From the Diary of A. I. Alekseyev, Record of a Conversation with Argentinian Communist Party CC Secretary, Victorio Cadovilla, 25 November 1964

[Stamp]: Declassified

from the diary of

Alekseyev, A. I.

Secret Copy No 2

10 December 1964

No 449

RECORD OF A CONVERSATION

with Argentinean Communist Party CC Secretary

VICTORIO CADOVILLA

25 November 1964

Cadovilla informed me in the conversation that on 23 November a conference of representatives of Communist parties of Latin America had begun its work. He had been elected chairman of the conference. Cuban representatives were F. Castro, O. Dorticos, R. Castro, B. Roca, E. Guevara, E. Aragones, and C. R. Rodriguez.

As Cadovilla said, the representatives of all Latin American Communist parties in their speeches talked about the situation in their countries, the Party policy, and the prospects for the revolutionary movement. In doing so, not one of the comrades who spoke made any reproaches or complaints against Cuban leaders.

The Cubans, especially F. Castro and E. Guevara, asked each speaker many questions and tossed back replies which, in Cadovilla’s comment, sometimes slipped into a hostility toward the USSR and a fear of ending up completely dependent on the Soviet Union.

[Translator’s note: the above paragraph was emphasized by drawing two vertical lines next to it in the margin]

The Cuban leaders, Cadovilla said, are trying to play up the role and prestige of Cuba, which they consider almost the main revolutionary force in the world. Thus, F. Castro, recalling the Caribbean Crisis, shot back a remark that the crisis was resolved behind the back of Cuba; not only the Soviet Union but China too is giving them aid and therefore the Cubans do not intend to take anyone’s position. He said in doing so that the aid of the USSR is not free and the Cubans will have to pay all the credits with 2.5% interest. He tossed back an incomprehensible reply that the USSR is driving down prices on the international sugar market and is giving out secrets about the production of sugar. The policy of peaceful coexistence, in his opinion, envisions the existence of the large powers without considering the interests of small countries.

In Cadovilla’s words, he gave F. Castro sharp answers to each of his attacks and in doing so stressed that without the USSR the Cuban revolution not only could not develop but could not exist. Castro agreed with this, as a rule, and started to justify himself.

[Translator’s note: The last part of the above paragraph is emphasized as previously, beginning with the reference to the 2.5% interest rate.]

I have acquired the impression, said Cadovilla, that F. Castro is annoyed about some aspect of Soviet-Cuban relations.

[Translator’s note: This entire paragraph was emphasized in the same manner.]

In the course of the conference, however, one could see that F. Castro and E. Guevara recognized that the successful development of a revolutionary movement in Latin America is impossible without the participation of Communist parties. They also recognized, especially Guevara, their mistakes in organizing guerilla groups, in particular, in Argentina.

I think, said Cadovilla, that this conference will be very useful, if only because the Cuban leaders will better understand the situation in the countries of Latin America and value the role of Communist parties both in the revolutionary process and in the defense of the Cuban revolution.

Cadovilla further informed me that the Cuban leaders raised the question at the conference of sending a delegation to China in order to call upon the Chinese Communist Party leadership to settle their differences in the Communist movement and strengthen its unity.

The representative of the Bolivian Communist Part, Monje, said in this regard that the CC CPSU regards this with approval, but he, Cadovilla, has doubts about this.

The Venezuelan Gallego Manseira supported Monje’s proposal, since they both want to go to China.

Other representatives are aligning themselves [orientiruyutsya] with Cadovilla; however he is delaying a reply, awaiting the reaction of the CC CPSU. In this regard Cadovilla asked [us] to quickly inform him of the opinion of the CC CPSU about this question so he can determine his own position.

He also asked [us] to inform him whether there will be a meeting of the editorial commission in Moscow in December of this year.

Cadovilla said that probably E. Guevara, Manseira, Monje, and Arismendi would be in the delegation for the trip to China.

In conclusion Cadovilla noted that the conference went satisfactorily, with the constant participation of F. Castro and other Cuban leaders.

USSR Ambassador in Cuba

[signature]

A. Alekseyev

[Handwritten note at the bottom of the first page]: “Note. The material is informative; briefed to the sector. Chief of a CC CPSU sector. [signature] A. Kalinin. 26.3.65.“ [Scribbled note to the left, partly off the page, possibly containing initials or another date.]

[Distribution:]

4-lsh/AA

1-OLAS

2-CC CPSU (to Cde. Andropov)

3-UVI

4-to file

No. 612

10.12.64