Situation Report Cuban crisis

1. q,
ffiffiffiffir$Pffi rum[rufiE ffiilIlltlEN
HDEt AilI D IffiRlI$IICIIEU
Havana, Osooer 26, 1962
Oear Cornraoe Khrusnciev:
Frgm an anatysts ol lne sttuatron anct lno rsoons in our possessaon, I con:sio3t
fhat lns aggrasiiOn is ahosl rmrntnent wrtnln tna naxt 24 Of 72 nours.
ThBre ars two possiblo variants: tno tirst anO lik€li€st on€ is an ait attack again$
cenain targ€ts witn lho llrnltect oolodive ot deslroying lh€m; tn€ secono, less
proOaoto aitnougn posslble, iS invasion" I undersland thil lhis varlant vrould call
ior a targa num-Oer ol ,Orces and il iS. in aodltion, tho most repulsive lorm of
. aggrassion, whicn mighl innibit lnsm.
. you can rest assufed lhat w9 will flrmly and rosoluely Iosist anack. whatever it
may be.
The morale ol lha Cuban PeoPl€ is €nrgrnely hign and the aggrossor will be
conrroiled heroicallY.
Al rhis time I want to convey to you Dtierv my peEonal oPanion.
l, th6 s€cond variaril i9 ililplemenled and th€ imPerialisls imrade cuba wilh th8 goal
o, occupying n. lhe danger tnal thal aggressNc polkty pos€s for numaniry is so grsat
rna toUbfurn-g fiat evenl me Soviet 0hion mu$ nerrer allow ha circunrstancas in
I tell you ihis bscaus€ I believe thal the imPonalists' agglessiv€nsss is enremely
dangeious and i, lhey ac:ually carty out thc brulel act gl itwading CuOa in vlola'
rtonit inrernauonat liw anO niorality. thal woulO Da lhe,noment to eliminals such
dang€r lorever through an acl o, cleat legdimate oelgnsB. howwcr halsh and
which lhe imp€rialisls could launcll ths tirst nuct8ar $tiko against it.
torrible ih8 solution woulcl be, lor ihera is no othe,.
iraernatty.
.lt has influencEd tny ooinion lo s€e how lhis aggtessiv€ policy is doveloPing.
hbw th€ imperialisls.-distegarcting world puDlic opinaon and ignodng pnncrplos
and me law. afa bldchading the s€as. Yiolaling Our airsPac8 and Pr€garing an
invasion. while at the sam€ time lruStraing €lr?ry Possibalily for talks, ev€n thougn
thgy are awar6 of tne soriousn€ss ol tha ptoblam.
You have been anc, gonlinue to be a tirsl€ss odender ol peaca ancl I t€alizo
how !t[ar thOSO hou&3 tnusl be, when tha outcotn! Ol yOur SuPsrnutflan €ltons
B SO Sariously lhtiatlngct. Howevct. uP lO thl ESt momoil we will milnlatn lho
hopo llLt'pcice wl[ ba saroguaro€d and we at. wilting to contrabule lo thas as
mdCn eC,11y-a Can. But at 16c same time, wa erc 19aqy tO Calmly sonlfoil a slualion
whidr wi'vi€w as quita toel anO gutc cloge.
Oncr mOrc I corwcy lo you th€ in inile gratiluOe and fecognition ol our paople
tO the SOviet pgople who hav€ Desn sO generous and ,ralernal with uS. aS wefl
aS Our prOlOuhd gtAtiludo anO aOrnifalion lor you. and wiSh you suCceSS in tha
hugs task anc, serious resPonsiDililies ahaad o, yotJ.
Flrlcl Cectro
.',1/,hl%r{t'fi,rfL-

2. Our C:rooer 27 message to Pre3iocnr Konneoy allows lor
lhe qr eslron ro Dl seilled ln youf tavor. lo oelond cuDa
,rorn an invaslon ano prevenl war irom bro!king oul.
K€nnaOy'S reoly, whrch you spparsntly also knorr. ofl.rs
assurancos lnal lhe uniltd slsrrc wiSl not nyaor csDe wilh
'.lrs own ,orcrs. not will it pertnil ils rllirs lo carry gu an
I invasion. ln this way tho presi6enl ot the Unfied SEtas has
positivsly ansvvergc, my msssages ol ocrooer 26 8n627,
1 962.
