q,ffiffiffiffir$Pffi rum[rufiE ffiilIlltlEN

HDEt AilI D IffiRlI$IICIIEU

Havana, Osooer 26, 1962

Oear Cornraoe Khrusnciev:

Frgm an anatysts ol lne sttuatron anct lno rsoons in our possessaon, I con:sio3t

fhat lns aggrasiiOn is ahosl rmrntnent wrtnln tna naxt 24 Of 72 nours.

ThBre ars two possiblo variants: tno tirst anO lik€li€st on€ is an ait attack again$cenain targ€ts witn lho llrnltect oolodive ot deslroying lh€m; tn€ secono, lessproOaoto aitnougn posslble, iS invasion" I undersland thil lhis varlant vrould callior a targa num-Oer ol ,Orces and il iS. in aodltion, tho most repulsive lorm of

. aggrassion, whicn mighl innibit lnsm.

. you can rest assufed lhat w9 will flrmly and rosoluely Iosist anack. whatever it

may be.

The morale ol lha Cuban PeoPl€ is €nrgrnely hign and the aggrossor will be

conrroiled heroicallY.

Al rhis time I want to convey to you Dtierv my peEonal oPanion.

l, th6 s€cond variaril i9 ililplemenled and th€ imPerialisls imrade cuba wilh th8 goal

o, occupying n. lhe danger tnal thal aggressNc polkty pos€s for numaniry is so grsat

rna toUbfurn-g fiat evenl me Soviet 0hion mu$ nerrer allow ha circunrstancas in

I tell you ihis bscaus€ I believe thal the imPonalists' agglessiv€nsss is enremelydangeious and i, lhey ac:ually carty out thc brulel act gl itwading CuOa in vlola'rtonit inrernauonat liw anO niorality. thal woulO Da lhe,noment to eliminals suchdang€r lorever through an acl o, cleat legdimate oelgnsB. howwcr halsh and

which lhe imp€rialisls could launcll ths tirst nuct8ar $tiko against it.

torrible ih8 solution woulcl be, lor ihera is no othe,.

iraernatty.

.lt has influencEd tny ooinion lo s€e how lhis aggtessiv€ policy is doveloPing.hbw th€ imperialisls.-distegarcting world puDlic opinaon and ignodng pnncrplos

and me law. afa bldchading the s€as. Yiolaling Our airsPac8 and Pr€garing an

invasion. while at the sam€ time lruStraing €lr?ry Possibalily for talks, ev€n thougnthgy are awar6 of tne soriousn€ss ol tha ptoblam.

You have been anc, gonlinue to be a tirsl€ss odender ol peaca ancl I t€alizohow !t[ar thOSO hou&3 tnusl be, when tha outcotn! Ol yOur SuPsrnutflan €ltonsB SO Sariously lhtiatlngct. Howevct. uP lO thl ESt momoil we will milnlatn lhohopo llLt'pcice wl[ ba saroguaro€d and we at. wilting to contrabule lo thas as

mdCn eC,11y-a Can. But at 16c same time, wa erc 19aqy tO Calmly sonlfoil a slualionwhidr wi'vi€w as quita toel anO gutc cloge.

Oncr mOrc I corwcy lo you th€ in inile gratiluOe and fecognition ol our paople

tO the SOviet pgople who hav€ Desn sO generous and ,ralernal with uS. aS wefl

aS Our prOlOuhd gtAtiludo anO aOrnifalion lor you. and wiSh you suCceSS in tha

hugs task anc, serious resPonsiDililies ahaad o, yotJ.

Flrlcl Cectro

.',1/,hl%r{t'fi,rfL-

Our C:rooer 27 message to Pre3iocnr Konneoy allows lorlhe qr eslron ro Dl seilled ln youf tavor. lo oelond cuDa,rorn an invaslon ano prevenl war irom bro!king oul.K€nnaOy'S reoly, whrch you spparsntly also knorr. ofl.rsassurancos lnal lhe uniltd slsrrc wiSl not nyaor csDe wilh

'.lrs own ,orcrs. not will it pertnil ils rllirs lo carry gu anI invasion. ln this way tho presi6enl ot the Unfied SEtas has

positivsly ansvvergc, my msssages ol ocrooer 26 8n627,1 962.Wo have ngw finisnaO drarting Our reply to ths prBsident's

msssago. I am nol going lo convly I here. lo, you su,eryknow lho rext.. ph,ch is now being broaocasil ov€f lne raclio,

Wilh this .moriv8 lwguld liko to racommenO lO you now.' at this momonl ol changs in tnr crists, not to De carrreo

eway Dy se..rlirnenl and ro show limness. I must say thet Iunosrsiano your ,eotings g, indignation torlro th. eggr€s.siv6 aclions ano viotatrons Ot elemontary norms o( inlertp. ,

tional law on thr p.n ot lhs uniled staresBul now. rBlher lhan law. wtrsi prevails is ths senso.

