NSC BRIEFING
I. Enthusiastic initial response of Castro officials to Khrushchev's
public support was reflected in Bpeechos atuly mass rally, but there was an interesting contrast between "Che" Guevara's and Fidel Castro's speeches that suggests Fidel's possible embarrassment at Soviet embrace of his regime,
A. Guevara told crowds "Cuba todaylorious island defended by the rockots of tho greatest military power in history...
CO
are practically tho arbiters of world peace."
' B. But Fidel, in his sickbed TV talk on the same day, while recog-
S
Khrushchev's "spontaneous" declaration of support,does not depend for the defense of its sovereignty and
(on Sovlot rockets, but rather on the reason and
Justice of its cause."
uly, Guevara indicated that he may havehangewhen ho said in an interview: "Any Soviet attempt toa Communist satellite in Cuba would be resisted to theof blood."
educated Cubans oppose alignment with Soviet bloc,opposition still unorganized and leaderless, USimplications of Khrushchev's speech should be ain developments over next few weeks.
II. Internally, trends continue toward tighter dictatorship and enhancod Communist influence.
number of arrests of
"counterrevolutionaries,"
Castro's army.
lawyers, some in militia uniform, seizedBar Association anduly named new governing board,
The duly elected board is protesting to President Dortlcos, who is president of National Bar Association, but probably to no avail.
Ambassador Bonsai comments: "This Is another important step In establishing monolithic support of government byinstitutions^"
pressuly that all provincial officersCommunist-controlled Cuban Workers' Confederationreplaced by men "who truly rospond to thein which the country now lives."
leader Carlos Rafael Rodriguez is becomingand we have reports that he may be named minister
1, He has long been one of Castro's closest advisers, but until recently has remained in background.
B. Cuban ambassador in Bonn defecteduly with stronganti-Communist declaration and announcement heto oust
1. He was sixth ambassador to defect in lastays.
F. US Embassy has growing feeling that Castro may be willing to sacrifice Cuban interests for sake of what appears to be bis greaterof US, wrecking of inter-American system, and eventual "liberation" of all Latin America.
-2-
0. Castro's illnosn apparently genulno, but we have only the reports of his doctors to go on. They say ho has slight lung Infection, which suggests pneumonia or pleurisy, and will be laid up for several weeks. There is nothing to confirm rumorsontal breakdown.
ministers of oconomy and commorco reported worriedUS embargo on foodstuffs, but aro confident they canand sugar problems.
contact of embassy's agricultural attache saysfeel they would face "dangerous situation" if USfood shlpraents to Cuba (primarily lard, rice, flour, They fear this would be worse than imminent shortageand industrial machinery parts.
very depressed market for tanker charters eases Soviet
effort to supply Cuba with oil.
3. depressed market BbamT Soviet Union
eliver oil to Cuba and other distant markets at
competitive prices.
2. British, Norwegian governments bavo already indicated to
American embassies their inability to influence tankor
owners against accepting Soviet charters or to violate
existing
uly press conference, Khrushchev ridiculed reports ofin military bases in Cuba: ost silly fabrication. we need bases in Cuba for?"
A. Highly doubtful that Soviet Union would carry its commitments to Cuba to extent of establishing base there.
thecta of "intervention" and "aggression" citod infor UN Security Council action was "the recent meeting ofat which the future of Cuba was discussed as if thata factoryubject pooplo."
missile threat and Cuba's call for UN Securityhave startled many Latin American governments out ofand majority favor formal inter-American consideration
Council is to meet Saturday morning to consider Peru'sfor meeting of foreign ministers.
Meeting would be primarily concerned with Cuban problem.
Several high-ranking Argentine foreign ministry officials hadimilar initiative.
Brazilian foreign ministry officialstrong stand on Cuba,
Chile is now expected toall for an OAS meeting on Cuba despite Its previous insistence on an informal Latin American effort to conciliate US-Cuban differences.
Most smaller Latin American countries have for some time supported view that the Cuban regimeemisphere problem.
most Latin Americans fear domestic reaction to
1. Brazilian, Bolivian, Chilean, Peruvian, and Venezuelan
officials have expressed concern that pro-Castro strength
in their countries will limit their ability to support the
US.
C. Mexico, probably traditionally the most sensitive to anyol foreign intorforence In internal affairs, has taken equivocal stand.
pro-Cuban leftist minority attacking US policyand pressuring Lopez Mateos government to takestand.
7 July influential leftist ex-presidentattacked US "economic aggression" againstCuban position today to Mexican positionoil interests seized there
leader Vicente Lombardo To ledanoplanning mass rally in Mexico City atostensibly to support Lopez Mateos, butpressure him into firmer pro-Castro policy.
may further sook to exploit innatoof US "interference" in its affairs.
clarification of Mexico's official position ongiven inuly press release hy Foreign
recent pro-Cuban statements by Mexicando "not necessarily" reflect opinions of
exlutonco in Mexico of "deep affection"people.
efforts to solve US-Cuban difficultiesof OAS.
VII. Latin Araorleans appear surprised at US announcement of new aid plan for hemisphere.
official comment to date is from Brazil. in press statementsnduly seemednot consulted, expressed hope that plan, when known,US has adopted positive attitude toward hisAmerica,"
Said "palliatives and emergency measures" will never cure the ills that beset Pan-Amoricanism.
Kubitschek's chief foreign policy advisor quoted privately and In pressuly as saying "Fidel Castro had to make
a pact with Russia before the US would think about OPA."
leader right-wing government forces commentingsituationuly said privately "unlikely anycountry would speak out very strongly againstOAS since all grateful to him for awakening US torealities."
Original document.
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