involvement in efforts to unseat the liberal
democratic government of Betancourt.
- 9.
- Encourage Latin American nations to review their passport
procedures and take other measures designed to prevent travel to
Cuba. Encourage the SCCS to take an
active interest in this as well.
- 10.
- Pursue vigorously the program of isolating the Castro regime from hemispheric
organizations.
