403. Letter From the Ambassador in Cuba (Bonsal) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom)

Havana, December 2, 1959.

DEAR DICK: I have your letter of November 20 enclosing a copy of the "paper on revised policy". I will not comment on this until I see you next week. Generally speaking, I fully recognize the critical stage of our relations with Cuba. The efforts of our Government to create an atmosphere of good will and good faith have certainly not found an echo.

The situation is, however, fraught with all sorts of dangers which perhaps we on the spot may tend to exaggerate. I still have a vivid memory, as I am sure you do, of the "Morgan conspiracy" of last August. There is nothing Castro would like better than to get us out on a limb through a double agent of some kind. I am perhaps over suspicious, but I sometimes think that our friend Rufo Lopez Fresquet may be such an agent. I am glad that you use the word "step-by-step" in the paper, as I think that we must avoid getting our Government out in front of developments.

I have decided, on the basis of recent changes, to drop my policy of paying calls on newly appointed Cabinet Ministers and other high officials.

It was a pleasure to see John Hill and I found my exchange of views with him most useful.

With cordial regards and looking forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely yours,

Phil