By ANITA SNOW
 Associated Press Writer

 HAVANA (AP) — With U.S. lawmakers and businessmen visiting and shiploads of American food on the way, Cuba has toned down its
 anti-American rhetoric, hoping for warmer relations with Washington.

 As part of the thaw, Cuba has not protested the American military's use of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo to house Taliban and
 al-Qaida prisoners.

 For years, Cuba battled head-on with U.S. administrations over the trade embargo, imposed against the communist nation after Fidel
 Castro defeated the CIA-backed assault at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Now Havana is courting visiting Americans who oppose restrictions
 on trade and travel and are trying to chip away at them through legislation.

 Recent visitors include Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who supports U.S.-Cuba cooperation for drug interdiction and the fight against
 terrorism; Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., who favors trade with Cuba; and Sally Grooms Cowal, a former American diplomat who
 heads an anti-embargo group.

 Arriving next week will be Republican Gov. George Ryan of Illinois, who pushed to ease U.S. restrictions on American food sales to
 Cuba. He is also fighting to make it easier for U.S. pharmaceutical companies to sell products to the Caribbean nation.

 ``At this particular time our countries should be working together,'' said Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat who came here this week
 with 40 other Washington women. ``I am glad that Cuba is providing support for our need to deal with terrorism.''

 Cuba's stance on the Guantanamo base and its decision to buy American food ``signals that there is some change and movement''
 on the part of leaders here, she said.

 Many braced for an anti-American tirade from Havana when it was learned that prisoners from the war on Afghanistan would be held
 at the isolated U.S. outpost in southeastern Cuba.

 Castro has long opposed the presence of the American base, which operates under a treaty signed long before the 1959 revolution
 that brought him to power.

 But Cuba was conciliatory about the announcement to house prisoners at the base. It even offered medical assistance to the
 prisoners, saying ``we are willing to cooperate in any other useful, constructive and human way that may arise.''

 ``That was something of a surprise,'' said Wayne Smith, who headed the U.S. mission here during the Carter and Reagan
 administrations. ``I thought they would have a few snide remarks and get some propaganda mileage out it.

 ``This means they understand that even though the Bush administration will be as hard-line as it can be, American public opinion and
 opinion in the Congress is running in the opposite direction,'' said Smith.

 President Bush has promised the 40-year-old trade embargo will not be eased until Cuba holds free and competitive elections.

 But U.S. lawmakers in recent years have sponsored legislation aimed at chipping away at trade and travel restrictions.

 Smith says Cuba's softer tone emerged when it decided to take advantage of a law allowing the first direct commercial purchases of
 American food in nearly four decades

 For a year, Havana refused to buy U.S. agricultural products under the 2000 law, protesting restrictions on American financing
 included at the insistence of pro-embargo groups.

 That changed when Washington offered humanitarian aid to Havana in November after Hurricane Michelle caused extensive damage
 to the island.

 The Cuban government politely turned down the offer and announced it would make a one-time exception and directly buy American
 food to replenish its reserves.

 At least five shipments of American wheat, corn, rice and poultry purchased under the law have reached Cuba since mid-December,
 with more scheduled.

 And now that the food is being delivered, said Smith, ``the appetite has been whetted for more change.''