Washington’s position towards post-revolutionary Cuba (early 1959).

Kateryna Kasatkina, post-graduate student, Zaporizhzhya National University.

Abstract

 The article attempts to analyze the official Washington`s attitude towards the post-revolutionary Cuba in the first months of the 1959. Generally, the Cuban revolutionary events of 1953-1959 which greatly influenced the American perception of the new Cuban government have been described. Main issues threatening the restoration of the U.S.-Cuban relations in the period investigated have been analyzed. The role of diplomatic factors as foreign policy instruments has been considered. The analytical work of the American diplomats on establishing of effective cooperation between Washington and Havana in the first months of the 1959 has been described. The F. Castro`s role in the capacity of a leader of the Cuban revolutionary movement, as well as the motive forces in further American-Cuban relations have been unfolded.

It is concluded that the official Washington’s position towards the post-revolutionary Cuba in the first months of the 1959 may be characterized as a “wait and see” strategy. However, in general, the United States’ commitment to the traditional paternalistic approaches in the American policy towards Cuba has had some negative effect upon the establishment of a dialogue with the new Cuban government. Therefore, in the first months after the Cuban Revolution, two countries have failed to reach mutual understanding.

Key words: United States, Cuba, Cuban Revolution, diplomacy, F. Castro.

Full text
PDF

References

  1. DOMINGUEZ, E. (2008) United States – Cuban Relations: A Critical History. Plymouth: Lexington Books.
  2. PEREZ, L. (2003) Cuba and the United States: Ties of Singular Intimacy. Athens: The University of Georgia Press.
  3. SANZ, D. (2009) Cuba at a Crossroads the New American Strategy. Charleston: BookSurge Publishing.
  4. LIEVESLEY, G. (2004) The Cuban Revolution: Past, Present and Future. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  5. SCHOULTZ, L. (2009) That Infernal Little Cuban Republic: The United States and the Cuban Revolution. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
  6. BONSAL, P. (1971) Cuba, Castro, and the United States. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.
  7. THOMAS, H. (1978) The U.S. and Castro, 1959 – 1962 American Heritage. [Online] Available from: http://www.americanheritage.com/content/us-and-castro-1959%E2%80%931962?page=show [Accessed: 21th June 2017].
  8. MILITARY ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT. MARCH 7, 1952 (2013) Treaties in Force. A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States in Force on January 1, 2013. Washington: United States Government Printing.
  9. USA. THE CENTRAL INTELLIGANCE AGENCY (1954) Explosive State of Cuba. Batista`s position. Strength of opposition/Boom in Venezuela. Evidence of Dictatorship. Army Power. Construction of public Works. Standart of Living. Cuba. Venezuela. Information Report. Sept-Oct. The Central Intelligence Agency. Official website of the Central Intelligence Agency [Online]. Available from: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83-00423R002000160008-4.pdf [Accessed: 27th August 2017].
  10. MEMORANDUM FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE PRESIDENT (1959) Eisenhower Library, Project «Clean Up» Records, Cuba. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d217 [Accessed: 3th August 2017].
  11. WHITE HOUSE SPESIAL STAFF NOTE. WASHINGTON (1959) Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d224 [Accessed: 3th August 2017].
  12. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Despatch from the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of, State Havana, January 19, 1959. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_370 [Accessed: 20th October 2017].
  13. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Letter from the Council at Santiago de Cuba (Wollam) to the Deputy Director of the Office of Carribean and Mexican Affairs (Little) Santiago de Cuba, January 19, 1959. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_372 [Accessed: 19th October 2017].
  14. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Telegram from the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of, State, Havana, January 20, 1959. 5 p.m. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_377 [Accessed: 20th October 2017].
  15. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Editorial Note. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_382 [Accessed: 30th October 2017].
  16. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation between the President and Secretary of State. Washington, January 9, 1959, 2:56 p.m. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_349 [Accessed: 27th October 2017].
  17. LEOGRANDE, W. (2015) Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
  18. BENJAMIN, J. (1989) Interpreting the U.S. Reaction to the Cuban Revolution, 1959-1960 Cuban Studies. 19. P. 145-165.
  19. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Telegram from the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of, State, Havana, February 5, 1959—11 a.m. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_395 [Accessed: 20th October 2017].
  20. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubbotom) to the Acting Secretary of State. Washington, March 12, 1959. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_428 [Accessed: 22th October 2017].
  21. LANDA, R. (ed.) (1991) Memorandum of Discussion at the 432D Meeting of the National Security Council. Washington, January 14, 1960, 9 a.m. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba. VI. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available from: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/pg_742 [Accessed: 20th October 2017].

DOI http://doi.org/10.17721/2521-1706.2018.05.169-179