Wo have ngw finisnaO drarting Our reply to ths prBsident's
msssago. I am nol going lo convly I here. lo, you su,ery
know lho rext.. ph,ch is now being broaocasil ov€f lne raclio,
Wilh this .moriv8 lwguld liko to racommenO lO you now.
' at this momonl ol changs in tnr crists, not to De carrreo
eway Dy se..rlirnenl and ro show limness. I must say thet I
unosrsiano your ,eotings g, indignation torlro th. eggr€s.
siv6 aclions ano viotatrons Ot elemontary norms o( inlertp. ,
tional law on thr p.n ot lhs uniled stares
Bul now. rBlher lhan law. wtrsi prevails is ths senso.
.lessnoss'o, lh3 ,nilihrists al tha Peilagon Nw thet !n
sgr€emenr ls wilhln right. lho pentagon 6 searcning lot a I
prstsrt to trustrate lhrs egroemeht. ThB'b wny I ls organi:- |
ing rhs provocetiv. flights. yeslrroay you shot oowi One I
ol theso. whilt larl;er you di6n.t shoot ttrem down whcn I
lhey overllew your teriltory. The aggressors will taxe ao. I
vanrage of such a step lor their Own prrfpOSSS. I
Therefore, I woulcl liks to aoviso you in a ,riendly mannef
lo show palienc€. firmness and even mora lirmness.
.Nalurally, it th€re's an invasion I witl bs n€cessar] lo
regulsa ll'by every mgans. But wr musm'i allow ourselyes
lo be carried away by pfovocations. Decause thc
Pernagon's unDnoleo mihtarisls, now that thg soluaon to lhe
conlhct ls in sigil anc, apparenfly in yosr tavor. creating a
guarantee against th€ invasion o, cuba, aro trying to
lruslrals lhe agreement an6 protroke you iilO acrions tha
could be usec, again$ you. I ask you nor lO giv€ lnem th!
Prelext tor ooing hat. .
On our pan. w€ will Oo everything possibte to staOili2€ the
siluation in Cuba, Oclend Cuba again$ anvesion anO assure
you lhe possrDililies lor peagelully builorng a soFrltasl
socierY
I sen6 you grerrrngs, ertensre to a[ your lsaOership
9rouP.
HaYana
OqoDer 28. r962
Mr. Nikile Kh,ushshev
Pn n3 MinEler ot ln9 Union
ol Soviel Sgcialisl Republics
usse
Doar Comraoc Khrushchev:
I htva iusl regaivec, you, letler-
Thr posilbn of our govcmmenl concorning your codrrhunrcer.", .,
bgdi3o |n lho $alarn€nl lormJlat3ct toclty. h'nosa tln you surrrl r.,rp
lwiih lg cl€ar up somsthinE cot:i.eming ths anriaircrai mo.tul .r
Ygu say: 'Y3slerdey yOU ShOt OOwn Oie ot these lplen0sl, whrt. ]]4]
shool tham Oown whan thav olrsdlew your l€rilofy.'
Eailicr isolat*t violalions war! commingd rvalhoul a 6",ir,1,63t1 rr*,ii
.
o, rithout I r3al 6ange, st.mming |rom rhose t[gilS.
: -rhis timt thal wasn't th. casa. Thcre was nr arhgor G)( a lr,rp.s
.c.naan miaittry lnsrallatlons. wt c,!ciE,.c, aol to 3il bact to(t wra ,.,
anecl. rilh ou, 6el36ion rt6at tumcc, ort. wh.n th. pot.n{aily r9l
llyrng rtth rmpunity oire, tho targ.ls could Oestroy tham lor.try
^.fwa 3hould tllou thal ener all lha etlorts ano arpen3rg inCurrcO t.1 .,r r
Eartirr. airs9tc! vlolalioas wrrr crrritct ost cra laclg Jr6 tunivlrr
Amrricln ggvarnmanl |rieO tO mala ollic,iC tha priyilrga G( viot.rr.r r,
il .rry nour ol lnr 6!y .nd night wa crnnot rccrpl lhtr. ir I ..,+
l.mounl lO grving up e Sovtreagn pnrogttivG. Howwlr, we !!llr .,c
avoio rn ncrc,lnl al lhis prSctsr fliomrnt thet eouct sStiously n.,,r trr
tirinS. so wr will lnslruct lha Cuban biltrrir3 nOt tO Ogtn tara. Dut r!+r n
at lha nrgorirtaons lasl rnd irilnod revoting thc orgt|ralion puot r,$
aDa, th! OtcrSOn tO Oalonc, Our airspacr. lt 3hosltl tl3o b. lll.n Er
lnil uno.r thr cutr3il lcns. conclirlons inci6rr!3 gaa utr ptac.
