Cable from Cuban Foreign Minister Raúl Roa to Cuban Mission to the United Nations (Lechuga), New York

Republic of Cuba

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Secretariat of the Minister

20 November 1962

CLASSIFIED

Cuba Mission to the UN

Acting in a coordinated fashion with Soviet delegation on Brazil proposal. Insist with [Brazilian UN Amb. Afonso] Arinos [de Mello Franco] on inclusion of our points of view and if not, present them as amendments. Essential to demand nuclear powers promise not to have bases in Latin America and guarantee not to use nuclear weapons against it. Obtain formulation of paragraph [illegible, one letter or number] of Article Two, the part on devices, to avoid characterizing these devices, and vehicles for air and naval launches, as nuclear weapons when they are not. [Excised] Establishing a denuclearized zone is worth nothing without guarantees against the only nuclear power on the continent. Remember a fundamental point is withdrawal of military bases by nuclear powers. In any case, it should be asked that voting on the resolution be separate, the goal being to vote affirmatively on whatever position or abstain. If the resolution excludes Cuban concerns vote against position according to agreed terms. Send word of the situation to receive final instructions. In truth, it does not interest us to push the Brazilian proposal.^[1] [Soviet politburo member Anastas] Mikoyan stated that USSR and USA have agreed that after announcement to retire [IL-28] bombers [illegible] they will do so within a month’s time. We have expressed our non-opposition to this. Prepared to consider U Thant proposal on Article Twelve, always within the general and permanent solution envisioned in the protocol project. ROA

[1] Ed. note: Brazil withdrew its denuclearization proposal due to the Cuban insistence on the removal of all military bases belonging to nuclear powers—i.e., Guantánamo—a condition which the United States predictably rejected.