Instructions from Marshal of the Soviet Union A. Grechko to the Commanding General of the Soviet Troops on the Island of Cuba

DECLASSIFIED

TOP SECRET

Copy Nº [handwritten: 1]

[handwritten:

To Cde. V. V. Lebedev.

Keep.

[illegible signature]

2 August 1962]

INSTRUCTIONS

to the Commanding General of the Soviet Troops on [handwritten: the island of Cuba]

The command of the group and all the servicemen of the Soviet troops located on the territory of the Republic [handwritten: of Cuba] are to be guided in their lives and activity by the following regulations:

1. The Soviet Armed Forces are located on the territory [of the island of Cuba] in accordance with an agreement between the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the government of the Republic [of Cuba] to provide for the common defense against possible aggression against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic [of Cuba].

2. The Command of the Soviet Armed Forces in the Republic [of Cuba] in their daily activity and in relations with the Command of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic [of Cuba] and local governments are to be guided by the corresponding agreements between the government of the Soviet Union and the government of the Republic [of Cuba] and the instructions of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff.

[Translator’s note: the above three paragraphs were crossed out.]

3. The presence and the activity of the Soviet Armed Forces on the territory of the Republic [of Cuba] should not in any way infringe on the sovereignty of this Republic.

The servicemen of the Soviet Armed Forces, workers, and employees in these Armed Forces are obligated to respect the national traditions of the [Cuban] people and strictly observe the laws of the Republic [of Cuba], and not to commit willful acts which might cause harm to our friendly relations. All Soviet people are to be guided by the principles of proletarian internationalism in relations with citizens of the Republic [of Cuba].

4. On arrival in the Republic [of Cuba] all servicemen, workers, and employees of the Group of Soviet Forces should be instructed by representatives of the command and the party-political apparatus of the Group about the standards of conduct and familiarization with the laws of the Republic [of Cuba] and with the local national characteristics.

Strictly demand that all personnel observe the laws, rules, and regulations for foreigners established in this country.

In their daily lives and activities, each serviceman, regardless of rank or position, and also each worker and employee of the Group of Soviet Forces, is obligated to observe socialist discipline and conscientiousness, high moral qualities, and the love for labor inherent to the citizens and soldiers of the Soviet socialist state. Every general, officer, sergeant and soldier, worker and employee should show themselves to be models of Soviet socialist ideology to the people [of Cuba] and justify the high trust which the CPSU, the Government, and the Ministry of Defense are giving them.

The sociability of the Soviet people, occasioned only by a professional necessity in combination with high political vigilance, is a necessary condition for the correct behavior of Soviet servicemen, workers, and employees abroad.

5. Be guided by the regulations of the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics when organizing troop service, the lives, and everyday work of the personnel of headquarters, military units, and institutions.

6. As a rule, it is prohibited for the generals and officers of the Group of Soviet Forces to  live in private apartments and hire citizens of the Republic [of Cuba] for personal services, with the exception of special cases and only with the permission of the Command of the Group of Soviet troops and the Soviet Ambassador. [Translator’s note: This part of sentence crossed out in original.]

In everyday and cultural relationships, the lives of Soviet servicemen, workers, and employees should be exemplary and modest. The slightest manifestation of arrogance and conceit, and also light behavior, by Soviet people cannot be permitted.

Any sort of trips around the country for official or personal business can only be with the permission of the Command of the Group of Soviet Forces.

7. The procedure for military postal support to the personnel of the Group is according to the order on communications. Sending letters and telegrams through the post offices of the Republic [of Cuba] is prohibited. In letters and telegrams, there should contain no information about the Soviet troops and the location of the servicemen, workers, and employees of the Group of Soviet Forces.

8. Servicemen, workers, and employees should strictly observe the sphere of business in official discussions with representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic [of Cuba], commercial, industrial, and other organizations. It is categorically forbidden to superfluously talk, and any discussions should communicate only such information which is called for by the circumstances of the matter or by permission of a superior officer.

Generals and officers who are authorized [to conduct] official discussions should be instructed with a definition of the precise framework and character of the discussions.

9. Soviet servicemen, workers, and employees of the Group of Forces in the Republic [of Cuba] are categorically forbidden:

- to visit restaurants, cabarets, beaches, or other places of entertainment;

- to take any pleasure walks alone or in groups without the permission of the

commander or the Commanding General;

- to make any kind of acquaintanceship with unknown people not caused by official necessity;

- to appear in public places or streets drunk;

- to publish articles in the local press, or to speak at rallies or at parties organized by local governments without the knowledge and permission of the Command of the Group of Soviet Forces. [Translator’s note: This part of sentence crossed out in original.]

Personnel of the Group of Soviet Forces are permitted to limitedly visit [Cuban] theaters, museums, and other cultural and educational institutions, and also to hold organized meetings between servicemen of the Soviet Army and democratic sections of the population, [and] invite local theater collectives and ensembles.

10. Officials of the Group of Soviet Forces should display the comradely attention and necessary tact corresponding to the friendly relations between the Soviet Union and the Republic [of Cuba] in relations with representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic [of Cuba] and local governments, and when so doing, proceed from the interests of the Soviet state and the necessity of the further development and strengthening of the friendly ties with this country. At the same time, personnel of the Group of Soviet Forces should be vigilant and keep state and military secrets. [Translator’s note: This paragraph is crossed out by a diagonal line.]

11. On all questions connected with the quartering of troops, their supply, and use of all forms of transportation the Commanding General of the Group of Soviet Forces in the Republic [of Cuba] is permitted to have correspondence through the Soviet Ambassador with the Government of the Republic [of Cuba] and personal contact with the leadership of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic [of Cuba]. [Translator’s note: This part of sentence crossed out in original.]

12. The display of combat equipment of the Soviet Army to military representatives of the Republic [of Cuba], [and] various exercises and maneuvers are done in each individual case with the permission of the USSR Minister of Defense or the Chief of the General Staff.

Consultations for representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic [of Cuba] are permitted to be given only on the basis of decisions by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, [or] instructions of the USSR Minister of Defense or of the Chief of the General Staff. All consultations need to be formalized in writing over the signature of the Commanding General of the Troops or the one providing the consultation, copies of which are submitted to the General Staff.

The Soviet Ambassador in the Republic [of Cuba] is the authorized representative of the Soviet government. The activity of the Commanding General of the Group of Soviet Forces should be closely linked and coordinated with him. All questions requiring a decision of the Government of the Republic [of Cuba] should be decided through the Soviet Ambassador.

13. In accordance with these instructions, the Commanding General of the Soviet Forces  together with the Soviet embassy in the Republic [of Cuba] is to develop and publish instructions determining the mode of life, standards of behavior, and personal relations between the personnel of the Group of Soviet Forces and local governments, institutions, organizations, and the population of the Republic [of Cuba], in conformity with local conditions. The instructions developed and approved by the Commanding General of the Soviet Forces are to be distributed to each military unit in one copy each and conveyed to all personnel.

A copy of the instructions which have been developed should be submitted to the General Staff.

MARSHAL OF THE SOVIET UNION

A. GRECHKO

[date left blank] August 1962