Office of the Historian

99. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts1

Washington, September 10, 1962, 7:38 p.m.

442. In discussing Cuban situation several Central American Governments have again expressed fears of Castro aggression as result of current buildup in Cuba. General line of action we are proposing has been indicated in circular telegrams 377 and 378.2

However, you should, as appropriate remind CA Govts of special US concern in past over threat of such aggression, direct and indirect, [Page 229] and our efforts to strengthen CA countries’ defenses against Castro attempts in this connection. Point particularly to ninth paragraph of President Kennedy’s statement of September 4.3 (“It continues to be the policy of the United States that the Castro regime will not be allowed to export its aggressive purposes by force or the threat of force. It will be prevented by whatever means may be necessary from taking action against any part of the Western Hemisphere.”) Reiterate assurances given in circular 196 (August 3 1961)4 that we are prepared to assist, upon request, in identification, interdiction or frustration of armed assistance to Castro-Communist elements.

Complementary to this potential assistance is strengthening of their own internal defense capability in which we are cooperating through MAP programs, particularly in efforts during past year to shore up weaknesses in current internal security capability of these countries.

Although inflammatory broadcasts from Cuba are continuing we have no reliable indication that Castro-Communists at this time are capable of, or intend, armed raiding parties in Central America. It appears to us they depend, instead, on ability of local Communist parties to exploit local issues, particularly sabotaging of the Alliance for Progress. We thus hope that governments will respond to our expression of special concern and special efforts we have been making to deter action toward Central America by Castro-Communists, with realistic estimates of areas in which Communists are most active locally and measures to control their attempted subversion of legitimate progress by Communist groups responding to Castro’s radio calls.

You may add that we would, if your host government desires, be glad to consult on practical problems involved in arms smuggling on Atlantic Coast in an attempt to develop a better control with resources now available to our two countries.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/9-1062. Confidential. Drafted by Director of the Office of Central American and Panamanian Affairs Katherine W. Bracken, cleared in draft by Assistant Legal Adviser for American Republics Affairs Marjorie M. Whiteman and with the Office of International Security Affairs in the Department of Defense, and approved by Martin. Sent to Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, San Jose, San Salvador, and Tegucigalpa; repeated to POLAD/CINCLANT and POLAD/CINCARIB.↩
  2. Both dated September 2. (Both ibid., 737.56/9-262)↩
  3. For text of the statement, see Department of State Bulletin, September 24, 1962, p. 450.↩
  4. See footnote 2, Document 88.↩