148. Editorial Note

On October 20, two Texaco employees were kidnapped by rebel forces near Santiago. (Telegram 197 from Santiago de Cuba to the Embassy in Havana, repeated to the Department of State, October 20; Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/10‑2058)

Ambassador Smith asked Consul Park Wollam to advise the rebels through his contacts that Smith would recommend the sale of arms to the Cuban Government unless the Americans were released without delay. (Telegram 119 from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, repeated to the Department of State, October 21; ibid., 737.00/10‑2158)

Wollam observed that it was difficult to estimate the rebels' reaction to such a threat since they were "not realistic" regarding international opinion. Wollam pointed out, however, that the rebels had the power to do largely what they pleased with American businesses in Oriente province. Wollam said that his own approaches to rebel contacts had probably not been successful in the past and suggested that other channels of contact might be utilized. He agreed that the threat should probably be issued, but not until the anticipated rebel messages were received which would establish a different channel of communication. (Telegram 205 from Santiago, October 22; ibid., 737.00/ 10‑2258) The Department had meanwhile informed both the Embassy in Havana and the Consulate at Santiago that it did not approve issuing such a threat at that time. This message was apparently not received in Santiago until after telegram 205 had been sent. (Ibid.)

On October 23, the rebels released the two Americans, with the only condition being that the local manager for Texaco had to meet with rebel representatives. (Telegram 21 from Santiago, October 23; ibid,, 737.00/10‑2358) In despatch 41 from Santiago, October 29, Wollam summarized the two Americans' report of their experience, the Consulate's contacts with General Cantillo through local authorities, and the demands made by the rebels in their meeting on October 25 with the Texaco representative for either $500,000 in cash or $300,000 worth of arms. Wollam also commented as follows on the Consulate's contacts with rebel representatives:

"On verifying the kidnapping, and when the men did not return by night, the Consulate took the opportunity of informing various persons closely connected with rebel causes of its extreme concern. It was pointed out that the concern was not only for the persons kidnapped but for the reaction which was bound to follow in the United States which would undoubtedly be felt through the Department of State.

"Upon receipt of the Department's Niact telegram No. 22, which was first relayed by voice radio from Habana, the message was also delivered to contacts of the Consulate [less than 1 line not declassified]. These persons in Santiago professed to have no knowledge of the kidnapping and generally considered it foolish but not serious, since they did not feel that the men were in danger. The urgency of the matter was stressed by the Consulate.

"This type of procedure could, however, be very detrimental to the Consulate. With various forms of clear radio and telegraphic instructions to contact rebels it is felt that both the Consulate and any possible contacts were placed in an undesirable spotlight. It is realized that the Department and the Embassy wished to give all possible publicity to this instruction, but the Consulate and any contacts should be protected if relationships are to be maintained. It is suggested that the Department could have given the Consulate several hours of advance notice in code in order to make contact before sending clear telegraphic messages which were in this case repeated over voice radio, or that specific instructions of this nature should have been left classified.

"Local authorities could well take umbrage at the fact that the Consulate is openly and publicly instructed to get in touch with representatives of an illegal movement in revolution against the government." (Ibid., 737.00/10‑2958)

On October 23, two United Fruit Company employees were kidnapped by rebel forces and held for a day in the area near Preston. The two, who were released unharmed, were among the Americans who had been kidnapped in June. Smith briefly reported on this kidnapping in telegram 412 from Havana, October 24. (Ibid., 737.00/ 10‑2458)