251. Telegram From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State1
981. Prime Minister Miro Cardona announced to press this evening (February 13) his resignation and those of all cabinet members. Added Fidel Castro would become Prime Minister Monday, February 16.
Embassy informed confidentially resignation due to continuing feeling frustration Miro Cardona caused by Castro’s irresponsible public statements coupled with personality clash with Urrutia.
Castro met with cabinet later this evening and agreed become Prime Minister. Cabinet resignations had been submitted by Miro without consultation or approval. Castro said he expected to retain entire cabinet. Added they would work 22 hours daily, and first order business Monday would be 50% cut in ministerial salaries.
With Castro’s approval new fundamental law has been altered to give Prime Minister increased power. He will “dictate policy of government” and “despatch administrative matters” with President. President expected not to attend cabinet meetings. Announcement this alteration will be made after assumption office by Castro February 16. Until then, country has no Prime Minister or cabinet.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.13/2–1459. Confidential; Niact.↩
- In his synopsis of Department of State and intelligence material from February 14 and 16, which he reported to the President on February 16, John S.D. Eisenhower noted that Miro Cardona’s resignation and Fidel Castro’s assumption of the Prime Minister’s position “will probably sharpen the latent conflict” between the 26th of July Movement and other groups that opposed Batista. Eisenhower noted, too, that the move could be Castro’s first step toward the Presidency. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries) Text is published in Declassified Documents, 1982, 2471.↩