Office of the Historian

317. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, March 29, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • Cuba

PARTICIPANTS

  • Dr. Jose Miro Cardona—Chairman, Cuban Revolutionary Council
  • Dr. Antonio Varona—Cuban Revolutionary Council member
  • Dr. Ernesto Aragon—Cuban Revolutionary Council member
  • Dr. Carlos Piad—Cuban Revolutionary Council member
  • Mr. McGeorge Bundy—The White House
  • Mr. Hurwitch—Deputy Director,CMA

Mr. Bundy regretted that due to his heavy responsibilities the President had been unable personally to receive Dr. Miro and the members of the CRC at this time. He assured Dr. Miro, however, that whenever he had a matter of a most urgent and crucial nature, the President would be pleased to see him.

Cuban Invasion Prisoners

Mr. Bundy expressed the Presidentʼs deep personal concern over the prisonersʼ fate and said that the U.S. would continue its diplomatic efforts on behalf of the prisoners.

[Page 778]

U.S. Cuban Policy

Dr. Miro and Dr. Varona urged that the CRC be given the wherewithal to invade Cuba and overthrow the Castro regime. Mr. Bundy replied that the U.S. was determined that, if the U.S. were to support any military action against Castro, such action must be decisive and complete. In view of the military state of Cuba, it did not appear that decisive action could be accomplished without the open involvement of U.S. armed forces. This would mean open war against Cuba which in the U.S. judgment was not advisable in the present international situation.

Future of the CRC

Dr. Miro said that present U.S. policy drastically limited the CRCʼs sphere of activity. Mr. Bundy acknowledged that inactivity placed a revolutionary group such as the CRC in a very difficult position. Dr. Miro stated that the CRC would either have to be permitted to organize and conduct commando raids, sabotage operations, or similar activities, or disband. Mr. Bundy replied that he was not in a position to decide this question, but that the matter would be carefully studied and Dr. Miro given a reply reasonably soon.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/3-2962. Secret. Drafted on March 13 by Hurwitch.↩