I Jso wi3h to lnrorn you urat wa lra ln pdnelpla oppostcl to rfl
ou, r.rritory.
I tgpncitta arrraordinarily th. ttlons you htyt ma6a to ktrgr rr.a
w.. arr aosolrnaly ln rgr.rmlm wiln lhr necC ,Or Sruggtlng to, rh,
is-acEomDlasnad ln a lust. soli6:ng Oetintriya rniannaf. il wrll Dt r.
3alvaca to humanfty.
Fntailully,
Ocrobsr 28. r962
t-,'L r' t)
N. Khrushchrv
Cat E;t
b.c.usa il woslc, wialr.n us graatly. mililaraly an6 morally. For ,"r
OsroDu 2a tne CuDsn rorcls mooilizld 50 adiarcrart blnsiiss. o,, .
lhm. to Ploviclr suppon to tha Sovad torcas' postlioa3. tt wc ro,g", ,,
. risht ol a surprisc rnact. A wls nrc3ssary lor CsBan tilllerymrn " ,*
'to 3hoot. Th! SOYlal Comtnanct ean luanrslr yOU utn t6Gtitbnlt ror.'r
: n.pp.n!d to tha plNna thtl w.3 snot ctow'lt
r'." i

3. - E;;a oon of lne U,S. irnpenatrsrs, wnlsneyou.arpocreq.roulo navi*iestocrlromlhoUnrlbostatoslnocol'tlflrlltnonlnotlcLnvaCa'r
, Eotar, ai any mom"nL 1 CuOa anO nol lO pormtt tnolr LJlln AmAflCAn alllss tO CIO !O. Wo
*
E-*. unoorsiano rnal coflain oifitcu[tgs nav€ Eesn croatoo tor you ] nara wr€sl€o a[ tnls trom lnom tYrtnoul a nuclear stflko.
-
Br a (esutt ol our navrng promrsao tn€ U.S. gorornment to[ .w€ consloottnal yrs musl lako acvailago ol .iill lno possibilitiss lo
B,rnOra* rn9 mlssllo OAS€ lrorn CtJDa. SlnCE it lS vrewoo ag an gl- I OetOnO CsOa, Sltongtn€n rts rnOgpshOOnCO ano Sov€a€qnly. OBtEal
-
G.ns,ra w6apon. rn Brciinlg lor tho U.S. commrlrn€nl to aoanoon I m,urary aggr€sston ono provonl a nucl8ar woflO Yrar in our ltme.
[prans lor an invasron ot cuDa oy U.s. troogs.or tnose ol rts.a,ll.: t AnO wo nav€ acgofnptislled lnat.
: G ilrilti:lrTffs''":""i.#iiil"#:s'[]*i'*u I uT i?ii:idl,itr.:ii:i&Tr?::E':::.]Ei'iLi:fii:E-1i,.:! i
lng lno olocxaoo ol l,uoa Io an ons. I nls lss ls lno llqslElallen ! roino to tno oilnclolQ tr ne slog is 'l
o conrticr rn rno cariDooan lono wnicn. as yo.;;;;-tz-e, i t]19.
T::'oing lo tno prrnclplo rnal a concoss'on on or
slra.ado.rzoo Dy rne dasn o, two superpor"r. .IJ'iiii'ill i :i1*9ll:: Dv a concossron on tn6 orno' sroc' rhe unrled Srates I
ry ot n Eoino rransrormeo inro a rnermonucrea, *.,[tJlrt"nl i i*.To:o'";;Tit:t"':l
lt rnaoo ine cornrnrtrn€ru b6to]o ar ne;
'lT',""rnro ,rom our amoassaoor. sorne cuDans nave r# ..r!ot-s^:!Y t11n.:t-t?Ip^".I:-ts-g-t:::1o.1-o1-l1ta-?t]n: .
