From the Journal of A.I. Alekseyev, 'Record of a Conversation with Fidel Castro, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, 15 January 1963'

Secret Copy Nº 1

22 March 1963

Outgoing Nº 48

from the journal of

A. I. ALEKSEYEV

RECORD OF A CONVERSATION

with Fidel CASTRO, Prime Minister

of the Republic of Cuba

15 January 1963

After the end of his speech at the final session of the Congress of Women of America Fidel Castro called me over and probably wanted to hear [my] opinion about the speech he had just made or to explain something. Inasmuch as Castro’s speech was clearly intemperate, inappropriate, and full of mysterious accusations against the fraternal Communist Parties, and was directed against the policy of peaceful coexistence, I consciously did not begin to comment on it, as I always have done, but asked Castro about his health in order to thereby stress my bewilderment at this speech. Castro begin to complain of [his] health, and said that after this speech tomorrow the entire American press will accuse him of openly subversive activity. To this comment [of] Castro]’s I] said that there is much mysterious in the speech and I did not understand everything, but I think that the Americans will not miss an opportunity to inflame anti-Cuban propaganda.

Then Castro said that we have not met in a long while, and asked [me] to come to him at home at any time. Taking advantage of the opportunity I introduced V. V. Kuznetsov who was in the room to F. Castro, and arranged to meet in the Presidential palace the next day, 16 January.

USSR AMBASSADOR IN THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA (A. ALEKSEYEV)