.lessnoss'o, lh3 ,nilihrists al tha Peilagon Nw thet !nsgr€emenr ls wilhln right. lho pentagon 6 searcning lot a Iprstsrt to trustrate lhrs egroemeht. ThB'b wny I ls organi:- |ing rhs provocetiv. flights. yeslrroay you shot oowi One Iol theso. whilt larl;er you di6n.t shoot ttrem down whcn Ilhey overllew your teriltory. The aggressors will taxe ao. Ivanrage of such a step lor their Own prrfpOSSS. I

Therefore, I woulcl liks to aoviso you in a ,riendly manneflo show palienc€. firmness and even mora lirmness..Nalurally, it th€re's an invasion I witl bs n€cessar] loregulsa ll'by every mgans. But wr musm'i allow ourselyeslo be carried away by pfovocations. Decause thcPernagon's unDnoleo mihtarisls, now that thg soluaon to lheconlhct ls in sigil anc, apparenfly in yosr tavor. creating aguarantee against th€ invasion o, cuba, aro trying tolruslrals lhe agreement an6 protroke you iilO acrions thacould be usec, again$ you. I ask you nor lO giv€ lnem th!Prelext tor ooing hat. .

On our pan. w€ will Oo everything possibte to staOili2€ thesiluation in Cuba, Oclend Cuba again$ anvesion anO assureyou lhe possrDililies lor peagelully builorng a soFrltaslsocierYI sen6 you grerrrngs, ertensre to a[ your lsaOership

9rouP.

HaYanaOqoDer 28. r962Mr. Nikile Kh,ushshevPn n3 MinEler ot ln9 Unionol Soviel Sgcialisl RepublicsusseDoar Comraoc Khrushchev:

I htva iusl regaivec, you, letler-

Thr posilbn of our govcmmenl concorning your codrrhunrcer.", .,

bgdi3o |n lho $alarn€nl lormJlat3ct toclty. h'nosa tln you surrrl r.,rp

lwiih lg cl€ar up somsthinE cot:i.eming ths anriaircrai mo.tul .rYgu say: 'Y3slerdey yOU ShOt OOwn Oie ot these lplen0sl, whrt. ]]4]shool tham Oown whan thav olrsdlew your l€rilofy.'

Eailicr isolat*t violalions war! commingd rvalhoul a 6",ir,1,63t1 rr*,ii

. o, rithout I r3al 6ange, st.mming |rom rhose t[gilS.

: -rhis timt thal wasn't th. casa. Thcre was nr arhgor G)( a lr,rp.s.c.naan miaittry lnsrallatlons. wt c,!ciE,.c, aol to 3il bact to(t wra ,.,

anecl. rilh ou, 6el36ion rt6at tumcc, ort. wh.n th. pot.n{aily r9lllyrng rtth rmpunity oire, tho targ.ls could Oestroy tham lor.try

^.fwa 3hould tllou thal ener all lha etlorts ano arpen3rg inCurrcO t.1 .,r r

Eartirr. airs9tc! vlolalioas wrrr crrritct ost cra laclg Jr6 tunivlrrAmrricln ggvarnmanl |rieO tO mala ollic,iC tha priyilrga G( viot.rr.r r,il .rry nour ol lnr 6!y .nd night wa crnnot rccrpl lhtr. ir I ..,+l.mounl lO grving up e Sovtreagn pnrogttivG. Howwlr, we !!llr .,cavoio rn ncrc,lnl al lhis prSctsr fliomrnt thet eouct sStiously n.,,r trrtirinS. so wr will lnslruct lha Cuban biltrrir3 nOt tO Ogtn tara. Dut r!+r nat lha nrgorirtaons lasl rnd irilnod revoting thc orgt|ralion puot r,$aDa, th! OtcrSOn tO Oalonc, Our airspacr. lt 3hosltl tl3o b. lll.n Erlnil uno.r thr cutr3il lcns. conclirlons inci6rr!3 gaa utr ptac.