. L) L' *() H'JJill',"T:1"-3:'s#;:":,",:"-t'ir:llJi:J[:i[,]J;;i"1ll,i
We iave 1s6Erve6 you, tonor Ol Oq:OOer 28 ano in€ rBPgnS On 9t-l!-Ol
rnOY woul6 navo OtaO hofc:cally' Sul we a'e not St'uqglrng'
,ho ra,ks rnar yolJ as w€r ai P,es,o.nt Donrcos
'i".
n.o'*,n * l3l$1jffi:i5'i:*'Hjffii? lil;J,r1f':"':T,""";3[i3'"y",':'"1":,
w€ unoorstano your Slluarion an6 tax8 rnlo acc ""'-"'- '-. -- * --
[os you now navs ouiln€ tno li.si.rranaliond.Stagg Sllgt,!0g liqur-
"- Nowlas a ,esult o, ino measurEs la!8n..w0 teacneo tne Eoal.:
Oauon oJ'l.n;stmu,n len:ton rnat arosa .OuO 'ro: tna t,t(!gt ol-'atlact souqnt wnon we agrOOC rYllh Y^Ou iO sono-lna mFFdeg iO C.Upa 'rVc.l
rEqrrrEU rrerrr vu' 'r"uc--svv" rvrr'! vsus")';'no",il Unrteo Statgs anct lhormonuclgar war wrlll lng commltmgnt of 1.'
:T','I^' 9::.::.*:o:1Y3'j,,::::"j",iiT:l-'T::l:"Y,1: ."1'j"i[.",t"i"i :ilffiffiIl-ii,i"L';;. .in-" upnJidins'or rni
rn?n the oociaration o, ihe watnorawa ol lno mrssrl€s. ll's :-":.:::::" '-' - --';;;';;:
^;:-::;;;;r'
'' -"
le rnal tnls k,no ot ,€sting €ilsts among ,n. p.op,i]'L; *", l"::"13:l1tlY
ol tns AoPuolic ot Cuoa ano tna pt€v€ntlon ot a world '
i, !-r -ar.6,^aa-i ri-...aa .,a ra..a,- ^r 5 ^-^^r-.-.r^ wat, ttnlnr tnal tno total outcome ol tnas t3cxontng. o, lrlts com-'.'and gov€rnrnent ligures,.rre l€a6o,s o, a peopro wno .:::'_'-l':'-''_I::-:'J:::.::: -"'--'--:-'r"':" e! "!r
know €v€tyrhing ano can't readily cornprsn€no au-inai-rr panson ls porteclry cloar'
rnuslO€at *ir|r?neretors,vr€snouldma.Chilrnahoa6ol Naturally. ln d€lenoing Cuba aS vv6ll aS lho Othar SOClallSt'
p€opte ano tnen mo poopt€ wi[ lollow us ano respecl u3. caunlrios, w3 can't ,8lY on a u.s. govefnmenl Y3to. w€ nave
wo. yrslc,ing to tno ssnrtrnents prevailing among lna p6opt€, ao9P16-!-al6 will contrnue lo aooPi in lno tuluri all the maasutes
o ourserieiro Do carnco away Dy cenarn p"sgon.ii !;;Id; T,loss_ary P-:!1"l9-tf.1 f"-t-9"-l-o]":..no__b_uilo _.! _oY1]9::T'-:9
, f;ii" l]il'Jo"ornlnonr, rhon . -", co"r;ii-ro-;;;-r1-;i.; weapons 5usprlos. cuDa ls sttongorrnan svor. Evcn anuthe ols''
-- 5t.ii*J or Lir,cn mruon! ot peogtr wouto nay. oioo ano rh. mantllng o, tne ,ntsslle lnsrallattoos ygu wlll havr Powarlul I
wour6 havo pinned rhe Dramo oa rhe roeoors l6i riii weaPons lo lhrov D-acr tno^
!lo.TI:ol-11i.-]ltl::tl 1o 9n ln:-- ["9 ralen att tho nocsssary measur3s ro pr.venr rnar war ot .n.' -s-u-1.!n ]!"-t-p?t?::h:^s]o-t1u-!]1io^'.11.:] jl[llt31:?!-v|:,:lj!rocall..w€ navs saact ln our m€ssago lo ths Proslc,Enr of thE unlteo
- frwonrins rh€ y,ar ano an anacr on cuDa oeponoed nor iusr on l-'1,1t 3.1oo 9!lg?:1^28t,lil^1t ll?_11l:-l]t1:€ _*tll lo-.a:-t:l1 '
msasuros aoopt€o oy our govsrnrnonts out orro oi.n.iiiila]. tho
91bln
p€o9ls lhat we stancl al tn€if stda anct rrc wall not ,org€t
r acrions or rho 6nemy torcos daeroyeo nsaryou. rccJronOi. .o:-l l8-.s!:":'-biry l1Tlp-'l:-c-":1?::?1t:]lt=--t]Tj t-"-i.?1-'o-1t
:
ov.ratl sttuation nao ro D3 constd€rao tnat tnts 13 3n orugrnoly ssrious warnrng to tho onomy on our pa& ':
todilion, tn€ro aro opioions lnat you anc, w3, as thry say, lalled. You als_o staloO ouring tno ralliBs liat lhB unilgo stalas can'l Da ':
