J ' THE SECRETARY OF STATE J t -- r -l P --- - 1---' l-4 LJ --' 4 WASHINGTON NODIS June 19 1978 MEMORANDUM FOR TI-IE PRESIDENT FROM Cyrus Vance SUBJECT Contact with Castro's Representative Jose Luis Padron c Attached at Tab A is a summary of the main points of Dave Newsom's talk with Castro's representative Jose Luis Padron in New York on June 15 As previously agreed Dave will brief Congressman Fascell on that portion of the conversation dealing with prisoners on Tuesday morning We now have two questions before us 1 The timing and form of a follow-up on the prisoner aspect of the conversation 2 Whether and in what form to follow-up on the broader political a 9Pects of the conversation Prisoner Release In the various conversations which Padron has had with Cuban exile representatives he has given them a total of six lists of persons who have been or currently are prisoners together with the number of dependents all of wnom presumably are covered by Castro's decision to permit such persons to leave Cuba The six lists include with dependents 1596 persons Dave explained both to Padron and the exiles that we cannot respond to this aspect of the approach without further examination of the matter within the U S Government and that this could take some time - I believe that we should move promptly to give the Cubans a definitive response on whether we are prepared to receive these people F ·-·· 0ECLASSfFIEO - - t - ' ¥ BY - · I r t•-•· -2- I suggest therefore that 1 With your authority and coordination with the NSC I approach the Attorney General on an urgent basis and seek his authority to tell the Cubans that we will propose parole entry for those in this category permitted to leave Cuba If approved funding will have to be worked out with Joe Califano at a later date 2 That once we can speak more at 1thoritatively on this matter Dave seek a further meeting with Padron to relay the answer The six lists are attached at Tab B Any further conversations with Padron on the prisoner issue would presumably also deal with the question of the four remaining U S _citizen prisoners I Broader Political Issues David Aaron had one previous conversation with Padron which covered broader aspects of U S -Cuban relations Padron covered this same ground with Dave Newsom Zbig and I had agreed that David Aaron would continue to be in touch with Padron on the political issues while we in the Department would take care of the prisoner issue If Padron can be taken at face value it would seem worthwhile to continue to explore with him Cuban policies It would seem in this case particularly important to follow up on the question of circumstances under which Cuba might be prepared to withdraw its troops from Angola and Ethiopia Cuban actions towards Puerto Rico suggest another topic r l With your approval I will be talking to Zbig on how we conduct future conversations with the Cubans on political issues and in particular how we respond to the latest conversation with Padron r i -r r- I '- ··• t -· r- J r t1······· i _ 1 -3RECOMMENDATIONS 1 That you authorize me to discuss the question of the admission of these Cuban prisoners with the Attorney General ✓ Approve ----Disapprove ---- 2 That I talk to Zbig about how we follow-up on the political asµects of the two previous conversations with Padron Approve ✓ --- Disapprove ---- '' ·Attachments Tab A Tab B Tab C Summary of June 15 meeting Six Lists of Prisoners Full Text of June 15 meeting ···························· ····· ·SUMMARY During a five hour conversat1on on June 15 in New York Under secretary Newsom and Jose Luis Padron Fidel Castro's Adviser and Special Representative discussed prisoner releases and Cuban policy in Africa They agreed to maintain contact and both emphasized the need for en uring the c o n f i d e of -the meetings They -also agreed to continue to use -as a channel of commun-ication - -· Concerning the issue of prisoner releases Padron reported that his government had taken into consideration approaches from Members of Congress the intellectual community and businessmen It hoped by taking positive action on prisoner releases to improve the climate of relations between the US and Cuba and the Cuban Government's relations with Cuban community resident in the It also hoped to respond to President Carter's interest in human rights Specifically Padron said that his government had decided to permit the departure of some 4 000 Cubans including dependents who were 1 political prisoner already released 2 prisoners on parole or 3 prisoners still detained who wished to leave Cuba The Cuban Government had made the decision unilaterally and expected nothing in return from the United States Even if the Unlted States did not wish to accept those released Cuban Government would allow those released to leave Cuba Asked whether the Cubans expected us to respond publicly Padron said he would have to check with Castro how the Cubans intendedto make their decision public In reply to Mr Newsom's question about his government's plans for the foui American prisoners in Cuba Padron said that he had no instructions and would have to check with Castro before replying us With respect to Africa Under Secretary Newsom explained our policies to Africa and the importance we attach to achieve peaceful and African solutions to the problems of the continent He outlined our objectives in Southern Africa and our reasons for working with France and Belgium in Shaba He discussed our concerps with the Horn of Africa Mr Newsom noted that while Cuban policy might be separate from Soviet policy Cuba receives its support from the Soviet Union and Cuba's actions in Africa · impede African solutions to African problems Padron outlined the history of Cuba relations with liberation movernents·in Africa and recounted how his government came to decide to intervene in Angola He said that Cuba is prepared to sit down with us and define steps to be taken to discuss solutions to African issues and will contribute to those solutions Mr Newsom encouraged the Cuban Governmen_t to use its influence with SWAPO to work with the Frontline Presidents to achieve a Namibian settlement Padron said that Cuba did not intend to impose •••••••••••••••••••• fEC BC 0 W P A D ' TE i a -1 - ••••••••••••••--·••••••HO••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••-•••••• r ••••••••00000o OOOOo•••000040•ooOOoOOOOoOo_ 000•••••••••••oO••••••••••••••• SECRET - 2 - Maxist-Lenin solutions in Africa and will only act iQ response to requests from friendly governments rt is prepared to withdraw troops when there are credible assurances that the territorial integrity of its friends will be protected · Cuba is working tor a political settlement to the Eritrean problem and is not now or will it participate in military operations against Eritrea Returning to the prisoner question Mr Newsom said that he _wouhl report to·· the-President- the Secretary and the National Security Council and our answer to the Cuban Government would have to await full consideration in Washington Padron agreed that Congressman Dante Fascell should be informed of the fact that we are discussing family reunification with the Cuban Government He also agreed to look into his government's atti tu de on the Puerto Rican question and report back j j r · '' ·• • 1