Office of the Historian

105. Telegram From the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba to the Department of State1

Havana, May 19, 1980, 1310Z

4499. Subj: Return of USINT Dependents and Members of Staff Now in Miami. Ref: (A) Havana 4492 (B) Havana 4498.2

1. C—Entire text.

2. Havana remains tranquil. Disorders of past few weeks appear to have ceased, or at least now to be so scattered and infrequent as to be negligible in broad picture. Malecon was opened this morning, a good indication Cuban side is expecting situation return to normal.3 Virulent propaganda campaign against US has been dramatically toned down.

3. USINT staff of seven plus six Marines have now been standing 24-hour watch for five straight days. We are beginning to wear thin and could certainly use staff members now in Miami; should we get consular access to Mariel, for example, we could barely spare anyone to send. Additionally morale would be considerably improved by return of families.

4. Recommendation: In view of fact order and calm now prevail in Havana and given increasing difficulties of managing operation here with reduced staff, I strongly recommend that dependents and staff members now in Miami return to Havana tomorrow (May 20).4

Smith
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 15, Cuba, 5/80. Confidential; Flash.↩
  2. In telegram 4492 from Havana, May 18, the Interests Section reported that the mood in Havana had calmed considerably. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800245–0560) In telegram 4498 from Havana, May 18, the Interests Section reported that the situation in Havana was “completely calm.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800245–1011)↩
  3. The Malecon is a long roadway that runs along the shore in Havana.↩
  4. At the bottom of the page, Pastor wrote, “ZB, is it time now to pursue the breakfast instructions—i.e. see if Castro wants to talk?” At the top of the page, Brzezinski replied the same day, “RP, follow-up on possible talks.” In telegram 4518 from Havana, May 21, the Interests Section reported that the Cubans “are willing to talk to us—and to others for that matter—on bilateral basis. Cubans willing to negotiate modalities which would normalize—and limit—refugee flow. They under no illusions that we could even discuss embargo, Guantanamo, and other major issues at this time.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 14, Cuba, 5/80)↩