96. "THE U.S.S.R. . . . WILL EXTEND TO THE CUBAN ... GOVERNMENT ALL THE NECESSARY AID FOR THE REPULSE OF THE ARMED ATTACK ON CUBA": Message From the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. (Khrushchev) to the President of the United States (Kennedy), April 18, 1961 69

MR. PRESIDENT: I address this message to you at an alarming hour which is fraught with danger against universal peace. An armed aggression has been started against Cuba. It is an open secret that the armed bands which have invaded that country have been prepared, equipped, and armed in the United States. The planes which bomb Cuban towns belong to the United States of America, the bombs which they drop have been put at their disposal by the American Government.

All this arouses in the Soviet Union, the Soviet Government, and the Soviet people an understandable feeling of indignation. Only recently, exchanging views through our representatives, we talked with you about the mutual wish of the parties to exert joint efforts directed toward the improvement of relations between our countries and the prevention of a danger of war. Your statement a few days ago to the effect that the United States of America would not participate in military actions against Cuba 70 created an impression that the leading authorities of the United States are aware of the consequences which aggression against Cuba could have for the whole world and the United States of America itself.

How are we to understand what is really being done by the United States now that the attack on Cuba has become a fact?

It is yet not too late to prevent the irreparable. The Government of the U.S. can still prevent the flames of war kindled by the interventionists on Cuba from spreading into a conflagration which it will be impossible to cope with. I earnestly appeal to you, Mr. President, to call a halt to the aggression against the Republic of Cuba. The military techniques and the world political situation now are such that any so-called "small war" can produce a chain reaction in all parts of the world.

As for the U.S.S.R., there must be no mistake about our position. We will extend to the Cuban people and its Government all the necessary aid for the repulse of the armed attack on Cuba. We are sincerely interested in the relaxation of international tension, but if others go in for its aggravation, then we will answer them in full measure. In general it is impossible to carry on affairs in such a way that in one area the situation is settled and the fire is put out, and in another area a new fire is lit.

I hope that the U.S. Government will take into consideration these reasons, dictated only by concern that steps should not be permitted which might lead the world to a catastrophe of war.

Department of State Bulletin, May 8, 1961, p. 662. The Soviet Government released the text of this message Apr. 18, 1961.

70 See ante, doc. 89.

97. "THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE ALL MEASURES WITH OTHER COUN TRIES TO RENDER THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA": Statement Issued by the Soviet Government, April 18, 1961 (Excerpt) 1

The Soviet Government, at this crucial moment, for the sake of preserving universal peace, appeals to the Government of the United States to take measures to stop the aggression against Cuba and intervention in Cuba's internal affairs. Protection of and aid to the counterrevolutionary bands must be stopped immediately.

The Soviet Government hopes that it will be understood in the United States that aggression goes against the interests of the American people and is capable of jeopardizing the peaceful life of the population of the United States itself.

The Soviet Government demands urgent study by the U.N. General Assembly of the question of aggressive actions of the United States, which has prepared and unleashed armed intervention against Cuba.

The Government of the U.S.S.R. appeals to the governments of all member states of the United Nations to take all necessary measures for the immediate cessation of aggressive actions against Cuba, the continuation of which may give rise to the most serious consequences for universal peace.

In this hour, when the sovereignty and independence of Cuba, a sovereign member of the United Nations, are in danger, the duty of all countries members of the United Nations is to render it all necessary aid and support.

The Soviet Government reserves the right, if armed intervention in the affairs of the Cuban people is not stopped, to take all measures with other countries to render the necessary assistance to the Republic of Cuba.

98. "IN THE EVENT OF ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION BY OUTSIDE FORCE WE WILL IMMEDIATELY HONOR OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM TO PROTECT THIS HEMISPHERE AGAINST EXTERNAL AGGRESSION": Message From the President of the United States (Kennedy) to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. (Khrushchev), April 18, 1961 **

Mr. CHAIRMAN: You are under a serious misapprehension in regard to events in Cuba. For months there has been evident and growing resistance to the Castro dictatorship. More than 100,000 refugees have recently fled from Cuba into neighboring countries. Their urgent hope is naturally to assist their fellow Cubans in their struggle for freedom. Many of these refugees fought alongside Dr. Castro against the Batista dictatorship; among them are prominent leaders of his own original movement and government.

These are unmistakable signs that Cubans find intolerable the denial of democratic liberties and the subversion of the 26th of July Move

71 Department of State Bulletin, May 8, 1961, pp. 662-663.

72 White House press release dated Apr. 18, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, May 8, 1961, pp. 661-662). This message was handed to the Soviet Ambassador at Washington (Menshikov) at 7:00 p.m. and imme diately released to the press Apr. 18, 1961.

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ment by an alien-dominated regime. It cannot be surprising that, as resistance within Cuba grows, refugees have been using whatever means are available to return and support their countrymen in the continuing struggle for freedom. Where people are denied the right of choice, recourse to such struggle is the only means of achieving their liberties.

74

I have previously stated, and I repeat now, that the United States intends no military intervention in Cuba. In the event of any military intervention by outside force we will immediately honor our obligations under the inter-American system to protect this hemisphere against external aggression. While refraining from military intervention in Cuba, the people of the United States do not conceal their admiration for Cuban patriots who wish to see a democratic system in an independent Cuba. The United States government can take no action to stifle the spirit of liberty.

I have taken careful note of your statement that the events in Cuba might affect peace in all parts of the world. I trust that this does not mean that the Soviet government, using the situation in Cuba as a pretext, is planning to inflame other areas of the world. I would like to think that your government has too great a sense of responsibility to embark upon any enterprise so dangerous to general peace.

