Telegram from Swiss Foreign Ministry to Swiss Embassy in Havana (Stadelhofer)

p.b.73.Cuba.o.(U’Ch.) – PO

Original to: [Handwritten:] CD [handwritten letters illegible]

Copy also to: [Handwritten:] 152, 113

Telegram no.50

26.10.1962 11h00

Embassy of Switzerland

Havana

Flash: Secret. – For Ambassador Stadelhofer.

Your 34 and 35. Yesterday, the Cuban Ambassador [José Ruiz Velasco] brought a written statement from his government concerning the US blockade measures to the Head of Department. Following, the most important parts:

“Cuban government condemns the naval and aerial blockade, it considers it a criminal act that infringes on human rights and violates the charter of the United Nations. Letting you know that people are willing to give their life to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the homeland. Paragraph. In these times, when the United States pose more than ever a threat of war to Cuba, government solemnly declares that it desires peace and is always willing to negotiate any dispute by peaceful means as long as they do not damage its sovereignty. Paragraph. All the people must know that the reckless acts decreed by the United States against Cuba and free navigation in jurisdictional waters of a country that is not in a state [of] war is a flagrant [act of] piracy and represent one of the most dangerous steps to triggering nuclear war.”

Particularly the second paragraph might be of interest to you and might possibly also offer a connection for conversation with Fidel Castro.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Copy to: - Mr. Minister Burckhardt

                        - Mr. Minister Bindschedler

A .2503