FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1942, VOLUME VI



811.34537/407 'Telegram
    The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State

                                  HABANA, July 3,1942-11 p. m.
                                  [Received July 4 -:14 a. m.]
  502. Department's 407, July 2, 10 p. m. With respect to para-
graphs number 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, I see no objection and believe Cubans
would welcome their inclusion in tripartite agreement suggested to
me by Minister of State and Mexican Ambassador. In fact, Cubans
will prefer to have United States handle all construction aspects of
this undertaking and these might even be covered in a separate agree-
ment.
  Likewise, I believe paragraph number 4 can readily be obtained.
However, Cuba, in my opinion, will also wish to incorporate following
provisions in proposed agreement:
  (a) Such Mexican and/or Cuban military aviators and planes as
might participate in Yucatan channel patrol to be housed and serv-
iced at the San Julian Field.
  (b) Fixed improvements exclusive of temporary or demountable
buildings to become Cuban property upon termination of agreement.
  Permission for preliminary surveys should be forthcoming promptly
on request.
  Since Mexican participation in this particular development has
been raised by the Mexicans and ourselves I believe Cubans will now
greatly prefer a formal tripartite agreement.
                                                         BRADEN

837.24/885
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations
                           (Duggan)

                                     [WASHINGTON,] July 9,1942.
  The Ambassador 31 stated that on April 13 he had presented a note
to the Department requesting an increase in the lend-lease allocation
for Cuba from $7,000,000 to $15,000,000. One of the purposes for
which this increased allocation was desired was the construction of
barracks for the Cuban Army, which will be augmented by the draft
which will take place in Cuba early in August. The present Cuban
Army consists of about 20,000 men. It is contemplated that an addi-
tional 25,000 to 35,000 men will be taken into the Army. As things
stand today there are no barracks in which to house the new recruits.
Moreover, the present Army is insufficiently equipped with rifles,
machine guns, et cetera. There will be nothing with which to train
the new Army.
  T he Cuban Ambasador, Aurelio F. Concheso.



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