November 20 - November 21, 1962

With growing concern over the IL28 bombers and the remaining missiles, the US and its allies speculated whether the warheads were defensive or not (CDNW12686). Continued American surveillance revealed a buildup of Soviet troops in Cuba, while Castro continually threatened to shoot down any reconnaissance planes. An agreement between Khrushchev and Kennedy was eventually reached regarding the IL28 bombers, which Castro reluctantly withdrew.

A telegram from November 20th discusses a special meeting where Sherman Kent of the CIA, along with Thomas Finletter, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, presented a briefing at a special meeting of NATO’s North Atlantic Council (CDNW12467, CDNW12658). During the meeting, Kent noted that Kennedy would give a press conference at 6pm later that day (for a transcript of this conference, see CDNW12656). Kent explained that the US was still in negotiations to remove the IL28 bombers from Cuba, and significant progress was made on the removal of the mid-range ballistic missiles. Despite Castro’s threats to shoot down reconnaissance planes and the Russian’s claim that “no nuclear weapons” were left on the island, the US continued to survey Cuba and discovered 4000-5000 Soviet troops stationed on the island. Kent noted that “a formidable defensive force had been built in Cuba, not all of it under Cuban control” (CDNW12467).

A telegram from the United Nations details a four-hour conversation between Stevenson and Kuznetsov from November 15th (CDNW12652). Stevenson protested Castro’s threat to shoot down American reconnaissance planes, to which Kuznetsov presented a protocol that the Russians were planning on bringing to the security council, which included Castro’s five points (on Castro’s five points, see November 3, 1962). The Americans continued to negotiate with the Soviets, who in turn were trying to reach an agreement with Castro to remove the IL28 bombers.

Members of the OAS, while still supportive of the US, were beginning to grow hesitant and showed less enthusiasm for the quarantine. As a result of the situation in Cuba, leftist protests grew in Mexico, Chile and Argentina (CDNW12654). Cubans also held their own protests (CDNW12655).

Castro was criticized by both the US and USSR for “blocking negotiations for a solution to the crisis”, which he vehemently denied. Upon Mikoyan’s request, Castro also reluctantly withdrew the IL28 bombers, claiming they were “Soviet property”. A cable from Kidd, the Canadian ambassador in Havana, revealed continuing Soviet-Cuban tensions. A “children’s ditty” was making the rounds in Cuba, including the lines: “Nikita, you pansy, you do not take back what you have given away” (CDNW12655).

A transcript of President Kennedy’s press conference is provided in a telegram sent from Washington, DC on November 21, 1962. Kennedy announced the agreement reached with Khrushchev and praised the “calm determination of the American people, unity of this hemisphere, and the support of their allies.” Following his speech, Kennedy was asked several questions ranging from the possibility of a US invasion of Cuba to the status of negotiations concerning the verification that the Soviets were moving all offensive weapons out of Cuba. As seen in a telegram from November 30, 1962 (CDNW12691), Soviet-US relations remained precarious even after an agreement was reached.  

Even late in November, there was still argument as to whether the Soviet weapons in Cuba were offensive or defensive (CDNW12467). On December 5, 1962, the Soviets still insisted “it was only because of the bellicose statements by some Americans that the Russians had thought Cuba was threatened and therefore defensive weapons were needed” (CDNW12686).