318. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- US-Cuban Relations
Attached is a memorandum given to Secretary Rusk by the Spanish Ambassador on December 212 reporting on a conversation between a special Spanish emissary and Fidel Castro on US-Cuban relations.
In a conversation with the Spanish Foreign Minister last month, Secretary Rusk asked if Spanish diplomats in Havana were in contact with Castro. The Secretary noted that it would perhaps be beneficial if they were to remind Castro that there are only two issues in our relations with Cuba which we regard as non-negotiable: (1) Cuban intervention and guerrilla activities in other Latin American countries and (2) the [Page 749] presence of Soviet arms on Cuban soil. The US, on the other hand, had no interest in interfering in Cubaʼs internal political situation.
It was not the Secretaryʼs intention that the Spanish send a special emissary to Castro, but in their eagerness to be a bridge, they did. Castro received him promptly and listened intently. Castro was puzzled by the overture (“Why would the Americans think of this now?”, he asked) but did not reject it. He said he wanted to analyze carefully the motives and timing of the message before responding. Predictably, Castro used the opportunity to recite all his grievances against the US.
Castro promised to maintain utmost discretion about the approach and to use the same channel for any response he may decide to make.
The Spaniards have taken what Secretary Rusk intended to be a low-key reminder to Castro of our position and, for self-serving reasons, escalated it to a special message delivered by a special envoy. As long as there are no leaks, this may prove to be an interesting and useful exercise. If it gets out that the US has taken the initiative in putting out accommodation feelers to Castro, it may prove embarrassing to us in Latin America and on the domestic political front. We have asked State to handle the matter on a most restrictive basis.