PROSPECTIVE CUBAN AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON

Created: 5/6/1960

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Prospective Cuban Ambassador to Washington

Jose Miro Cardona, for whom the Cuban Government has requested agrement as its ambassador to Washington, seems unsure of the real nature of his mission.ay hesually reliable source that,eporter informed hiro of the request, he had heard nothing about the assignment since it was discussed as a. possibility with President Dorticos soon after Mlros recall as ambassador to Spain In January- He said he would accept the post only If convinced that Castro sincerely desires to solve what Mlro considers significant differences In Cuban-US relations. Miro said he would break with the regime t if Castro empowered him toeal Improvement in rela-* tions and thenack of good faith which caused theto fall.

Miro Cardonaespected lawyer and political moderate who opposed Batista and was prime minister for the first six weeks after Batistas ouster. He resigned on amicable terms with Castro after Insisting that, as the real locus of power, the revolutionary leader should assume the prime ministry. Asto Spain, Miro was not close to the ruling coterie in Cuba during the period of its most significant political andactions and apparently has seen Castro only once casually since his return from Madrid. Thus it is difficult to believe that Mlro would actually receive the strong mandate he says hein order to go to Washington.

The circumstances of Mirote appointment may reflect adichotomy In foreign policy between Cuban officials who feel some modus vivendl with the US Is necessary and thoseled by Che Guevara and Raul Castro who would consider any diminution of the Cuban Governments viciously anti-USapitulation to Washington. Since Cuba has been becomingIsolated from other Latin American governments, the choice ofbjC_a. maneuver to Impress hemisphere