December 2, 1961
Top Secret Bulgarian Politburo Resolution on Arms Delivery to Cuba
BCP POLITBURO Secret Resolution on Arms Delivery to Cuba, 2 December 1961
Top secret
Copy No…
DECISION “B” No 15
of CC BCP Politburo
2.12.1961
To: CC BCP Secretary General
Comrade Todor Zhivkov
R E P O R T
by GEORGI KUMBILIEV
Minister of Foreign Trade
Re: German rifles and a loan to the Republic of Cuba
COMRADE ZHIVKOV,
On 22 November 1961 comrade Manuel Lopez, representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba visited our country and made additional clarifications on the following demands that we have received on behalf of the Cuban Party:
1. The requested 50 000 pcs. Mauser carbines – German model, cal. 7.92 are not to be used by the Cubans, but for the needs of the revolutionary movements in the Latin American states. He stated that Cuba relies on our help for the execution of this undertaking and the required quantity of carbines should be delivered free of charge in a Cuban port.
2. Taking into consideration the country's enormous defense expenses and serious financial difficulties, comrade Lopes requested a loan for a 5-year period in order to purchase our special equipment. He clarified that there is a mistake made in their initial request for “deferred payment until 1963”. He also informed us that the loan request is separate from the September 1961 contract for export of special equipment in 1962.
The Cuban request for Mauser rifles could be satisfied up to 35,000 pcs., the value of which amounts to about 400,000 USD. They can be taken from the 50,000 Mauser carbines that have been decommissioned by the Ministry of National Defense and are granted to the Ministry of Foreign Commerce for export in 1962 to the underdeveloped capitalist countries.
As of 1 October 1961, we are in a contractual agreement with the Republic of Cuba for the export of special equipment worth 7,130,000 USD . As a result of the initial agreement with the Cubans, it is expected that an additional quantity of special equipment will be bought, valued at approximately 2,000,000 USD. From the stipulated amount, the credit part shall represent about 1,500,000 USD, two-thirds of which will be given under a 5 year term, starting 1 January 1963.
Considering the above-mentioned,
I PROPOSE:
1. 35,000 Mauser rifles, decommissioned by the Ministry of National Defense and submitted for export to the Ministry of Foreign Commerce, to be granted to the Republic of Cuba.
2. To allow the government delegation negotiating the protocol for export of special equipment to the Republic of Cuba to extend a loan of 1,500,000 USD for a 5- year term, starting 1 January 1963.
I ask you for your instructions.
MINISTER:
/G. Kumbiliev/
2.12.1961
[Translated by Vanja Petkova, Edited by Dr. Rositza Ishpekova, Kalin Kanchev]
Top secret
Copy No…
DECISION “B” No 15
of CC BCP Politburo
2.12.1961
To: CC BCP Secretary General
Comrade Todor Zhivkov
R E P O R T
by GEORGI KUMBILIEV
Minister of Foreign Trade
Re: German rifles and a loan to the Republic of Cuba
COMRADE ZHIVKOV,
On 22 November 1961 comrade Manuel Lopez, representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba visited our country and made additional clarifications on the following demands that we have received on behalf of the Cuban Party:
1. The requested 50 000 pcs. Mauser carbines – German model, cal. 7.92 are not to be used by the Cubans, but for the needs of the revolutionary movements in the Latin American states. He stated that Cuba relies on our help for the execution of this undertaking and the required quantity of carbines should be delivered free of charge in a Cuban port.
2. Taking into consideration the country's enormous defense expenses and serious financial difficulties, comrade Lopes requested a loan for a 5-year period in order to purchase our special equipment. He clarified that there is a mistake made in their initial request for “deferred payment until 1963”. He also informed us that the loan request is separate from the September 1961 contract for export of special equipment in 1962.
The Cuban request for Mauser rifles could be satisfied up to 35,000 pcs., the value of which amounts to about 400,000 USD. They can be taken from the 50,000 Mauser carbines that have been decommissioned by the Ministry of National Defense and are granted to the Ministry of Foreign Commerce for export in 1962 to the underdeveloped capitalist countries.
As of 1 October 1961, we are in a contractual agreement with the Republic of Cuba for the export of special equipment worth 7,130,000 USD . As a result of the initial agreement with the Cubans, it is expected that an additional quantity of special equipment will be bought, valued at approximately 2,000,000 USD. From the stipulated amount, the credit part shall represent about 1,500,000 USD, two-thirds of which will be given under a 5 year term, starting 1 January 1963.
Considering the above-mentioned,
I PROPOSE:
1. 35,000 Mauser rifles, decommissioned by the Ministry of National Defense and submitted for export to the Ministry of Foreign Commerce, to be granted to the Republic of Cuba.
2. To allow the government delegation negotiating the protocol for export of special equipment to the Republic of Cuba to extend a loan of 1,500,000 USD for a 5- year term, starting 1 January 1963.
I ask you for your instructions.
MINISTER:
/G. Kumbiliev/
2.12.1961
[Translated by Vanja Petkova, Edited by Dr. Rositza Ishpekova, Kalin Kanchev]
A proposal from the Minister of Foreign Trade, G. Kambuliev, for the donation to Cuba of 35,000 automatic rifles, recently decommissioned by the Bulgarian military.
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Source
Central State Archive, Sofia, Fond 1-B, Record 64, File 291. Obtained by the Bulgarian Cold War Research Group.
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