To PreSident Lyndon B Johnson From Prhme Minister Fidel Castro verbal Message given to Miss Lisa sosard of ABC News on February 12 1964 in Havana Cuba 1 Please tell President Johnson that I earnestly desire his election to the PresidenCy in Nbvember though that appears assured But if there is anything I can do to add to his majority aside from retiring frem politics I shall be happy to cooperate Seriously I observe how the Republicans use Cuba as a weapon against the Democrats So tell President Johnson to let me know what I can do if anything Naturally I know that my offer of assistance would be of immense value to the Republicans - so this would remain our secret But if the President wishes to pass word to me he can do so through you iisa Howard 7 He must know that he can trust you and I know that I can trust you to relay a message accurately 2 If the President feels it necessary during the cam- paign to make bellicose statements about Cuba or even to take some hostile action - if he will inform me unofficially that a specific action'is required because of domestic political considerations I shall understand and not take any seriOus retaliatory action 3 Tell the President that I understand quite well how much political courage it took for President Kennedy _to instruct you Aiisa Howan 7 and Ambassador Attwood to phone my aide in Havana for the purpose of commenc ing a dialogue toward a settlement of our differences Ambassador Attwood suggested that I prepare an agenda for such talks and send the agenda to my U N Ambassador That was on Nbvember 18th The agenda was being pre pared when word arrived that President Kennedy was assas sinated I hope that we can soon continue where Ambassador Attwood's phone conversation to Havana left off though I m aware that pre-electoral political considerations may delay this approach until after Nbvember COPY LBJ LIBRARY 4 Tell the President and I cannot stress this too strongly that I seriously hope that Cuba and the United States can eventually sit down in an atmosphere of good will and of mutual respect and negotiate our differences I believe that there are no areas of contention between us that cannot be discussed and settled within a climate of mutual understanding But first of course it is necessary to discuss our dif ferences I now believe that this hostility between Cuba and the United States is both unnatural and unnecessary - and it can be eliminated 5 Tell the President he should not interpret my conciliatory attitude my desire for discussions as a sign of weakness Such an interpretation would be a serious miscalculation we are not weak the Revolution is strong very strong Nothing absolutely nothing that the United States can do will destroy the Revolution Yes we are strong And it is from this position of strength that we wish to resolve our differences with the United States and to live in peace with all the nations of the world 6 Tell the President I realize fully the need for absolute secrecy if he should decide to continue the Kannedy approach I revealed nothing at that time I have revealed nothing since I would reveal nothing now copy LBJ LIBRARY National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu