711. Memorandum from Colonel Haig to Vance, October 21
SUBJECT
- Meeting of the National Security Council Standing Group
Purpose: Summarized below is a report of the deliberations of the National Security Council Standing Group during the meeting held on October 1, 1963. Debrief on the meeting was obtained through Mr. Nitze’s office.
1. Mr. FitzGerald of CIA presented an overall assessment of the situation in Cuba. This assessment emphasized recent reports [less than 1 line not declassified] that stepped-up operations against the Regime had resulted in great uneasiness and perhaps serious doubts about the response of the Soviet Union to forcefully support Castro against these activities.
2. [text not declassified]
3. The Group discussed CHICOM SAM equipment. Mr. McCone stated he believes that the CHICOMs have copied Soviet models of SAM equipment and do not necessarily have Soviet manufactured types.
[Facsimile Page 2]4. The Group discussed Castro’s posture in Latin America. There was a general consensus that his image has slumped considerably in recent months but conversely the Group agreed that his subversive activities had increased considerably. It was commented that Castro, in urging dissident action in Latin America, has done so without requiring any ideological standards among the action groups he is approaching.
5. CIA pointed out that Castro is apparently developing his own covert air force by which he will be able to introduce men, arms and matériel into Latin America. Mr. Nitze commented that our ability to combat such a Castro potential is limited and effective measures would be very expensive. General Goodpaster stated that the JCS and CIA will look into this matter.
6. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., was instructed to look into the feasibility of initiating additional pressures designed to prohibit free world [Typeset Page 1819] shipping to Cuba. The Group realized that the recent wheat agreement with Canada would degrade present effectiveness of this program.
7. Mr. Robert Kennedy raised the question of the estimated date of CHICOM nuclear testing. Mr. McCone stated that despite recent reports of an earlier test date, CIA still believes that such tests will not be held until next year. The Group then discussed the possibility of CHICOM nuclear assistance to Cuba. All agreed that this was possible.
[Here follows discussion unrelated to Cuba.]
9. Mr. Bundy emphasized that all ideas pertaining to Cuba should be reviewed and suggested that new ones be generated. At this point, General Goodpaster raised the question of introducing counterfeit [Facsimile Page 3] currency into Cuba and increasing introduction of arms into Cuba. (This subject was raised last summer by General Goodpaster and CIA was quite upset that General Goodpaster would make such a suggestion without having staffed the matter with them beforehand. Mr. Hand of General Lansdale’s office called the undersigned on October 2nd and stated that he was very concerned that General Goodpaster would again raise these two questions without having cleared them beforehand with Mr. Vance and without having a coordinated interdepartmental position available. Mr. Hand suggested that this be brought to your attention so that either you or Mr. Gilpatric could raise this item with General Goodpaster or the Chairman in an effort to prevent such occurrences in the future. There is apparently a strong feeling in CIA that General Goodpaster is trying to “dump work on that Agency which they have previously considered and which they feel would be of no value.”)
10. A USIA paper, reportedly addressing the subject of what a new Cuba should look like, was discussed by the Group and apparently criticized as inadequate. (I have called USIA and requested copies of this paper for this office and for Mr. Nitze.)
11. There was a general discussion of the feasibility of stepping-up the pace and intensity of sabotage operations against Cuba. It was agreed that this question would be left to the Special Group (5412/2).
12. The group discussed the price of world and Cuban sugar and it was agreed that the Cuban Coordinating Committee should look into this problem under its revised mission. (Mr. Nitze was not aware of the revised mission of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee of Cuban Affairs. The undersigned volunteered that the establishment of an Economic Subcommittee was probably the revised mission being referred to. This office is verifying this with State.)
- Meeting of the NSC Standing Group: the situation in Cuba. Top Secret. 3 pp. WNRC, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 330–77–131, Misc. 63, 64, 65.↩