CUBAN APPROACH TO NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER TAD SZULC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-18-3-40-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: November 19, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

C, URITY COUNCIL [Outside
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. Tc1'SINGER
Ir
Novem.ber 197...12
FROM: _. _J11, , f '/rte
r .,, ,?G , ~uln Ames Reporter
Tad Szulc
I have been informed by Bob Hurwitch, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Inter-American Affairs, that Tad Szulc ofT'he New York Times called
State Department press man, Bob McCloskey, and related the following
last week;
Szulo was asked by the Nos. 2 and 3 men at the Cuban UN Mission,
during a luncheon conversation, whether he would like to play the
"role of John Scalip' in bringing about a normalization of relations
between Cuba and the United States. Szulc laughed off the idea,
but the Cubans returned to it later and invited him to come to Cuba.
Szulc told them he could not come to Cuba before the beginning of
tiext year, and they said that would be fine. Szulc reportedly will
see the Cubans again at another social occasion soon, and they led
him to believe that this matter would be raised again.
Hurwitch told me he would be briefing John Irwin on the story yesterday. He
noted that it was interesting that Szulc called McCloskey rather than sub-
stantive people in ARA, with whom he has good contacts. Hurwitch believes
Szulc was showing some sensitivity in not trying to put substantive officers
on the spot for some kind of reaction.
There have been several other indications that the Cubans m ht be interested
in seeking improved relations with the U. S.
Moreover, State Depaxtmen
people who have talked with the Swiss and Belgian Ambassadors to Cuba tell
rrie that they believe Castro is interested in finding a way to improve relations
with the U. S. (The British Ambassador, however, recently commented that
he did not believe Castro wanted to or could afford to improve relations with
the United States, since it would undercut his use of an external scapegoat and'.
his revolutionary mystique )
SECRET/EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/22: LOC-HAK-18-3-40-4
INIA 10 w .
 5ECR No,Objecl on tofDecl_ ification in Part 2010/12/22: LOC-HAK-18-3-40-4
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I think it is also worth noting that the reportedly Cuban approach to Tad Szulc
came shortly after Kosygin's visi t to Cuba. (I have not discussed the Soviet
aspect with -Ial Sonnenfeldt, but will do so if you wish.) It is conceivable that:
(a) Kosygin pushed Castro to try to improve relations with the U. S. as a way
to emerge from economic stagnation and reduce the Soviet financial burden
of sustaining an unviable economy; or (b) Castro was not persuaded that the
Soviets would not sell Cuba out when President Nixon visits Moscow, and that
therefore he is seeking some maneuvering room for himself before then. It
is also interesting to. note that the reported approach comes at a time when
Castro is visiting Chile, may stop over in Peru and Ecuador on his way back,
and has announced that he will be making a series of visits to Eastern Europe.
Castro probably feels that the conditions are right for Cuba to break out of its
isolation.
NSSM 32, which was prepared in 1969 and then put on the shelf. This would
create quite a bit of attention in the bureaucracy, however, and would further
fuel expectations among the Latins that we are contemplating a change in policy.
You might want to consider ,(as Pete Vaky suggested a year ago) therefore a
very low visibility study conducted by a small ad hoc group.
With regard to Szulc, Hurwitch proposes that we say nothing further to him,
but see what, if anything, the Cubans do to pursue the initial approach. I
believe that is correct, but I will, of course convey any other views that
you might have. You may wish to discuss this with Irwin. We have not had
a recent policy review on Cuba, as you know. We could attempt to update
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/22: LOC-HAK-18-3-40-4