Office of the Historian

233. Memorandum From Arnold Nachamanoff of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2

Washington, November 25, 1970
[Page 1]

SUBJECT:

  • Clearance of Cable on US Position Respecting Exile Actions Against Cuba

Attached at Tab A is a cable to our Embassies in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, which State has sent over for clearance, describing the efforts of Cuban exile leader Jose de la Torriente to obtain support for armed actions against Cuba from certain Latin American Governments. To avoid any misunderstanding, State wants our Ambassadors to inform the President or Foreign Minister of the host country that:

  • —The US does not provide any encouragement or support to de la Torriente or other exile groups in planning or executing armed actions against Cuba.
  • —This does not constitute a change in our policy on Cuba but arises from the realization that the Castro regime is in firm control and exile actions are not likely to be successful in unseating him. Under these circumstances armed actions by exiles are only likely to strengthen him and may bring about retaliation against any country providing bases and facilities for such actions.

I have no problem from the strictly Latin American viewpoint with the cable as it now reads and feel the initiative serves a useful purpose. However, you may wish to consider it within the broader context of US-Soviet relations.

Knowledge of our initiative to inform the Central Americans that we do not support de la Torriente is sure to get back to the Soviets and may serve a useful purpose in reassuring them of our intention to abide by the 1962 understanding on Cuba. Moreover, if we do not take this initiative and the Central Americans encourage de la Torriente to launch a move against Cuba, the Soviets will assume we are responsible and hence charge us with bad faith.

RECOMMENDATION

That you approve the cable.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 780, Country Files, Latin America, Cuba, Vol. II, 1970. Secret; Limdis. Sent for action. A handwritten notation indicates that it was sent to Kissinger via Haig. Kissinger approved the recommendation on November 30, but instructed: “Hold for four days to see where tender is going.” The telegram was sent as 206687 to Guatemala City, Managua, and San José, December 21. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 30–2 CUBA)↩
  2. Nachmanoff forwarded a draft telegram on U.S. policy regarding Cuban exile actions against Cuba for Kissinger’s approval.↩