1.
Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Assistant Secretary of State
for Inter‑American Affairs (Rubottom) and the Cuban Ambassador (Camps),
Department of State, Washington, January 9,1958[2]
Ambassador Campa paid a courtesy call on Mr. Rubottom this afternoon, the first, subsequent to his return from the Christmas holidays in Cuba.
Mr. Rubottom inquired about the health of President
Batista, the crop damage from recent storms, the general political atmosphere
and prospects for elections. The Ambassador replied that the President was in
good health, that the tobacco and banana crops were severely damaged by the
recent storms and losses ran into millions of pesos. With respect to the
political climate, he said everything was quiet in the Habana area and he heard
no talk of rebel activities in eastern Cuba. He said that plans were going
ahead for elections and that the Government coalition parties would hold their
nation‑wide assembly to choose their candidate for President on January
22 indicating that censorship would be lifted by then. It was not clear yet
according to the Ambassador just who the Government candidate would be, but
three names had been mentioned as having a good chance of obtaining the
nomination. These three were Dr. Gaston Godoy, speaker of the House of
Representatives; Dr. Anselmo Alliegro, leader of the Senate; and Eng. Amadeo Lopez Castro. According to the Ambassador, he was with Lopez Castro on a number of
occasions while visiting in Cuba and the latter indicated that he did not wish
to be a candidate. The Ambassador thought, however, that he would be a
candidate if Batista so indicated. Both Mr. Rubottom and the Ambassador
expressed the hope that a well respected person would be selected by the
Government. With respect to opposition candidates, the Ambassador stated that
Dr. Grau San Martin and Dr. Carlos Marquez Sterling would be the likely
candidates of their respective parties.
After this general discussion, the Ambassador said
that while he was not on a business visit, there were two matters he would like
to take up with Mr. Rubottom. One was the question of our delay in approving
certain small orders for arms. He said that President Batista had inquired of
him while he was in Habana on this matter and indicated he could not understand
why they had not been approved. Mr. Rubottom said that while he was not aware
of the reason for this delay, this matter would have his personal and immediate
attention. He informed the Ambassador that sometimes when other Departments
were involved, delays unfortunately were unavoidable. The other matter he
wished to mention was the question of recent articles in the New York Daily
News and the Washington Post relative to gambling in Habana where inferences
were made to Batista's possible connection with this pursuit. He said that
while he was not making a protest on these articles, he wanted to point out
that there was nothing to the statements about Batista's connection with
gambling. He left a brief memorandum on the subject and copies of said articles
for the Department's information.[3]
[1] For additional documentation on political
developments in the Central American and Caribbean area and on the Fifth
Meeting of Consultation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American
Republics, held at Santiago, August 12‑18, 1959, during which Cuba and
the Caribbean area was extensively discussed, see volume v.
[2] Source: Department of State, Central Files,
737.00/1‑958. Confidential. Drafted by Leonhardy.
[3] Neither the memorandum nor the copies of the articles
has been found.