I agree with you as to the desirability of steps to improve the international atmosphere. I continue to hope that you will cooperate in opportunities now available to this end. A prompt cease-1 cease-fire and peaceful settlement of the dangerous situation in Laos, cooperation with the United Nations in the Congo 76 and a speedy conclusion of an acceptable treaty for the banning of nuclear tests" would be constructive steps in this direction. The regime in Cuba could make a similar contribution by permitting the Cuban people freely to determine their own future by democratic processes and freely to cooperate with their Latin American neighbors.

I believe, Mr. Chairman, that you should recognize that free peoples in all parts of the world do not accept the claim of historical inevitability for Communist revolution. What your government believes is its own business; what it does in the world is the world's business. The great revolution in the history of man, past, present and future, is the revolution of those determined to be free.

73 Reference to the unsuccessful attack led by Fidel Castro against the Mancado barracks in Santiago de Cuba July 26, 1953, from which Castro's revolution derived its name.

74 Ante, doc. 89.

99. "IT IS HOSTILITY OF CUBANS, NOT AMERICANS, THAT DR. CASTRO HAS TO FEAR-IT IS NOT OUR OBLIGATION TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS TREASON TO THE REVOLUTION": Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Stevenson) in Committee I of the U.N. General Assembly, April 18, 1961 (Excerpt) 78

The current uprising in Cuba is the product of the progressively more violent opposition of the Cuban people to the policies and practices of this regime. Let us not forget that there have been hundreds of freedom fighters in the mountains of central Cuba for almost a year; that during the last 6 months skirmishes with the Castro police. attacks upon individual members of his armed forces, nightly acts of sabotage by the revolutionaries, have been increasing in number and intensity. Protest demonstrations have taken place by workers whose trade-union rights have been betrayed, by Catholics whose freedom of expression and worship has been circumscribed, by professional men whose right to free association has been violated. The response of the Castro regime has been repression, arrests without warrant, trial without constitutional guarantees, imprisonment without term and without mercy, and, finally, the execution wall.

Let me be absolutely clear: that the present events are the uprising of the Cuban people against an oppressive regime which has never given them the opportunity in peace and by democratic process to approve or to reject the domestic and foreign policies which it has followed.

For our part, our attitude is clear. Many Americans looked with sympathy, as I have said, on the cause espoused by Dr. Castro when he came to power. They look with the same sympathy on the men who today seek to bring freedom and justice to Cuba-not for foreign monopolies, not for the economic or political interests of the United States or any foreign power, but for Cuba and for the Cuban people.

It is hostility of Cubans, not Americans, that Dr. Castro has to fear. It is not our obligation to protect him from the consequences of his treason to the revolution, to the hopes of the Cuban people, and to the democratic aspirations of the hemisphere.

The United States sincerely hopes that any difficulties which we or other American countries may have with Cuba will be settled peacefully. We have committed no aggression against Cuba. We have no aggressive purposes against Cuba. We intend no military intervention in Cuba. We seek to see a restoration of the friendly relations which once prevailed between Cuba and the United States. We hope that the Cuban people will settle their own problems in their own interests and in a manner which will assure social justice, true independence, and political liberty to the Cuban people.

"U.S.-U.N. press release 3704 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, May 8, 1961, pp. 675–681).

100. "WE DID NOT EXPECT TO TOPPLE CASTRO IMMEDIATELY": Communiqué Issued by the Cuban Revolutionary Council, New York City, April 19, 1961 (Excerpt)

79

The recent landings in Cuba have been constantly, though inaccurately, described as an invasion. It was, in fact, a landing mainly of supplies and support for our patriots who have been fighting in Cuba for months and was numbered in the hundreds, not the thousands.

Regretfully, we admit tragic losses in today's action among a small holding force, which courageously fought Soviet tanks and artillery while being attacked by Russian MIG aircraft-a gallantry which allowed the major portion of our landing party to reach the Escambray Mountains.

We did not expect to topple Castro immediately or without setbacks. And it is certainly true that we did not expect to face, unscathed, Soviet armaments directed by Communist "advisers". We did, and we survived!

The struggle for freedom of 6,000,000 Cubans continues.

101. "THE ENEMY HAS SUFFERED A CRUSHING DEFEAT": Communiqué Issued by the Government of Cuba, April 20, 1961 (Excerpts)80

The militias of the revolutionary forces took by assault the last points held by the foreign mercenary invasion forces that had occupied the national territory. Playa Giron, which was the last mercenary stronghold, fell at 5:30 yesterday afternoon.

The revolution has emerged victorious, although it had to pay a high price in precious lives of revolutionary fighters, who faced the invaders and attacked them incessantly without a single pause.

. . . In this fashion, the army, which was organized in the space of many months by the imperialist Government of the United States, was destroyed in less than seventy-two hours. The enemy has suffered a crushing defeat.

102. "IF THE NATIONS OF THIS HEMISPHERE SHOULD FAIL TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENTS AGAINST OUTSIDE COMMUNIST PENETRATION-THEN... THIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT HESITATE IN MEETING ITS PRIMARY OBLIGATIONS, WHICH ARE TO THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION": Address by the President (Kennedy) Before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Washington, April 20, 1961 81

The President of a great democracy such as ours, and the editors of great newspapers such as yours, owe a common obligation to the people: an obligation to present the facts, to present them with candor, and to present them in perspective. It is with that obligation in mind

Text as printed in the New York Times, Apr. 20, 1961.

**Text as printed ibid., Apr. 21, 1961.

81 White House press release dated Apr. 20, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, May 8, 1961, pp. 659–661).

Docs. 100, 101, 102