I Jso wi3h to lnrorn you urat wa lra ln pdnelpla oppostcl to rflou, r.rritory.

I tgpncitta arrraordinarily th. ttlons you htyt ma6a to ktrgr rr.a

w.. arr aosolrnaly ln rgr.rmlm wiln lhr necC ,Or Sruggtlng to, rh,is-acEomDlasnad ln a lust. soli6:ng Oetintriya rniannaf. il wrll Dt r.3alvaca to humanfty.

Fntailully,

Ocrobsr 28. r962

t-,'L \ r' t)

N. Khrushchrv

Cat E;t

b.c.usa il woslc, wialr.n us graatly. mililaraly an6 morally. For ,"r

OsroDu 2a tne CuDsn rorcls mooilizld 50 adiarcrart blnsiiss. o,, .lhm. to Ploviclr suppon to tha Sovad torcas' postlioa3. tt wc ro,g", ,,

. risht ol a surprisc rnact. A wls nrc3ssary lor CsBan tilllerymrn " ,*'to 3hoot. Th! SOYlal Comtnanct ean luanrslr yOU utn t6Gtitbnlt ror.'r: n.pp.n!d to tha plNna thtl w.3 snot ctow'lt

r'." i

- E;;a oon of lne U,S. irnpenatrsrs, wnlsneyou.arpocreq.roulo navi*iestocrlromlhoUnrlbostatoslnocol'tlflrlltnonlnotlcLnvaCa'r, Eotar, ai any mom"nL 1 CuOa anO nol lO pormtt tnolr LJlln AmAflCAn alllss tO CIO !O. Wo*

E-*. unoorsiano rnal coflain oifitcu[tgs nav€ Eesn croatoo tor you ] nara wr€sl€o a[ tnls trom lnom tYrtnoul a nuclear stflko.

- Br a (esutt ol our navrng promrsao tn€ U.S. gorornment to[ .w€ consloottnal yrs musl lako acvailago ol .iill lno possibilitiss loB,rnOra* rn9 mlssllo OAS€ lrorn CtJDa. SlnCE it lS vrewoo ag an gl- I OetOnO CsOa, Sltongtn€n rts rnOgpshOOnCO ano Sov€a€qnly. OBtEal

- G.ns,ra w6apon. rn Brciinlg lor tho U.S. commrlrn€nl to aoanoon I m,urary aggr€sston ono provonl a nucl8ar woflO Yrar in our ltme.

[prans lor an invasron ot cuDa oy U.s. troogs.or tnose ol rts.a,ll.: t AnO wo nav€ acgofnptislled lnat.

: G ilrilti:lrTffs''":""i.#iiil"#:s'[]*i'*u I uT i?ii:idl,itr.:ii:i&Tr?::E':::.]Ei'iLi:fii:E-1i,.:! ilng lno olocxaoo ol l,uoa Io an ons. I nls lss ls lno llqslElallen ! roino to tno oilnclolQ tr ne slog is 'lo conrticr rn rno cariDooan lono wnicn. as yo.;;;;-tz-e, i t]19. T::'oing lo tno prrnclplo rnal a concoss'on on or

slra.ado.rzoo Dy rne dasn o, two superpor"r. .IJ'iiii'ill i :i1*9ll:: Dv a concossron on tn6 orno' sroc' rhe unrled Srates I

ry ot n Eoino rransrormeo inro a rnermonucrea, *.,[tJlrt"nl i i*.To:o'";;Tit:t"':l lt rnaoo ine cornrnrtrn€ru b6to]o ar ne; \

'lT',""rnro ,rom our amoassaoor. sorne cuDans nave r# ..r!ot-s^:!Y t11n.:t-t?Ip^".I:-ts-g-t:::1o.1-o1-l1ta-?t]n: .

