Telegram from the Brazilian Embassy in Havana (Bastian Pinto), 6 p.m., Friday

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

TELEGRAM

RECEIVED

12.851

FROM THE EMBASSY IN HAVANA

ON/26/26/X/62

CONFIDENTIAL—URGENT SUBSTITUTION

DAC/DAS/DOR/600.(24h)

Question of Cuba.

346 – FRIDAY – 1800hs – Cuba continues totally mobilized, and the other activities are, practically, paralyzed, with incalculable damage for the economy of the country. Since yesterday, one can perceive a certain relief with the efforts of the Secretary-General [U Thant] and of numerous member-countries of the UN to avoid aggravating the situation. The Cuban press and radio give prominence to this news, while they continue to summon the people to prepare themselves for the defense, at the same time, insisting that world opinion is mobilizing in favor of Cuba. By the way, the Minister of External Relations [Raúl Roa] told me yesterday that they consider firm enough the position of Mexico and Bolivia in favor of Cuba, and even the same for Uruguay, meanwhile Chile seems to be vacillating; few references were made to Brazil, and nothing he told me when I returned to explain the sense of the suggestion of Your Excellency for Cuba to take the initiative to invite the UN observers. However, a high functionary of the chancellor said, still yesterday, to my colleague that Cuba considers Brazil more firm, in its favor, than Mexico.

LUIZ LEIVAS BASTIAN PINTO