tnqao€ ln consulla$ons concetnlng lhss€ quostlons Dotoro' ttu3t€6. That, ol counio. is corroct..w€ algo vlew Your $al3rn3nt3
rin{rne 6eciston xnownlo.you on lDe con6iuons o, lno lalks willl ih3 unlt8d slates as_corucl.i
tnls reason vrc beli€vs tnat we cgnsulted with you, doar Com. Tnl snooung oown of a U.S. ptano ov€t CuDa lurnso out to D.a a I
Fid{lt Casuo. rEcolving tho caDtes. eacn on3 mora alarmhg uss,ul.m8asurs bocausa rnis oporalron tncracl wllnoul compllca' t
,_ $J il;-;*il;t riniiri ioui caorc o, Ocrob., e7, sayrng you [ons. Ltt lt Uo r losson lo] tht rmptflalisls.
J nearty sanaln thlt ah anactr on cuoe wout6 be launcnlo. You N€eolors-lo say. our Enomrgs wtu inlolPrEl lh€ svents ln lnllr own
rro ii was morory a qu€$lon ot tlma. that lha anecl would way. The Cuban counlstlovolutlon will also tlY to rals€ lts hoaA
2tacE wrlnln tn3-n€rt 21 ot 72 hourS. UPon rocslvhg tnis But.wu lnink you wafl comPl€toly oolirnale Your oomesilc onefnl!3
Srng caota |rom yorl 3n6 awara ol your couragg, wo vi€w86 il wthoutouf assistanco. The rnaan tnng wt hava soculao l3 Pt.Yailr.-
uJ rory wrlJounoad anrm. ing aggrtsslon on tno pan o, yout lotelgn snsmY al Pr.3snL
b I$f 'his consu[arion on your pan wih u3? I hav€ viewgo this Wo teel that lno aggrassor came oul lhe loset Xe maoi irepanr'
.5 a signal o, ortrarne atatnl un6er lha conoilions cfeala6.' tlons to anacl cuDa but we sloPPoo hlm ano loreSo hlm to roc09..
Ey '. i-Do.rho in mlnct tno inormalion that lhc untDtlad rumonger- nEB bororo wortcl puolic opanlon lnal na won'l clo lt at lno currsnt
e 'f[ioue oi U.S. railitartsrs wanroo ri Utr aOyanl.gt o, lhs satu& srag.. We viry rhas as a gr8Ert vlciory. Tha lnporldlsts. ol courst.
- I flfrar'nad bcan crsilso an6 hrrncn. an snecl on cuba. lt wl will nol slog rnoir stru991o again$ communBnl. But wr slgo iavr
our consu[a$on3. wa woulo nava wasted tmo ano our pl3ns anct wo are gging lo aOopl osr moasures. ThF proc3ss
t*f'anecx wouo nayc ocen earil€ oul. ot slruggl3 wlll continuo as long as lnsrr aro two PoLllcal .nc, so.
I*1il.",I;.';;;;;;Iiioilro"rcaic mssirlr ',n
c,;l ciu-iviroms in rho wotro. unrd ono o, rno83
- and.wr know r will
.tro an omrnou3 lorcs lor lha imptri.tists:-lnEy w.r! trlgil3nad I Uo our gomrhunisl systom
- wins a,lo trlumPns tn ougnou tna'
LDoca,Jso or rno.r toar rnar our rocrars ccrurct Do uuncn6o. ,6* l' woll{!. '
,-* haye da33o to nqul€ata |n.!n oy DomoitlE tnem of iauninrni I comraoo Fi6€l caslto. I havc ooci0.6 lo c.no thls rcply to You
Itrras,on ol-CrOa-eno I must 5o satO th-ot mey cou16 ntril .es soon as possrblo. A rnorB dEtallocl analy3lE d svttythhg that
,h"o lnem att ori Theretoro. I r8p.at. you, atarm *as aosoturo.l n"a hapPonso witl Do maoo in tho lollst r[ s.ao you snonry. ln lnar
fif>rounooc
--
=J
lonlrlwdlmakslne Dtoao€slatlY-sts,o!jn-..:ltP!t9L.T69lY0you
SUna lo tna conctu3ioo thal osr Slrltrgic mssil!3 in cuDa I clSl Sysloms in lho wotl6. untd ono o, ln3s3
-
anEl.wl know ll rYill
tlo an omrnou3 lorcE lor lha imptri.tists:-hEy w.t! trlgil3nad I Uo our gomrhunisl systom
-
wins a,lO trlumPns tn ougnou tna
t
ol rno.r loar lnil olJl rocr3ls cErulct Do Uuncno6, lno'/ l' wodd.
