Telegram from the Brazilian Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly (Afonso Arinos), New York, 7:30 p.m., Friday

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

TELEGRAM

RECEIVED

13603

FROM THE DELEGATION OF BRAZIL AT THE XVII GENERAL-ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS—NEW YORK

ON/16/16/XI/62

CONFIDENTIAL

DNU/DAM/DAC/DAf/DOr/DEA/DAS/600.(24h)

604(04)

Denuclearization of Latin America and Africa.

167 – FRIDAY – 19hs30 – [CUBAN] AMBASSADOR LECHUGA CAME TO SEE ME TODAY IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE MISSION AND COMMUNICATED TO ME THE POSITION OF HIS GOVERNMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE DENUCLEARIZATION DRAFT. IT IS THE FOLLOWING: CUBA WILL PRESENT AMENDMENTS INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY PUERTO RICO AND THE PANAMA CANAL IN THE DISPOSITIONS; PROHIBITING FOREIGN BASES IN LATIN-AMERICAN TERRITORIES, THAT AIMS AT GUANTANAMO; AND ADDING A PROVISION IN WHICH THE NUCLEAR POWERS WILL COMMIT THEMSELVES NOT TO EMPLOY NUCLEAR ARMAMENT AGAINST ANY LATIN AMERICAN TERRITORY. I OBSERVED TO HIM SINCE AS SOON AS THE AMENDMENTS WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AND THAT, EVEN GETTING A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION, IT WOULD NEVER ARRIVE TO OBTAIN TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTES IN THE PLENARY. I ARGUED QUITE A BIT, SEEKING TO DEMONSTRATE TO HIM THE CONVENIENCE OF CUBAN SUPPORT TO THE PRESENT TERMS OF THE DRAFT. LECHUGA, IN RESPONSE, DECLARED TO ME THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE DRAFT IN HIS SPEECH TOMORROW, BUT THAT AS FOR THE AMENDMENTS HIS FORMAL INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO PRESENT THEM. I ASKED HIM, HOWEVER, IF CUBA WOULD APPEAR AT SOME CONTINENTAL MEETING AIMED TO ELABORATE A TREATY OF DENUCLEARIZATION, IN CASE OUR DRAFT IS APPROVED. HE DECLARED TO ME IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO HAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND, BUT THAT PERSONALLY HE UNDERSTANDS THAT YES, [AT] ONE TIME THAT THE IDEA IS CONSIDERED WELL BY HIS GOVERNMENT. I FEAR THAT THE CUBAN ABSTENTION WILL PROVOKE THE DEFECTION OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF LATIN AMERICA THAT CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT OF CUBA NECESSARY FOR THE SECURITY…FOR THIS REASON I [PEÇO] YOUR EXCELLENCY THAT EXAMINE THE CONVENIENCE OF AN INSTANT AND FINAL JOINT “DEMARCHE” TO THE HAVANA GOVERNMENT, AT A HIGHER LEVEL, REQUESTING THAT IT SUSPEND THE PRESENTATION OF THE AMENDMENTS.

AFRONSO ARINOS DE MELLO FRANCO