. L) L'\ *() H'JJill',"T:1"-3:'s#;:":,",:"-t'ir:llJi:J[:i[,]J;;i"1ll,iWe iave 1s6Erve6 you, tonor Ol Oq:OOer 28 ano in€ rBPgnS On 9t-l!-Ol

rnOY woul6 navo OtaO hofc:cally' Sul we a'e not St'uqglrng'

,ho ra,ks rnar yolJ as w€r ai P,es,o.nt Donrcos 'i". n.o'*,n * l3l$1jffi:i5'i:*'Hjffii? lil;J,r1f':"':T,""";3[i3'"y",':'"1":,w€ unoorstano your Slluarion an6 tax8 rnlo acc ""'-"'- '-. -- * --

[os you now navs ouiln€ tno li.si.rranaliond.Stagg Sllgt,!0g liqur- "- Nowlas a ,esult o, ino measurEs la!8n..w0 teacneo tne Eoal.:Oauon oJ'l.n;stmu,n len:ton rnat arosa .OuO 'ro: tna t,t(!gt ol-'atlact souqnt wnon we agrOOC rYllh Y^Ou iO sono-lna mFFdeg iO C.Upa 'rVc.l

rEqrrrEU rrerrr vu' 'r"uc--svv" rvrr'! vsus")';'no",il Unrteo Statgs anct lhormonuclgar war wrlll lng commltmgnt of 1.'

:T','I^' 9::.::.*:o:1Y3'j,,::::"j",iiT:l-'T::l:"Y,1: ."1'j"i[.",t"i"i :ilffiffiIl-ii,i"L';;. .in-" upnJidins'or rnirn?n the oociaration o, ihe watnorawa ol lno mrssrl€s. ll's :-":.:::::" '-' - --';;;';;:

^;:-::;;;;r' '' -"

le rnal tnls k,no ot ,€sting €ilsts among ,n. p.op,i]'L; *", l"::"13:l1tlY ol tns AoPuolic ot Cuoa ano tna pt€v€ntlon ot a world '

i, !-r -ar.6,^aa-i ri-...aa .,a ra..a,- ^r 5 ^-^^r-.-.r^ wat, ttnlnr tnal tno total outcome ol tnas t3cxontng. o, lrlts com-'.'and gov€rnrnent ligures,.rre l€a6o,s o, a peopro wno .:::'_'-l':'-''_I::-:'J:::.::: -"'--'--:-'r"':" e! "!rknow €v€tyrhing ano can't readily cornprsn€no au-inai-rr panson ls porteclry cloar'

rnuslO€at *ir|r?neretors,vr€snouldma.Chilrnahoa6ol Naturally. ln d€lenoing Cuba aS vv6ll aS lho Othar SOClallSt'p€opte ano tnen mo poopt€ wi[ lollow us ano respecl u3. caunlrios, w3 can't ,8lY on a u.s. govefnmenl Y3to. w€ nave

wo. yrslc,ing to tno ssnrtrnents prevailing among lna p6opt€, ao9P16-!-al6 will contrnue lo aooPi in lno tuluri all the maasutes

o ourserieiro Do carnco away Dy cenarn p"sgon.ii !;;Id; T,loss_ary P-:!1"l9-tf.1 f"-t-9"-l-o]":..no__b_uilo _.! _oY1]9::T'-:9

, f;ii" l]il'Jo"ornlnonr, rhon . -", co"r;ii-ro-;;;-r1-;i.; weapons 5usprlos. cuDa ls sttongorrnan svor. Evcn anuthe ols''\-- 5t.ii*J or Lir,cn mruon! ot peogtr wouto nay. oioo ano rh. mantllng o, tne ,ntsslle lnsrallattoos ygu wlll havr Powarlul I

wour6 havo pinned rhe Dramo oa rhe roeoors l6i riii weaPons lo lhrov D-acr tno^ !lo.TI:ol-11i.-]ltl::tl 1o 9n ln:\-- ["9 ralen att tho nocsssary measur3s ro pr.venr rnar war ot .n.' -s-u-1.!n ]!"-t-p?t?::h:^s]o-t1u-!]1io^'.11.:] jl[llt31:?!-v|:,:lj!rocall..w€ navs saact ln our m€ssago lo ths Proslc,Enr of thE unlteo\-

frwonrins rh€ y,ar ano an anacr on cuDa oeponoed nor iusr on l-'1,1t 3.1oo 9!lg?:1^28t,lil^1t ll?_11l:-l]t1:€ _*tll lo-.a:-t:l1 'msasuros aoopt€o oy our govsrnrnonts out orro oi.n.iiiila]. tho 91bln p€o9ls lhat we stancl al tn€if stda anct rrc wall not ,org€t

