Telegram from the Brazilian Embassy in Havana (Bastian Pinto), 4:45 p.m., Monday

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

TELEGRAM

RECEIVED

13167

FROM THE EMBASSY IN HAVANA

ON/5/5/XI/62

CONFIDENTIAL—URGENT

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

Question of Cuba.

367 – MONDAY – 1645hrs – It is noted here, in the last days, a general relief that the most acute phase of the crisis has passed, considering remote the immediate danger of bombardment or invasion. The speech of [US President John F.] Kennedy on last Friday [2 November] contributed to this, above all for not having threatened to adopt new measures against Cuba. On the other hand, the speech of [Cuban Leader] Fidel Castro, on last Thursday [1 November], was skillful, since he led the facts, with frankness, to the knowledge of the people and, at the same time, was conciliatory in its relatively moderate tone. Still it is difficult to perceive what will be the effects of the last events regarding the internal prestige of Fidel, but it does not appear to have had a noticeable effect on his popularity. In the last days the official propaganda has concentrated on the “five points” of Fidel, transmitted in my telegram no 363. The Minister of External Relations [Raul Roa] intends to travel soon to the UN in order to defend personally the Cuban position that the solution to the crisis only can be attained on the basis of the Five Points. Therefore, this government insists, during the dispute, on separating the immediate problems (removal of the Soviet bases and inspection) and solution of the more long-term problems, “above all the guarantee of the integrity of Cuba.” But in view of the accord between the American and Soviet governments about some immediate questions, in the present moment, I have the impression that the crisis has entered a less critical phase and will go on in a type of status quo, in case it does not return to become suddenly aggravated.

LUIZ LEIVAS BASTIAN PINTO