Telegram from Polish Embassy in Moscow (Jaszczuk), 18 December 1962

Ciphergram No. 18243

Dispatched from Moscow on 12.18.1962 at 13:20

Received on 12.18.1962 at 5:55

Came into the Deciphering Department on 12.18.1962 at 9:40

To: Zenon KLISZKO¹

From: [Ambassador Boleslaw] JASZCZUK²

From [Minister of Defense Marian] Spychalski’s visit to meet Khrushchev:

2. Cuba. The Soviet missiles that were installed on Cuba were ready for action. So, they were brought in, assembled, and disassembled in the period of two months. “As soon as we took the kulak out of our pockets,” the Americans gave up their aggressive intentions towards Cuba. We did not plan on using the missiles. The point was to show them off and to show how quickly we could act. The Americans got surprised at how quickly the missiles were disassembled. After we received Kennedy’s pledge [not to invade Cuba], we withdrew the missiles. We are not divulging everything we know about Cuba. Given the prospects of future relations with the US, we are holding our tongues.

…

4. The Cuban issue, as well as that of Laos, shows that the United States acknowledges that the Soviet Union is essential in solving world problems. After all, Cuba is in the region of the Monroe Doctrine, but the United States had to agree to our activity and we forced them to make a decision regarding Cuba…

[1] Polish leader Gomulka’s right-hand man.

[2] Boleslaw Jaszczuk, Poland’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union from December 2, 1959 to 25 September 1963.