255. Editorial Note
On January 28, 1972, Reuters news agency ran a story, which noted that the U.S. Government had warned Cuban exiles against actions against Cuba emanating from U.S. soil. Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms forwarded a copy of the Reuters article under a covering memorandum to Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Alexander M. Haig, which read: “Is this kind of State Department action really necessary? It seems to me we go out of our way to make things tough for that tiny number of individuals who are prepared to do something active, if not always useful.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 781, Country Files, Latin America, Cuba, Vol. IV, 1972)
On February 16, the Department of State sent a circular to all Central American and Caribbean posts, reiterating U.S. policy regarding the activities of militant Cuban exile groups and noting that the warning publicized in the January 28 Reuters article did not represent a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba. (Telegram 27141, February 16; ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 30–2 CUBA)