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208 COLD WAR INTERNATIONAL HISTORY PROJECT BULLETIN
you stay with us a while? I d like to make other and the rights of each. in 1975 under my former colleagues Ford
some introductory remarks. Alexander Haig. I applaud you for and Kissinger, and also the domestic situa-
Jorge Castaneda. Okay. your outstanding introduction. For the past tion in the United States created under the
Carlos R. Rodriguez. Just one more some time I have been following your pre- influence of Vietnam and the Watergate
minute (spoken in English). Can you sit eminent career. scandal - that it was these, and not only or-
with us for a little while? I also am very grateful to President dinary geopolitical reasons, that formed the
Jorge Castaneda. Of course. Lopez Portillo for the invitation, which he basis for a process of continual worsening
Carlos R. Rodriguez. Just a second made several months ago to President in relations and growing repercussions,
(spoken in English). Reagan, to function as a party assisting in which I regard as very dangerous factors in
It seems to me necessary and fitting these negotiations. the cause of international peace.
that we express the thanks of the Cuban Jorge Castaneda. As a messenger. At that time, I was located abroad, but
government to the government of Mexico Alexander Haig. We don t have an ad- nevertheless discussed the question in de-
for the kind intentions it has displayed in equate expression for  assisting party and tail with Kissinger and Ford. At that time
making the conduct of this meeting possible. therefore, if you prefer, one may say  mes- they were not in a position to achieve a gen-
When the government of Mexico com- senger or  bridge. eral consensus in the United States with re-
municated this suggestion to us, we imme- (Jorge Castaneda leaves the room). gard to support of a policy that they consid-
diately expressed our agreement. Indeed, In Washington, we consider that this is ered correct at that moment. Subsequently,
this was a difficult moment, inasmuch as, a very fitting occasion for our meeting, be- the Ford presidency dialectically reflected
in the entire period of our revolution, we cause, indeed, we are going through a criti- the spiritual condition of the American
have never encountered such a torrent of cal moment in the history of these twenty- people after the Vietnam War and Watergate.
accusations and threats against our country, odd difficult years. The only course open All that has changed now. Now any
and besides that we knew that our counter- to us leads to the requirement that we make disposition of forces gives rise to a counter-
part would be the Secretary of State, one of a choice. In any event, we believe that it is measure. That is what has happened in this
the very most active exponents of this trend, essential to conduct negotiations between case. These days our national spirit has sig-
Mr. Haig himself. Notwithstanding, we con- the two governments prior to proceeding fur- nificantly strengthened, allowing the attain-
sider that this meeting comports with the ther. ment of unprecedented levels of military ex-
principles to which we have adhered since Prior to the commencement of this penditures, and simultaneously creating a
the moment of victory of the Cuban Revo- meeting, I already expressed to Jorge our readiness to come to terms with limitations
lution and its ascendance to power. appreciation for this constructive initiative, in the social and economic sphere. That
We have never refused to engage in which has made it possible to discuss our spirit is developing into an ever greater
dialogue. We have always considered that circumstances and, beginning with this, our growth of the desire to come to a solution
dialogue must take place in conditions of first meeting, to forge ahead in an examina- of international conflicts which the Ameri-
equality and mutual respect, and, for our tion of the questions which are a cause of can people regard as a threat to peace.
part, we approach dialogue in the light of concern to both countries. In that which concerns the United
respect for principles which, from our point I m very grateful that you have come States and Cuba, it seems to me, in essence,
of view, are not subject to debate. from a long distance to this unofficial, se- that we never had any tensions as a result of
We have had contacts with the Ameri- cret meeting. From our side, we intend to ethnic or spiritual conflicts. To the contrary. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]