DAY EIGHT |
October 23, 1962 |
“A new message from President Kennedy is transmitted to Premier Khrushchev via the U.S. assembly in Moscow. U.S. Ambassador Foy Kohler notes that both this statement and the letter 'avoid specific threats and are relatively restrained in tone'. Kennedy, stressing that it is important that both sides “show prudence and do nothing to allow events to make the situation more difficult to control than it already is,” asks the Soviet Premier two direct Soviet ships to observe the quarantine zone” (Chang and Kornbluh).
"Kennedy's letter to Khrushchev" (U.S. Department of State).
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"Chairman Khrushchev's response to President Kennedy's Address" (U.S. Department of State).
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"Kennedy's letter to Khrushchev":
“I think you will recognize the step which started the current chain of events was the action of your government in secretly furnishing long-range missiles in Cuba.” |
"Khrushchev's response":
“I must say frankly that the measures indicated in your statement constitute a serious threat to peace and security of nations. The United States has openly taken the path of grossly violating the United Nations charter, the path of violating international norme of freedom of navigation on the high seas, the path of the aggressive actions against Cuba and against the Soviet Union.” |
“10:00 AM, at a meeting of the ExComm, President Kennedy approves plans for signing an official quarantine proclamation. Kennedy directs John McCone to prepare an analysis of the effects of a comparable blockade on Berlin. Following the ExComm meeting, President Kennedy establishes three subcommittees: another on crisis communications, one on advanced planning, in the third on Berlin contingencies” (Chang and Kornbluh).
“A Joint Resolution passed by the Congress of the United States and approved on October 3, 1962, it was declared that the United States is determined to prevent by whatever means may be necessary, including the use of arms, the Marxist-Leminist regime in Cuba from extending.”
“The Organ of Consultation of the American Republic meeting in Washington on October 23, 1962, recommended that the Member States … take all measures … which they may deem necessary that the Government in Cuba cannot continue to receive from the Sino-Soviet powers military material and related supplies which may threaten the peace and security of the Continent and to prevent the missiles in Cuba with offensive capability from ever becoming an active threat to the peace and security of the Continent”
“I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America … do hereby proclaim that the forces under my command are ordered, beginning at 2:00 P.M. Greenwich time October 24, 1962, to interdict… the delivery of offensive weapons and associated material to Cuba.”
“Any vessel or craft which may be proceeding toward Cuba may be intercepted and may be directed to identify itself, its cargo, equipment and stores and its ports of call, to stop, to lie to, to submit to visit and search, or to proceed as directed.”
“Gallup poll survey taken on October 23 shows that 84% of the U.S. public who know about the Cuban situation favor the blockade while only 4% oppose the action. At the same time, roughly one out of every five Americans believe the quarantine will lead to World War III” (Chang and Kornbluh).
"President Kennedy asks Khrushchev to halt any Russian ships heading toward Cuba. The president's greatest concern is that a US Navy vessel would otherwise be forced to fire upon a Russian vessel, possibly igniting war between the superpowers" (JFK Library).
"The ships of the naval quarantine fleet move into place around Cuba. Soviet submarines threaten the quarantine by moving into the Caribbean area. Soviet freighters bound for Cuba with military supplies stop dead in the water, but the oil tanker Bucharest continues towards Cuba" (JFK Library).
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"New low altitude photo reconnaissance provides detailed evidence of additional mid-range ballistic missile (MRBM) sites" (Clouds Over Cuba).
“Robert Kennedy, at the suggestion of the president, meets with Anatoly Dobrynin in the latter’s office at the Soviet embassy. According to his memorandum on the meeting, the Attorney General calls the Soviet missile deployment 'hypocritical, misleading, and false.' Dobrynin tells Kennedy that, as far as he knows, there are still no missiles in Cuba, and said that he is not aware of any change in instructions to captains of Soviet ships steaming toward Cuba” (Chang and Kornbluh).
"Robert Kennedy and Dobrynin meeting":
“I pointed out… that the President felt he had a very helpful personal relationship with Mr. Khrushchev… He [felt] that there was a mutual trust and confidence between them on which he could rely.”
“I said that with the background of this relationship, plus the specific assurances that had been given to us … that no incident would occur before the America elections were completed, we felt the action by Khrushchev and the Russians at this time was hypocritical, misleading and false. “
“Dobrynin’s ... told me no missiles were in Cuba [and] that Khrushchev had also given similar assurances through TASS and as far as he knew, there were still no missiles in Cuba.”
“When I left I asked [Dobrynin] if ships were going to go through to Cuba. He replied that was their instructions last month and he assumed the had the same instructions at the present time. He also made the point that although we might have pictures, all we really know about were the sites and not missiles and that there was a lot of difference between sites and the actual missile itself. I said I did not have to argue the point-there were missiles in Cuba- we knew that they were there and that I hoped he would inform himself also.”
“At 5:40 PM, Fidel Castro announces a combat alarm, placing the Cuban armed forces on their highest alert. Cuban armed forces subsequently reach a size of 270,000 men, following a massive mobilization effort” (Chang and Kornbluh).
“At 8:35 PM, Fidel Castro tells the Cuban public in a 90 minute television speech that Cuba will never disarm while the U.S. persists in its policy of aggression and hostility. Castro denies the presence of offensive missiles on Cuban soil but declares: 'we will acquire the arms we feel like acquiring and we don’t have to give an account to the imperialists.' Castro also categorically refuses to allow inspection of Cuban territory, warning that potential inspectors “must come in battle array” (Chang and Kornbluh).
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