Roger Robert du Gardier, French Ambassador in Havana, to Maurice Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister, Telegram number 538-540

Telegram number 538-540¹

23 October 1962

While announcing, in big headlines, that the nation is ready for war, and that the Prime Minister will speak to the nation tonight, the morning newspapers have not published any in-depth commentary on the speech given last night by M. Kennedy.

On the radio, the propaganda specialists relied on their usual blustering when referring to the speech in question, but they have certainly not received the necessary guidelines to develop new propaganda themes on this subject.

The lower cadres of the revolution seem preoccupied and worried.

As early as 5 pm yesterday – before the broadcast of President Kennedy’s speech – the reserve militias had been mobilized and all the defense posts on the island had received maximum reinforcement.

On the opposition side – or at least the few people who dare to claim to be – the declaration of the American President caused a strong feeling of relief.

Mixed with this, however, is a certain anxiety due to the likely harsh police measures or precautionary measures that will undoubtedly be taken against all of those who have not taken an active part in the regime’s demonstrations.

For the moment, the population remains calm as a whole and traffic is normal in the capital.

[1] This telegram was forwarded to Washington and New York.