Office of the Historian

40. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance and Secretary of Defense Brown1

Washington, November 28, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Presidential Guidance on Foreign Policy Issues

As a result of our meeting this morning, the President has made the following decisions:2

1. MIG Aircraft in Cuba. The President approved seeking Soviet confirmation of our understanding of the nature of Soviet aircraft deployments in Cuba and the statement that “an increase in the number of ground attack MIG–23 aircraft would have a serious, adverse effect on US/Soviet relations.” The President emphasized that in our discussions with the Soviets, the Congress and the public, we should stress the importance we attach to the 1962 Understandings and Soviet compliance thereto.3

2. Cuba Visit. The President decided that the proposed visit of Newsom and Aaron to Havana should take place only if the Cuban Government is prepared to commit themselves to the release of the [Page 91] four American political prisoners.4 If they are not prepared to make such a commitment, we would be willing to send a lower level delegation to Havana or meet at the Newsom/Aaron level some place else.

[Omitted here is discussion of the Conventional Arms Talks and SALT.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 60, Alpha Channel—Cuba, 9–11/78. Top Secret; Sensitive.↩
  2. The President met with Brzezinski, Vance, Brown, Mondale, and Jordan from 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Cabinet Room. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary)↩
  3. At his press conference on November 20, Carter stated, “There have been MiG-23’s in Cuba for a long time. There is a model of the MiG–23 that’s been introduced there late last spring which we have been observing since that time. We would consider it to be a very serious development if the Soviet Union violated the 1962 agreement.” (Public Papers: Carter, 1978, Book II, p. 2101)↩
  4. The four American political prisoners were Larry Lunt, Everett Jackson, Juan Tur, and Claudio Morales. They were released on September 17, 1979. (Smith, The Closest of Enemies, p. 191)↩