Office of the Historian

198. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State0

New York, April 24, 1962, 8 p.m.

3503. Special Fund and Cuban project. Deptel 2768.1 Hoffman has agreed subject to condition herein after set forth to try to hold project until August 1 latest. He insists if this is to be done he must have assurances SecState or equivalent he will not be called upon for further extensions. Dept must appreciate hazards involved for Hoffman and Special Fund. These have been carefully reviewed and Hoffman deserves commendation as well as protection he asks. Await Secretary’s assurance so matter can be finalized. Have personally reviewed situation and urge if we must have extension to August 1 assurance be given.2

Plimpton
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 398.051/4-2462. Secret; Limit Distribution.↩
  2. Telegram 2768 to USUN, April 20, requested a delay in signing of the Special Fund project agreement with Cuba beyond the Governing Council meeting in May and the present session of Congress without implying that the United States would have no further objections to signing after that time. Although aware that a delay in signing might put strain on Hoffman and weaken the Special Fund, the Department feared that signing at this time could spark public and Congressional reaction, which could seriously endanger the Special Fund, the U.N. bond issue, and other U.S. initiatives in the United Nations. (Ibid., 398.051/2-2762)↩
  3. The decision on the Cuban project was extended again into early 1963; see Document 202.↩