Department of State Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: March 27, 1951
SUBJECT: Courtesy Call of Cuban Foreign Minister
PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Dr. Ernesto Dihigo - Cuban Foreign Minister Dr. Luis Machado - Cuban Ambassador Mr. Harvey R. Wellman - Cuba Desk Officer, MID
COPIES TO : S - U - ARA - Mr. Mann; Mr. Miller Amembassy, Habana (informally)
I received at 5:30 pm on March 27 Minister of State Dihigo and Ambassador Machado who were making a courtesy call upon me in connection with the presence in Washington of the Minister to attend the Fourth Meeting of Consultation of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics.
We commented briefly on the elections of officers of the conference committees. I took the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Dihigo upon his recent statement before leaders of the Cuban Congress in support of the request of the President of Cuba for authorization to send a battalion of Cuban troops to Korea. The Foreign Minister observed that his statement had been favorably received by the Cuban press and declared that it correctly represents the attitude of the President and Government of Cuba.
I remarked that I had recently written Ambassador Jessup expressing my sympathy for him in view of the dilatory tactics of the Soviet Foreign Minister, whereupon Dr. Dihigo recalled his experience in the United Nations and observed that it would be preferable to
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having the delegates of the Soviet satellites repeat the same arguments made by the Soviet representative, that it be understood that any Soviet statement was made on behalf not only of Soviet Russia but also all of the countries in the Soviet bloc.
Dr. Dihigo delivered to me a brief one-page memorandum regarding the sugar negotiations at Torquay, England, and made a suggestion for the facilitation of these negotiations. I stated that I tended to be favorably disposed toward any suggestion of Dr. Dihigo, and after ascertaining from Mr. Wellman that in his opinion the approach suggested might be feasible, requested Mr. Wellman to explore the possibility.
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