r acrions or rho 6nemy torcos daeroyeo nsaryou. rccJronOi. .o:-l l8-.s!:":'-biry l1Tlp-'l:-c-":1?::?1t:]lt=--t]Tj t-"-i.?1-'o-1t :

ov.ratl sttuation nao ro D3 constd€rao tnat tnts 13 3n orugrnoly ssrious warnrng to tho onomy on our pa& ':

todilion, tn€ro aro opioions lnat you anc, w3, as thry say, lalled. You als_o staloO ouring tno ralliBs liat lhB unilgo stalas can'l Da ':

tnqao€ ln consulla$ons concetnlng lhss€ quostlons Dotoro' ttu3t€6. That, ol counio. is corroct..w€ algo vlew Your $al3rn3nt3rin{rne 6eciston xnownlo.you on lDe con6iuons o, lno lalks willl ih3 unlt8d slates as_corucl.itnls reason vrc beli€vs tnat we cgnsulted with you, doar Com. Tnl snooung oown of a U.S. ptano ov€t CuDa lurnso out to D.a a

I

Fid{lt Casuo. rEcolving tho caDtes. eacn on3 mora alarmhg uss,ul.m8asurs bocausa rnis oporalron tncracl wllnoul compllca' t

,_ $J il;-;*il;t riniiri ioui caorc o, Ocrob., e7, sayrng you [ons. Ltt lt Uo r losson lo] tht rmptflalisls.

J nearty sanaln thlt ah anactr on cuoe wout6 be launcnlo. You N€eolors-lo say. our Enomrgs wtu inlolPrEl lh€ svents ln lnllr ownrro ii was morory a qu€$lon ot tlma. that lha anecl would way. The Cuban counlstlovolutlon will also tlY to rals€ lts hoaA2tacE wrlnln tn3-n€rt 21 ot 72 hourS. UPon rocslvhg tnis But.wu lnink you wafl comPl€toly oolirnale Your oomesilc onefnl!3

Srng caota |rom yorl 3n6 awara ol your couragg, wo vi€w86 il wthoutouf assistanco. The rnaan tnng wt hava soculao l3 Pt.Yailr.-uJ rory wrlJounoad anrm. ing aggrtsslon on tno pan o, yout lotelgn snsmY al Pr.3snLb I$f 'his consu[arion on your pan wih u3? I hav€ viewgo this Wo teel that lno aggrassor came oul lhe loset Xe maoi irepanr'

.5 a signal o, ortrarne atatnl un6er lha conoilions cfeala6.' tlons to anacl cuDa but we sloPPoo hlm ano loreSo hlm to roc09..Ey '. i-Do.rho in mlnct tno inormalion that lhc untDtlad rumonger- nEB bororo wortcl puolic opanlon lnal na won'l clo lt at lno currsnte 'f[ioue oi U.S. railitartsrs wanroo ri Utr aOyanl.gt o, lhs satu& srag.. We viry rhas as a gr8Ert vlciory. Tha lnporldlsts. ol courst.\- I flfrar'nad bcan crsilso an6 hrrncn. an snecl on cuba. lt wl will nol slog rnoir stru991o again$ communBnl. But wr slgo iavr

our consu[a$on3. wa woulo nava wasted tmo ano our pl3ns anct wo are gging lo aOopl osr moasures. ThF proc3sst*f'anecx wouo nayc ocen earil€ oul. ot slruggl3 wlll continuo as long as lnsrr aro two PoLllcal .nc, so.I*1il.",I;.';;;;;;Iiioilro"rcaic mssirlr ',n c,;l ciu-iviroms in rho wotro. unrd ono o, rno83 - and.wr know r will.tro an omrnou3 lorcs lor lha imptri.tists:-lnEy w.r! trlgil3nad I Uo our gomrhunisl systom - wins a,lo trlumPns tn ougnou tna'

LDoca,Jso or rno.r toar rnar our rocrars ccrurct Do uuncn6o. ,6* l' woll{!. ',-* haye da33o to nqul€ata |n.!n oy DomoitlE tnem of iauninrni I comraoo Fi6€l caslto. I havc ooci0.6 lo c.no thls rcply to YouItrras,on ol-CrOa-eno I must 5o satO th-ot mey cou16 ntril .es soon as possrblo. A rnorB dEtallocl analy3lE d svttythhg that,h"o lnem att ori Theretoro. I r8p.at. you, atarm *as aosoturo.l n"a hapPonso witl Do maoo in tho lollst r[ s.ao you snonry. ln lnarfif>rounooc

