Air Letter from Mexican Embassy, Rio de Janeiro

AIR LETTER [‘Correo Aereo’]

Reserved

Office EMBASSY OF MEXICO

Number 1619

File

SUBJECT: Press interview granted yesterday by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Relations,. Professor Hermes Lima.

Rio de Janeiro, 31 October 1962

C. Secretariat [Ministry] of Foreign Relations

Mexico, D.F.

In relation to the coded telegram number 348 that I sent yesterday to this Secretariat, I wish to inform you that the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Relations Professor Hermes Lima, conceded a group press interview yesterday in which he, in keeping with the coincidental version published in the newspapers today, expressed, amongst other things, what follows:

1) Brazil has taken on “on its own behalf and risk” the role of mediator, offering its good offices aimed at establishing a modus vivendi between Cuba and other American countries. General Albino Silva was chosen as instrument of this mission “because he is the Head of the Military House of the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and because he is a member of the Armed forces and one of the General Officers of great political clarity.”

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized that the most important [thing] in this respect would be the reestablishment of the relations between Cuba and the other American countries that are broken since this “will be a guarantee for Cuba as much as for said countries.”

The Prime Minister denied that part of the Brazilian envoy’s mission was to propose that Cuba held elections, affirming that a proposal of this kind would constitute interference in the internal affairs of Cuba.

2) The Government of Brazil and its envoy are well aware that the fundamental conditions for overcoming the crisis will be “proof of the existence of the nuclear bases and its [sic] dismantling,” which must have as a counterpart the commitment of the United States to not invade Cuba.

3) The Prime Minister affirmed that “with the nature of the nuclear weapons that the great powers possess, they are the ones who must have the most patience and care, for they are the ones who possess nuclear armaments, the first and greatest victims of an atomic war in contrast to what happened in the past to the better armed nations […] Faced with the danger of a nuclear war breaking out, Brazil felt that a critical moment of the international crisis had arrived and that a supreme effort was necessary so that the mechanisms of international organizations worked in order to reestablish the contacts, the conversations, and to open a door so that the harmony between peoples was reestablished […] the United States, with its nuclear superiority, gave an example of prudence and care. This proves the high political capacity and statesmanlike ability of President Kennedy. The same can be affirmed of Prime Minister Khrushchev.

The “Jornal do Brasil” publishes, about this same matter, the declarations of a spokesman of the President of the Republic which say that President [João] Goulart considers that the “solution of the conflict between Cuba and the United States has definitely been left under the competency of the United Nations.” The mission of the personal Representative of the President is to present the Cuban Government a conciliatory proposal communicated to the diplomatic representatives of the United States and the USSR in Brazil and that seems to be on the way toward being accepted by the governments of both powers.”

I take the opportunity to reiterate to you assurances of my most high and distinguished consideration.

EFFECTIVE SUFFRAGE. NO REELECTION.

THE AMBASSADOR

[…] Alfonso Garcia Robies