40. Editorial Note

On March 17, the Cuban Government presented to the Embassy in Havana a note formally protesting the delay in the shipment of the M‑1 rifles for the Cuban Army. The Embassy transmitted the text of the note to the Department of State under cover of despatch 740, March 18. The despatch reads in part as follows:

"The Embassy feels that, as the memorandum points out, the news of the 'delay' in the shipments will encourage the rebels, and will have unfavorable results for the Cuban Government. Continued suspension of arms shipments at this critical juncture in Cuban affairs would weaken the Cuban Government and possibly lead to its downfall, probably with attendant violence and risk to American lives and property. The Embassy is not aware of the details of the legal questions involved in the suspension of the shipments. However, the position of the Cuban Government that the purchases constitute firm contractual obligations on which payment has already been made seems to us to merit serious consideration by the Department." (Department of State, Central Files, 737.56/3‑1858)

On March 18, Ambassador Miguel Angel Campa met with William P Snow and William Wieland to protest the suspension of the shipment of the rifles. A memorandum of that conversation, drafted by Wieland, is ibid., CCA Files: Lot 70 D 149, Arms.