DAY NINE |
October 24, 1962 |
“At the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, SAC increases its alert posture to DEFCON 2 for the first time in history. At the request of President Kennedy, the Defense Department drafts two separate plans to increase civil defense preparations during a possible military engagement with Cuba” (Chang and Kornbluh).
"To swing international support to their side, the U.S. (Adlai Stevenson) presents photographic evidence to the UN security council and challenges the soviet delegate to explain" (Clouds Over Cuba).
"Dept. of State translation of Chairman Khrushchev's letter to President Kennedy of October 24" (U.S. Department of State).
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"Chairman Khrushchev replies indignantly to President Kennedy's October 23 letter":
"You, Mr. President, are not declaring a quarantine, but rather are setting forth an ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give in to your demands you will use force.... You are no longer appealing to reason, but wish to intimidate us." |
“William Knox, a U.S. businessman, has a 3 and ¼ - hour interview with Premier Khrushchev’s request. Khrushchev states that he will eventually give orders to sink a U.S. vessel enforcing the blockade if Soviet ships are stopped” (Chang and Kornbluh).
“At 9:35 AM, President Kennedy has a brief conversation with his brother, during which the president reportedly expresses deep concern that Soviet ships appear ready to challenge the quarantine” (Kennedy).
"In the early morning, Soviet ships en route to Cuba capable of carrying military cargoes appear to have slowed down, altered, or reversed their courses. Sixteen of the nineteen Soviet ships en route to Cuba at that time the naval quarantine was announced, including five of large hat vessels, reverse course and are returning to the Soviet Union. Only the tanker bunch arrest continues towards the quarantine line" (Chang and Kornbluh).
"CIA daily memorandum" (U.S. Department of State).
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"CIA daily memorandum":
“Communist reaction to the US quarantine action against Cuba has not gone beyond the highly critical but committing statement this yesterday by the Soviet government.” |
CABLE NO. 319 FROM THE CZECHOSLOVAK EMBASSY IN HAVANA (VLADIMIR PAVLÍČEK): "This cable
sent to Prague confirms the decision by President John F. Kennedy to blockade
Cuba, based on talks between Cuban Foreign Minister Raul Roa and Soviet
Ambassador to Cuba Aleksandr Alekseev. Despite no orders for the American
warships to stop Soviet ships, Alekseev was preparing in anticipation for 'dangerous provocations.' Cuba canceled all PanAm flights, while at
the same time allowing Czech and Soviet flights to proceed" (Wilson Center).
According to talks with [Cuban foreign minister] Raúl Roa and [Soviet Ambassador Aleksandr] Alekseev, it has been confirmed that [US President John F.] Kennedy has caved to the heavy pressure of the Pentagon, the CIA, and the monopolist circles and chosen the utmost dangerous route of provocations and blockades of Cuba. Within a few hours initial contacts between the USSR’s ships and the American battleships should take place; according to Alekseev’s information, the American battleships do not yet have instructions to stop the ships. Despite this, the Soviet friends are anticipating dangerous provocations. About eight ships are on the way.