-- =J

lonlrlwdlmakslne Dtoao€slatlY-sts,o!jn-..:ltP!t9L.T69lY0you

SUna lo tna conctu3ioo thal osr Slrltrgic mssil!3 in cuDa I clSl Sysloms in lho wotl6. untd ono o, ln3s3 - anEl.wl know ll rYill

tlo an omrnou3 lorcE lor lha imptri.tists:-hEy w.t! trlgil3nad I Uo our gomrhunisl systom - wins a,lO trlumPns tn ougnou tnatol rno.r loar lnil olJl rocr3ls cErulct Do Uuncno6, lno'/ l' wodd.

ceEla o, Octooor tl yOu proposid lhat rri Or rna lfSffi my ovsluallon ol tne odcom. ol tnt enO ol lho conllicL

rvr livoo hrouEh ma. mdg totious tnom.nl when a'nGiear ild"-,n"-iii,it-Vi". *""-*i;;p, ilil;;;;rli-noirisory rowar coulo havo b(oton ost. obviougty. in lnal c33o'. lno oiTaruro rh.Ei a^d contflDuro to lnc slrenotnonino anct oryalop.rar coulo havo b(olon ost. govlougly. m lnal Ealo: lno oaiaryzo lne,n anct coilnouto to lnr slreng|nontng and oaralop-Staros urouto hov! suslano6 hugo lgsreg. Dul th. Sovr€l iro,'u'ol .no Cuoan Rovolurlonano rno wnoro locror.t,:..-1?:?.:::.,it^,::1T.,:r,,:":..: A-.-_.-.: .^-- 3-

TIil;.;;, ocrooor 27 youproposid rh.r wi or rna trsffi my-ovauarton ot tne odcomc ot ino eno ol rho conllicL

h .lin a nuctoa, strihr egeanSt lno rcrrilory ol lno 0n0my. You. of Il No{. .3 rhe raks to !.il|o rho conllict Eor unclotw.y. I ltl you tcr If. roalzo whoro lnat woulO havo ls4 llalher lhan a simPlo t sonO ,no your consrooralion:. For our Pan. wr wlll conllnuo tocD, I wouE nayt DOon tno Slan o, a lnermonuclsar worlct war. f, ropon to you on rno ooyoloPmonl ol lnos. lalk3 eno makt lll.--

lsuo.-l consoar.rhs-prot nrests"y con3ultatrons' J wirt no c,ouot*B'l-'ffiff"'".1"".?:,::t';ffiH:'ol'Ji,.lJ"*'l 1:i:y ...#';lHT..'r"*:. ,'fiT11"1".,:llsiil'fi,'?1,,,., you. our

As,o, os CuOa ts conco.noo. il woul6 Oo Ot,ticull lo saY Octooerlo, l3O? Jgcaaril lorms wnil tnrs woulo nava moEnl lof lnorn' ln lna

iavana Q'Ct )loc:cgo, ll ,r962

Mr. Nrilla S. (rrrusng:revPntna Mrntsler ol lna Sovrat Unronusseoery Comraoo Khrusilciev:

r rocoryoo you, :enor ot oc:ooe-ijolYou'un6st- -stano inar wo rnoeoo wgto congun66 b€tore youaocDtoo tn6 ogclslon lo wrthoraw lne sltaloglc"mtssrrs!. You oase youtsolt on tng alatmlng nsrvsrnar you say rsacnoO you lrom c.JOa ano. linalry,nry caors ol Octoo€r 27. I oon't hnow wnal nows7ou (oggrvoo: I can onry raspond lor lne m€ssagBlnar I Sonr you inE evenrng or ocioo8, 26. .wrucn

roacnoo you rne 27tnwhal w€ olo in ln9 ,ace o, tne events, com-

raoa Khrusngnoy, was lo groparo ourserye! andgot roasy to tignr. tn csoa inoro was onry onailno o, ararm. lnat o, bSulo slatlons.Wh.n in our optnion tne lrnp€rialrst anact( Dg.

carno rmmrn€nt I c'€omeo i] approprlalo to 50aovrs8 you' ano aten ootn tno Sovret govern-'mgil ano cornnrano - slncE tnero wore Sovlgllorcas ccrnrntn€o lO ,lgil at out sloe lo oeronolno R€puollc ol CuDa trom loroign aggrosston

- aDout lne posslbllity ol .an auack wnlcn wecoulo nol pfovont bul goulcl r€sist.

