October 26, 1962
Cable from Dutch Foreign Minister Joseph Luns, The Hague, to Dutch Embassy, London, 26 October 1962
This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation
REFERENCE No. 7355
DATE OF DISPATCH: 26 October 1962
FROM: Min[ister]. o[f]. F[oreign].A[ffairs]
ORIGINAL INITIALED BY: tb [not further identified]
TO: London
SECRET
On the 23rd of this month the British temporary envoy handed the interim minister of foreign affairs a personal letter from [UK Foreign Secretary] Lord [Alec Douglas-]Home to me, the text of which, with salutations left out, follows below “you will have heard what the president said to the public about Cuba, and received a report of what passed in the North Atlantic Council. I would be most grateful if you would let me know your thoughts. We shall, of course, do what we can to give support to the United States in the [UN] Security Council. At the same time, there may be repercussions not only in the Caribbean, but also in Europe and elsewhere. We must surely keep in the closest touch when we see the Soviet government’s reaction.”
After returning from vacation I took note of this letter today the 26th of this month upon which I sent the following reply to Lord Home via the British embassy here.
“Thank you very much for your message of October 23rd. I agree with you that the government of the United States must be supported in its policy to prevent the Soviet Union from turning Cuba into an offensive military base. We intend to show understanding with regard to measures taken for this purpose. At the same time I agree with you that developments must be watched closely on account of repercussions which they might have elsewhere and of possible consequences for the North Atlantic alliance. I welcome your suggestion that we keep in the closest touch.”
Luns 134.
This cable from Foreign Minister Luns refers to a personal letter received from British Foreign Minister Lord Home, regarding the stance of the United Kingdom in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The letter is one encouraging support to the United States at the UN Security Council, and that such a crisis would have repurcussions not only for the Caribbean but for Europe as well. Luns later sent a reply of thanks, indicating continuing solidarity with the Western World and promises to keep in closer touch with the British.
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