ceEla o, Octooor tl yOu proposid lhat rri Or rna lfSffi my ovsluallon ol tne odcom. ol tnt enO ol lho conllicL
rvr livoo hrouEh ma. mdg totious tnom.nl when a'nGiear ild"-,n"-iii,it-Vi". *""-*i;;p, ilil;;;;rli-noirisory ro
war coulo havo b(oton ost. obviougty. in lnal c33o'. lno oiTaruro rh.Ei a^d contflDuro to lnc slrenotnonino anct oryalop.rar coulo havo b(olon ost. govlougly. m lnal Ealo: lno oaiaryzo lne,n anct coilnouto to lnr slreng|nontng and oaralop-
Staros urouto hov! suslano6 hugo lgsreg. Dul th. Sovr€l iro,'u'ol .no Cuoan Rovolurlon
ano rno wnoro locror.t,:..-1?:?.:::.,it^,::1T.,:r,,:":..: A-.-_.-.: .^-- 3-
TIil;.;;, ocrooor 27 youproposid rh.r wi or rna trsffi my-ovauarton ot tne odcomc ot ino eno ol rho conllicL
h .lin a nuctoa, strihr egeanSt lno rcrrilory ol lno 0n0my. You. of Il No{. .3 rhe raks to !.il|o rho conllict Eor unclotw.y. I ltl you tc
r If. roalzo whoro lnat woulO havo ls4 llalher lhan a simPlo t sonO ,no your consrooralion:. For our Pan. wr wlll conllnuo to
cD, I wouE nayt DOon tno Slan o, a lnermonuclsar worlct war. f, ropon to you on rno ooyoloPmonl ol lnos. lalk3 eno makt lll
.-- lsuo.-l consoar.rhs-prot nrests"y con3ultatrons'
J wirt no c,ouot
*B'l-'ffiff"'".1"".?:,::t';ffiH:'ol'Ji,.lJ"*'l 1:i:y ...#';lHT..'r"*:. ,'fiT11"1".,:llsiil'fi,'?1,,,., you. our
As,o, os CuOa ts conco.noo. il woul6 Oo Ot,ticull lo saY Octooerlo, l3O? J
gcaaril lorms wnil tnrs woulo nava moEnl lof lnorn' ln lna

4. iavana Q'Ct )l
oc:cgo, ll ,r962
Mr. Nrilla S. (rrrusng:rev
Pntna Mrntsler ol lna Sovrat Unron
usse
oery Comraoo Khrusilciev:
r rocoryoo you, :enor ot oc:ooe-ijolYou'un6st-
-
stano inar wo rnoeoo wgto congun66 b€tore you
aocDtoo tn6 ogclslon lo wrthoraw lne sltaloglc"
mtssrrs!. You oase youtsolt on tng alatmlng nsrvs
rnar you say rsacnoO you lrom c.JOa ano. linalry,
nry caors ol Octoo€r 27. I oon't hnow wnal nows
7ou (oggrvoo: I can onry raspond lor lne m€ssagB
lnar I Sonr you inE evenrng or ocioo8, 26. .wrucn
roacnoo you rne 27tn
whal w€ olo in ln9 ,ace o, tne events, com-
raoa Khrusngnoy, was lo groparo ourserye! and
got roasy to tignr. tn csoa inoro was onry ona
ilno o, ararm. lnat o, bSulo slatlons.
