Telegram from Brazilian Embassy in Havana

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

TELEGRAM

RECEIVED

11674

FROM THE EMBASSY IN HAVANA

ON/28/28/IX/62

SECRET

DAC/600.(24h)

Question of Cuba. Naval and aerial surveillance of the United States of America around Cuba.

319 – FRIDAY – 17hs45 – Supplementary to secret oficio no 238. There does not remain any doubt that the United States is already exercising, in a systematic character, strict naval and aerial vigilance around Cuba. American ships are controlling at a distance of a few miles the entrances to various ports of this country. In the last days, the vigilance seems to have been reinforced, since, almost daily, the local press publishes photographs of Latin American planes flying over ships in the vicinity of Cuba. Ultimately, the aerial investigations also cover the movement of Cuban ships [de cabetagem]. According to a declaration to me, confidentially, the captain [de caçaderes] of a French ship that just arrived in Havana (proceeding) from Russia, American planes, more than one time, requested that their ship identify themselves when it came near to Cuban waters. Until now, nevertheless, the only verified international incident was referred to in oficio no 238. (I take the liberty to transmit a copy of this telegram to Ambassador Luiz Leivas Bastian Pinto in New York).

JOSÉ MARIA DINIZ RUIZ DE GAMBOA