I torO you nat tha morat€ ot our paopls was, yory nrgn ano rhat thc aggrosston woulcl be

hsrorcalry roslslBo. Al.lng.€no o, ln9 ,nessag€ I

rorlorateo lo you lnat ryg awaiteo tne ey3ntscal,nlY,

o.rEor coulon1 lmpress us. ,or danger hai D€onhanghg cn or our'counol.lq a long llrns noiv .ar.6ln a canan way we have Itovrn us€O lo lL

Tho sovi€t.lroogs wnicll hav€ bo€a ar our siooknow now aomlraolo lho slano ol ouf paoptgw!! tnfougnout rnis crisls and tn3 prorounobrornsmooo tnar was cr8alecl among tne rroogs,rom Doln pEoprgs 6urtng tns 0ocrsive nours.Couillass cy€S of CuOan ano Sovret men wnowero wrlllng rO OIO wrtn Supramo Oignity Sna6loars upon lsefnlng aoout tno surpnsing. suo.'oon ano pfectlcllly unconoilionat oactsion towllnoraw rnc wsaPons.

Pemaps you gon't hnow ihe o€grso lo whlchrho Cuoan 9eopl6 was raacty to oo its clutylowero tna na[on ano nurnantty.I ,salllgd whon I wrota lna,n thal th€ wg?ds.

codalnoo |n my lenor cosl6 bt mis'rnterpretcdDy you anc' that wls what happenoct. gorhapsblcauso you OlOn'l roao tn.rn caretutly. per.hap! Docauso of tna t,rnstarion. pornagS Do.'causa I mrant to 3ay 30 mucn in too lew linas.Howsvar. I olonl nts[at3 lo-oo ll. Oo youDolevr. ComraOO Khrushcnoy; lhat wo wor! s.t.lisnty nrnnng of €riiulves. o, ou, goaerossplopla wlllng to $crirlca th.rnsop.s. and nqil a{ ln rn uncoriscEius mennof Dul lully rs.sufod d ln. fEI uray srn?

wrln rno rnsano poool€ wno uni;asnec ln€ warlYou yoursutl nave 5at6 inut un6ur curronl gon-

OrllOnS Sugi a Y{at woul6 rnovllaory ilav8 SSCa-

laloo ClulCXlY rnlo a nucloar wal.

fiunoofstano lnat onca aggrgssion ls un-j roasnBo. ono snoulon'l ccncac€ lo tno aggres-I r.or tne Dilvrleg8 cl oecro,ng. :notgovef, wnen ro '

uso nuclsa' weagons. ;n€ oostrscilvo powa, ollnrs woaoonry ls so g,oat 3no int 50006 ol lls

"''6€liysr./ so gteal lnal tne agstossor woulct hayea ccnstoeraolg tnrtlat aovantage.An6 I 6io nor suggosl ro youl Comrado

Khrusncisv. rhat rno USSa snouro bo tne ag-gfossor, Socauso tnat woulc u8 moro lhan n.corrgcl. tt wouto 0€ rmmoral 3no ccilornptibtoon ,ny 3an, 8ut ,torn tno nslanr tne rmp€nalislsallacx Csoa and .wnrlo rh€to 0r! Sovrgt armeo '

lorcos srartonoo in cuoa lo n8t0 rn osr ooronseln cas€ ol an arracr trorD aoroao, 1ne lm-porrarlsts rroulo oy tnts 3cl oocome aggressorsagarnsr cuoa ano agarnsr rno ussA. ano w3woulo .o8poncl wrtn a slrrle tnSl wouao annht-Ere rnem.

