Office of the Historian

92. Summary of Conclusions of a Mini-Policy Review Committee Meeting1

Washington, April 22, 1980

Summary of Conclusions

1. Update on Cuban Refugee Problem. There are approximately 1400 Cubans left in the Peruvian compound, who for one reason or another, have rejected Castro’s offer for safe conduct. 8,000 have been documented and are currently awaiting in their homes for the evacuation, [Page 206] but Castro has suspended the flights to Costa Rica and insists that all flights should go directly to the place of final settlement.2 Castro is obviously concerned about the adverse publicity which has occurred in Costa Rica. Thus far, 324 asylees have gone to Peru, 40 to Spain and 353 remain in Costa Rica. (S)

2. The Boat Problem. Yesterday, Cuba’s official newspaper, GRANMA, implied that Cuban/Americans could bring their boats to Cuba to pick up the refugees. Two shrimp boats left Florida over the weekend and returned with 40 Cubans, and one or more boats have left today. The Mini-PRC addressed the problem of what to do if a flotilla of US boats go to Cuba, as they did in the mid-1960’s, and picked up Cuban refugees, perhaps more than the 10,800. (S)

3. US Objectives. The Mini-PRC agreed on the following objectives: (1) we should continue to seek the evacuation of all Cubans seeking asylum in the Peruvian Embassy safely and rapidly; (2) we should maintain maximum international concern and participation in the solution to this problem; we should avoid the outcome, desired by both Castro and the Cuban/American community, though for different reasons, of having this issue become a US-Cuban issue; and (3) we should adopt a policy which is wholly consistent with our refugee laws, and with our approach to the Haitian and other refugee problems. (S)

4. US Policy. The Mini-PRC agreed on the following steps:

(1) We would contact leaders of the Cuban/American community immediately, express our sympathy for their concerns, but urge them to use their influence to hold back the sending of any boats to Cuba. We will inform them that the transport of Cubans to the United States is a violation of US Immigration laws; as a felony, it could involve a fine, possible imprisonment and confiscation of vessel. (S)

(2) We will urgently consult with Costa Rica, Peru and the Andean Pact, the UN Secretary General, and other interested governments and urge them to bring maximum international pressure, public as well as private, on Castro to resume evacuation flights to Costa Rica as soon as possible. In addition, we will suggest to Costa Rica and Peru the idea of sending a large boat, preferably Latin American, but possibly US, to Cuba to pick up refugees being transported by these smaller boats, and bring them to Costa Rica. Such a vessel will be a deterrent to the small-scale flotilla, and will insure the possibility of using a third country staging area, i.e., Costa Rica. (S)

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(3) Wednesday, noon, State will issue an announcement which urges Cuba to resume the flights immediately,3 expresses sympathy with those who would like to shortcut the process, but informs them that support of the Cuban refugees by these smaller vessels is a violation of US law and is punishable by penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine of $2,000, and the forfeiture of the vessel.4 (S)

(4) The Coast Guard has been informed to seize any such vessels illegally bringing refugees to the United States. (S)

(5) We will meet again tomorrow to discuss the reactions of the Cuban/American community, to review the possibility of sending US ships, and to look into the potential costs of sending US vessels off Cuba.5 (S)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 9, Cuba, 12/79–4/80. A covering memorandum from Brzezinski to Carter states, “We are going to try to discourage as actively as we can the sending of boats by Cuban/Americans to pick up their compatriots in Cuba, and we intend to indicate that such actions on their part would constitute a felony.” Carter initialed the covering memorandum.↩
  2. Cuba announced the suspension of flights to Costa Rica on April 18. (“Cuba Bars Refugee Flights to Costa Rican Staging Area,” The New York Times, April 19, p. 6) See also Smith, The Closest of Enemies, pp. 209–210.↩
  3. In telegram 107544 to selected diplomatic posts, April 23, the Department requested Embassies to ask their host government to pressure the Cubans to resume the flights. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800202–0304)↩
  4. On April 23, a Department of State spokesman called for immediate suspension of the sealift and warned captains of private vessels that they could face fines or imprisonment. (Department of State Bulletin, June 1980, p. 68) The text of the statement was transmitted in telegram 107601 to all diplomatic and consular posts, April 23. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800202–0377)↩
  5. At the bottom of the page, Carter wrote: “ok. J.”↩