Office of the Historian

313. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile1

Washington, April 22, 1967, 5:38 p.m.

180698. Sugarcane. Eyes Only for the Ambassador from Secretary.

At Punta del Este Valdez2 spoke to me about Cuba and seemed to think that there are now some differences of view in Havana which might be open to probing. I told him what I had many months ago told Carrillo Flores of Mexico. The attitude of the United States remains that indicated by President Kennedy, namely, that Cuba could find its way back to the Hemisphere if it (a) stopped its interference in the affairs of other American states by agents, arms and propaganda, and (b) severed its military association with the Soviet Union. I said that the internal organization of Cuba is not the crucial obstacle but that these two primary external forces were fundamental. As you will recall, these have been the two key points all along. I added to Valdez that we have seen no real evidence that Castro is prepared to change his attitude on either point. Indeed, he seems to be differing with Moscow on the question of interference in other countries. Nonetheless, I told Valdez I saw no objection to any most secret probes which he might wish to undertake and that if he got anything of interest coming back we would be glad to know about it. I further said that we would set up this special channel between you and me in order to assure maximum secrecy and that he could be entirely frank in passing on to you, and to you alone, anything that develops.3

Regards.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL CHILE–US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted and approved by Rusk.↩
  2. Gabriel Valdez Subercaseaux, Chilean Foreign Minister.↩
  3. Dungan reported to Rusk, in telegram 283 from Santiago, July 26, that Valdez had said the previous day that “there had been no developments significant enough to pass on to you.” Valdez stated that the Cubans had been interested in knowing whether the Chilean probe was being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Government and that they were told that “this strictly Chilean initiative.” Dungan concluded the telegram by stating that it was his impression “that matter is not being pushed aggressively.” (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL CHILE–US)↩