Everyone nas nts gw'r opmtons an6 I maintainrnrn8 aDout rno gang8fousnass ot tne aggros-srvo clrclos n trie Pentagon ano ihntr prglar{rncg,or a prgvonrNo stni8. I oicl not suggost. com-'rac,€ Khrusncnav. tnat in lne mtost ot this cflsistn€ soviBt unron snoutd attacx. srnlcn rs wnar Jyour isnor ssgms to say; ratnor, _tnat tottowlng I

an impertalisr artack. tho USSe snould acr iwrthout vaciflarlon ano snoukl nover make lne i

mislaho o, a[gwng Crcum:slulcos to Oovobp in ,

wnlcn tho onomy rnat€s lr.a iirst nuctoar srito ,i

againsl tn6 USSa. And n rnE sensa. Cornraoe i!Khrusnchev, I malnlain rny polfi ot vraw. Docausg

I I unoorslano ll lo oo a Iruo ano jus ovrtuolion otI a sp€cilic srruarion. You rnry D0 aotr to con.\ vlnce m€ lnat I am wrong. Oul you canl ta[ moI lnal I am wrong wrthoul convrnsing mo.tlrnow rnat lms is a oolicato l3su8 riar can onry. o€ broac:'r8o in qtcumstancas suc;l at th€s6

an6 in a YetY porson.t fnessagr.You may wono€r rynal ngnt I i1!v9 to lroach

lhts toprc. I oo so wrrnoul worryrng 6oout nowtnorny il iS, lollorrng rno Otc:arss ol my COn-sct8ncS as a tovorultonaty oury and rasoi,so Dyln€ mosl unsetlisn gBntirnents ol acrnrrauon anoanac:ton lo, lng USSa. ior wnal sno repr€sents' to, lhe luturo of hurnanrty ano Dy ina coacornlnat sn8 snoulct nsvar agan Ds tn. vacSlm 0, tn3pofrloy and Delrayil ot eggra3sors, 8s sng wilsln 1941. ano wntcn cosl so meriy tiv.s anct so,nucn oaslrudlon. Mortorr.r. I sgoha not 13 a

. rrouolornahor Dut i3 a cornDetant rom lno ,tlostonoSngrroo rr€ncnas,

. I Oo not sco now you can sltta tnat wa wgaocorlsullro in tne oocrsbn yos look.

I woulo lila notnang morc [len to Do provggwrong at tnB momrnt. I only wtsn tnat you wara,ignL

ThrrB atc not iusl a low Cuoaos, as ltas boonr€ponoo ro you. Dut in lact ,nany cuoans whoaro orporioncing at this momonr unspearaolebattornoss ano saonoss.Tho arnoortortsls a,a ldklng onco aEah o, ln.

vaOlng Out Counlry. wnrcn lS grool Ol nowg9narnorat 3n6 untruslwonny tnor, pro,ntsosarc. Our peogt€. noEove?. rnorntarn lnair ln.oOSlruC:lDlO rvrll lO rosi3t tna aggrOSSO,s anct.porneps rnor9 than evor nocct lo lrust rtl thofir-selvos an6 in rnet wtll to Stfsgglo.

wo wo slruggto aoorlst acrvarse ci cirm3tancos.w! il[ ovorco.no lno curroil gdlic'Jtto3 an6 wowrll co.na out ithoilo. itno nornang ctn gostroy tnotaas Ol lrioa6gnlp ano lno olornd gratrluOo wOtaot lowaro lna USSR.

Fratornatty.

No. Comraoe firuslrcnsv. Fd rinrss n nfifory,an6 it goulg evon El sal(l 'rrra n€vcr oeloro. be.

I causr no poopro na6 ovof lacao sucn a lram€n.I oous ourgor, *as r peopte so *illlng to ,ignt andl. ob wm suci a untvofsll sonse o, ouly.

-" lr{o tnow. and oo{rol prssumo tnar we lgnorodil, tnat we wou6 nayo De€n anninililoo. a3 youin$nualo ln your lo[ot. an tne €vonl ol nuctaa,war. Howrvar. rn83 oionl pro,npr u3 ro asl youro wlrlEraw lha mB$lo!. tnil oicrnl ptornpt u3lo r3I you ro ylolo. oo you Dotlovo tnet wo

I w!il.6 tnal urar? 8ut how coulO wo prevaot ll ll '\ lhr lnvlslon ,inally look ptaco? in! laA i3 tnat .!lhls avaat wos posslblo, lntt lmpoflalism wa3ioBlllucung ovoty solulaon and lnal lts oomanosu.ra. t orn ou, Ootil gt vrow. lrnposstoto ,or tnoUSSe .no Cuo. ro accopr.

Aod i, vrar nld hrokr.t orir '.'r"