283. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Mann) to the Ambassador at Large (Thompson)1
SUBJECT
- Cuban Exile Activities
I have no strong feelings about the immigration status of Cuban exiles taking part in anti-Castro activities outside United Statesʼ territories. And I understand the political risks in rocking the boat at this time.
[Page 682]After the first of the year I do believe, however, that we should have another look at whether our interests are served by Cuban exile activities based in other American republics. I have in mind two principal questions:
First, I question whether the activities of the Cuban exiles do any real harm to the Castro regime and specifically whether the assertion that these activities are a morale builder for the anti-Castro Cubans inside Cuba is still valid. Rather I think we may now have reached the point where these activities are on balance helpful to Castro by giving him a pretext for appealing to the patriotism of the Cubans and presenting himself as the defender of Cuban sovereignty against the Colossus of the North.
In the second place, I find that United States policy is astride two horses each veering off in different directions. In the Foreign Ministersʼ Meeting we took the position that the subversive activities in Venezuela amounted to Cuban aggression. It will become increasingly difficult to maintain this line and at the same time try to downplay the importance of extra legal activities directed against Castro and designed to bring about his overthrow.
I donʼt have any final opinions about these two questions. I only say we should have a careful look at them in the not-too-distant future.
- Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 5412 Special Group/303 Committee Records. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten note by Thompson on the memorandum reads: “Mr. Jessup informed of gist 8/27/64.”↩