Wh.n in our optnion tne lrnp€rialrst anact( Dg.
carno rmmrn€nt I c'€omeo i] approprlalo to 50
aovrs8 you' ano aten ootn tno Sovret govern-'
mgil ano cornnrano
- slncE tnero wore Sovlgl
lorcas ccrnrntn€o lO ,lgil at out sloe lo oerono
lno R€puollc ol CuDa trom loroign aggrosston
- aDout lne posslbllity ol .an auack wnlcn we
coulo nol pfovont bul goulcl r€sist.
I torO you nat tha morat€ ot our paopls was
, yory nrgn ano rhat thc aggrosston woulcl be
hsrorcalry roslslBo. Al.lng.€no o, ln9 ,nessag€ I
rorlorateo lo you lnat ryg awaiteo tne ey3nts
cal,nlY,
o.rEor coulon1 lmpress us. ,or danger hai D€on
hanghg cn or our'counol.lq a long llrns noiv .ar.6
ln a canan way we have Itovrn us€O lo lL
Tho sovi€t.lroogs wnicll hav€ bo€a ar our sioo
know now aomlraolo lho slano ol ouf paoptg
w!! tnfougnout rnis crisls and tn3 prorouno
brornsmooo tnar was cr8alecl among tne rroogs
,rom Doln pEoprgs 6urtng tns 0ocrsive nours.
Couillass cy€S of CuOan ano Sovret men wno
wero wrlllng rO OIO wrtn Supramo Oignity Sna6
loars upon lsefnlng aoout tno surpnsing. suo.
'oon ano pfectlcllly unconoilionat oactsion to
wllnoraw rnc wsaPons.
Pemaps you gon't hnow ihe o€grso lo whlch
rho Cuoan 9eopl6 was raacty to oo its cluty
lowero tna na[on ano nurnantty.
I ,salllgd whon I wrota lna,n thal th€ wg?ds.
codalnoo |n my lenor cosl6 bt mis'rnterpretcd
Dy you anc' that wls what happenoct. gorhaps
blcauso you OlOn'l roao tn.rn caretutly. per.
hap! Docauso of tna t,rnstarion. pornagS Do.'
causa I mrant to 3ay 30 mucn in too lew linas.
Howsvar. I olonl nts[at3 lo-oo ll. Oo you
Dolevr. ComraOO Khrushcnoy; lhat wo wor! s.t.
lisnty nrnnng of €riiulves. o, ou, goaeross
plopla wlllng to $crirlca th.rnsop.s. and nq
il a{ ln rn uncoriscEius mennof Dul lully rs.
sufod d ln. fEI uray srn?
wrln rno rnsano poool€ wno uni;asnec ln€ warl
You yoursutl nave 5at6 inut un6ur curronl gon-
OrllOnS Sugi a Y{at woul6 rnovllaory ilav8 SSCa-
laloo ClulCXlY rnlo a nucloar wal.
fiunoofstano lnat onca aggrgssion ls un-
j roasnBo. ono snoulon'l ccncac€ lo tno aggres-
I r.or tne Dilvrleg8 cl oecro,ng. :notgovef, wnen ro '
uso nuclsa' weagons. ;n€ oostrscilvo powa, ol
lnrs woaoonry ls so g,oat 3no int 50006 ol lls
"''6€liysr./ so gteal lnal tne agstossor woulct haye
a ccnstoeraolg tnrtlat aovantage.
An6 I 6io nor suggosl ro youl Comrado
Khrusncisv. rhat rno USSa snouro bo tne ag-
gfossor, Socauso tnat woulc u8 moro lhan n.
corrgcl. tt wouto 0€ rmmoral 3no ccilornptibto
on ,ny 3an, 8ut ,torn tno nslanr tne rmp€nalisls
allacx Csoa and .wnrlo rh€to 0r! Sovrgt armeo
'
lorcos srartonoo in cuoa lo n8t0 rn osr ooronse
ln cas€ ol an arracr trorD aoroao, 1ne lm-
porrarlsts rroulo oy tnts 3cl oocome aggressors
agarnsr cuoa ano agarnsr rno ussA. ano w3
woulo .o8poncl wrtn a slrrle tnSl wouao annht-
Ere rnem.
Everyone nas nts gw'r opmtons an6 I maintain
rnrn8 aDout rno gang8fousnass ot tne aggros-
srvo clrclos n trie Pentagon ano ihntr prglar{rncg
,or a prgvonrNo stni8. I oicl not suggost. com-'
rac,€ Khrusncnav. tnat in lne mtost ot this cflsis
tn€ soviBt unron snoutd attacx. srnlcn rs wnar J
your isnor ssgms to say; ratnor, _tnat tottowlng I
an impertalisr artack. tho USSe snould acr i
wrthout vaciflarlon ano snoukl nover make lne i
mislaho o, a[gwng Crcum:slulcos to Oovobp in ,
wnlcn tho onomy rnat€s lr.a iirst nuctoar srito ,i
againsl tn6 USSa. And n rnE sensa. Cornraoe i!
