Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

240. Paper Prepared in the Department of State¹ ²

Washington, July 13, 1971

Subject:

• Current US Policy Toward Cuban Exile Groups in the US who Undertake Actions Against Cuba

1. On May 12, 1970, following the sinking of 2 Cuban fishing boats and the seizures of their crews as political hostages by the Cuban exile organization, Alpha 66, the official spokesman of the Department of State in Washington stated publicly that:

“The Government of the United States wishes to remind all persons who reside in its territory that the United States laws forbid the use of United States territory as a base for any military expedition against a foreign country.

“The United States Government will take all appropriate measures to ensure that the spirit, as well as the letter, of these laws is observed.”

This policy statement reiterated policy that has been extant since at least one previous Administration.

2. The considerations leading to this policy are the following:

(a) These expeditions by US-based Cuban exile groups are invariably small and have consistently resulted in the death or imprisonment of the participants by the Castro security forces;

(b) These ineffective expeditions have provided Fidel Castro with recurring opportunities to coalesce the Cuban people around his leadership on the basis that such unity was required in the face of external danger;

(c) These exile activities have on occasion complicated our relations with friendly nations such as Great Britain and Spain, since the exiles sometimes target foreign shipping to create an international incident and thereby dramatize their cause;

(d) These exile activities on occasion adversely affect the ability of the Swiss Embassy in Havana to represent us. For example, on the occasion of the seizure of 2 Cuban fishing boats by Alpha 66 described above tens of thousands of Cubans in Havana, incited by radio Havana demonstrated with increasing agitation against the American Embassy building in Havana where Swiss Embassy officials work. These officials were kept virtual prisoners throughout the day-long demonstrations.

(e) Failure to enforce our laws conveys the impression that the US condones these activities and damages our credibility as a nation of laws.

In sum, we have found these pin prick raids to be ineffective as well as counterproductive both to our policy of weakening the Castro regime and to our relations with friendly nations. Carrying out of this policy has been understood by the Cuban exile community in Florida as a whole, although the very few and small militant groups that exist are, of course, unhappy.

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12 CUBA. Confidential. Cleared on July 13 by Hurwitch. This paper is attached to a July 13 memorandum for the record by Curran, which indicates it was sent at the request of Colonel Kennedy. The memorandum to which this paper is attached is not published.
2. At the request of the White House, the Department of State outlined U.S. policy toward Cuban exile groups in the U.S. involved in actions against Cuba.