126. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron) to President Carter1
SUBJECT
- Phase Down of Coast Guard and Navy Units in Florida
In the memorandum at Tab A,2 Admiral Costello recommends a gradual phase down of the Coast Guard and Naval forces which have been deployed to Florida in response to the illegal influx of Cubans. Under this proposal, force levels in southern Florida would be reduced to pre-crisis levels by the end of October.
[Page 271]Now that Castro’s promise to close Mariel Harbor has been confirmed by the forced departure of U.S. vessels,3 our present force posture is no longer necessary. Should Castro change this policy in the future, the Coast Guard estimates that we could return to our current posture within three weeks.4
RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve a phase down of Coast Guard and Navy units to pre-crisis levels.5
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 18, Cuba, Refugees, 9–12/80. Confidential. Sent for action. Carter wrote at the top of the page, “David. J.”↩
- Not attached and not found.↩
- In a September 24 memorandum to Brzezinski, Pastor wrote, “There are an increasing number of intelligence reports suggesting that Castro will suspend Mariel soon. Judging by the State Department’s effusive praise for Castro’s decision to give us two more hijacker criminals and several hundred ex-prisoners, who have since left USINT, I suspect that they will probably nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize if Castro lowers the gun he has been pointing at our heads and stops the flow of refugees into the U.S. Are you still interested in U.S. policy to Cuba?” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 18, Cuba, Refugees, 9–12/80)↩
- In the margin, the President wrote, “We may need a quicker build-up.”↩
- Carter the checked the approve option and initialed below.↩