Khrusnchev, I malnlain rny polfi ot vraw. Docausg
I I unoorslano ll lo oo a Iruo ano jus ovrtuolion ot
I a sp€cilic srruarion. You rnry D0 aotr to con.
vlnce m€ lnat I am wrong. Oul you canl ta[ mo
I lnal I am wrong wrthoul convrnsing mo.
tlrnow rnat lms is a oolicato l3su8 riar can onry
. o€ broac:'r8o in qtcumstancas suc;l at th€s6
an6 in a YetY porson.t fnessagr.
You may wono€r rynal ngnt I i1!v9 to lroach
lhts toprc. I oo so wrrnoul worryrng 6oout now
tnorny il iS, lollorrng rno Otc:arss ol my COn-
sct8ncS as a tovorultonaty oury and rasoi,so Dy
ln€ mosl unsetlisn gBntirnents ol acrnrrauon ano
anac:ton lo, lng USSa. ior wnal sno repr€sents
' to, lhe luturo of hurnanrty ano Dy ina coacorn
lnat sn8 snoulct nsvar agan Ds tn. vacSlm 0, tn3
pofrloy and Delrayil ot eggra3sors, 8s sng wils
ln 1941. ano wntcn cosl so meriy tiv.s anct so
,nucn oaslrudlon. Mortorr.r. I sgoha not 13 a
. rrouolornahor Dut i3 a cornDetant rom lno ,tlost
onoSngrroo rr€ncnas,
. I Oo not sco now you can sltta tnat wa wgao
corlsullro in tne oocrsbn yos look.
I woulo lila notnang morc [len to Do provgg
wrong at tnB momrnt. I only wtsn tnat you wara
,ignL
ThrrB atc not iusl a low Cuoaos, as ltas boon
r€ponoo ro you. Dut in lact ,nany cuoans who
aro orporioncing at this momonr unspearaole
battornoss ano saonoss.
Tho arnoortortsls a,a ldklng onco aEah o, ln.
vaOlng Out Counlry. wnrcn lS grool Ol now
g9narnorat 3n6 untruslwonny tnor, pro,ntsos
arc. Our peogt€. noEove?. rnorntarn lnair ln.
oOSlruC:lDlO rvrll lO rosi3t tna aggrOSSO,s anct.
porneps rnor9 than evor nocct lo lrust rtl thofir-
selvos an6 in rnet wtll to Stfsgglo.
wo wo slruggto aoorlst acrvarse ci cirm3tancos.
w! il[ ovorco.no lno curroil gdlic'Jtto3 an6 wo
wrll co.na out ithoilo. itno nornang ctn gostroy tno
taas Ol lrioa6gnlp ano lno olornd gratrluOo wO
taot lowaro lna USSR.
Fratornatty.
No. Comraoe firuslrcnsv. Fd rinrss n nfifory,
an6 it goulg evon El sal(l 'rrra n€vcr oeloro. be.
I causr no poopro na6 ovof lacao sucn a lram€n.
I oous ourgor, *as r peopte so *illlng to ,ignt and
l. ob wm suci a untvofsll sonse o, ouly.-"
lr{o tnow. and oo{rol prssumo tnar we lgnorod
il, tnat we wou6 nayo De€n anninililoo. a3 you
in$nualo ln your lo[ot. an tne €vonl ol nuctaa,
war. Howrvar. rn83 oionl pro,npr u3 ro asl you
ro wlrlEraw lha mB$lo!. tnil oicrnl ptornpt u3
lo r3I you ro ylolo. oo you Dotlovo tnet wo
I w!il.6 tnal urar? 8ut how coulO wo prevaot ll ll '
lhr lnvlslon ,inally look ptaco? in! laA i3 tnat .
!lhls avaat wos posslblo, lntt lmpoflalism wa3
ioBlllucung ovoty solulaon and lnal lts oomanos
u.ra. t orn ou, Ootil gt vrow. lrnposstoto ,or tno
USSe .no Cuo. ro accopr.
Aod i, vrar nld hrokr.t orir '.'r"