From the Journal of S.M. Kudryavtsev, 'Record of a Conversation with Minister of Industry of the Republic of Cuba Ernesto Guevara, 26 July 1961'

from the journal of

S. M. KUDRYAVTSEV

Secret. Copy Nº 2

9 August 1961

Nº 265

RECORD OF A CONVERSATION

with Minister of Industry of the Republic of Cuba

Ernesto GUEVARA

26 July 1961

I had a brief conversation with Guevara at a reception held by the Confederation of Workers of Cuba on the occasion of the arrival of Yu. A. Gagarin.

Guevara said that at the beginning of August, he would probably go to Montevideo to head the Cuban delegation at an economic conference of countries of Latin America. This question has not been finally decided, and they want to keep this matter a secret until the very last moment. However, chances are he, and not Ast[a]rain, will go to Montevideo.

Guevara continued, in the statements of the Cuban delegation at the conference in Montevideo we would like to show the Latin American representatives in specific examples the advantages of the economic aid given Cuba by the Soviet Union compared to the aid which Kennedy plans to give the countries of Latin America in accordance with his program called Alliance for Progress. Consequently, Guevara said, we would like to ask, if possible, that the resolution of the questions raised in his 30 June letter to Cde. A. I. Mikoyan be expedited.

For my part, I promised Guevara to convey this request to Moscow [Tsentr].

Concerning the prospects for the economic conference in Montevideo Guevara declared that the Americans will undoubtedly use it to forge a new coalition against Cuba. However, in current conditions [it] makes it very difficult, inasmuch as the political positions of Cuba and the popularity of the Cuban revolution among the broad Latin American masses continue to grow and strengthen.

The rest of the conversation with Guevara had a general nature and mainly concerned Yu. A. Gagarin’s stay in Cuba.

AMBASSADOR OF THE USSR IN THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA

(S. KUDRYAVTSEV)