553. Memorandum from Cleveland
to Ball, November 221
[Facsimile Page 1]
I’m attaching for your convenience the two main versions that still seem
to be extant after our discussions of this morning:
TAB A—The last three paragraphs of DEPTEL
1339, sent to USUN last night.
TAB B—The “McCloy draft” as edited by the Secretary.
TAB C—The “Bundy draft” as slightly edited
here this morning.
I’ve left in both TABS A and B the proviso that Cuba does not attack or
support an attack upon any other country of the Hemisphere. I think it
is very important that this not be dropped out. What we are drafting
here is an exchange of assurances between the United States and the
USSR, contingent on Cuban
behavior. Consequently, the reservation on Cuban behavior must be in the
text of our exchange of assurances with the Soviet Union.
[Facsimile Page 2]
Tab A
(Last three paragraphs of 1339 to USUN)
In the absence of Cuban agreement to United Nations verification and
safeguards, the nations of the Organization of American States have
no choice but to continue to be alert through their own resources to
any possibility that offensive weapons systems remain or are
reintroduced into Cuba.
In consideration of the steps that have been taken by the Soviet
Union to date, the quarantine instituted on October 23, 1962, has
been lifted on November 20, 1962.
Provided no nuclear weapons or weapons systems capable of offensive
use are present in or reintroduced into Cuba, and the United States
is in position to be satisfied on these points, and provided Cuba
does not invade or support an invasion of any other country, the
United States declares that it will not invade Cuba or support an
invasion of Cuba. This declaration is made on the representations of
the Soviet
[Typeset Page 1488]
Union here in the Security Council and does not alter any of the
rights or obligations set forth in the UN Charter and the Rio Pact.
[Facsimile Page 3]
Tab B
McCloy
Draft
In view of the steps that have been taken by the Soviet Union to
date:
the United States on its part, as of November 20, 1962, lifted the
quarantine instituted on October 23, 1962;
and provided no nuclear weapons or other weapons capable of offensive
use are present in or reintroduced into Cuba, and provided Cuba does
not attack or support an attack upon any other country in the
Western Hemisphere, the United States will not invade Cuba or
support an invasion of Cuba.
This statement is made on the understanding that by reason of the
refusal of Cuba to permit arrangements contemplated to assure the
carrying out and continuation of the commitments in regard to the
maintenance and introduction of such weapon systems in Cuba, the
United States will, until such time as such arrangements can be
effected, continue to employ such other means of observation and
verification as may be necessary.
The undertakings stated herein do not alter or impair the rights and
obligations contained in the United Nations Charter or the
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, to both of which the
United States is a party.
[Facsimile Page 4]
Tab C
On the evidence of action taken and the assurances now presented, the
threat of offensive weapons is receding and in this situation the
invasion of Cuba is neither required nor justified. On the
understanding that offensive weapons are removed from Cuba and kept
out of Cuba in the future, the United States is therefore able to
give assurances against invasion of Cuba. In the absence of the
verification and safeguards contemplated by the President’s letter
of October 27, these assurances can be sustained only if there is no
interference with other means of obtaining satisfactory continuing
information on the absence of offensive weapons systems. It is in
the interest of all that there should be no fear of a repetition of
the events of September and October.
It must also be understood that the United States Government remains
dedicated to the principles of the Rio Treaty and the UN
[Typeset Page 1489]
Charter,
so that nothing in the present declaration can alter the obligations
assumed under those treaties to deal with any threat to the peace of
the Hemisphere.
