BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR 25 OCTOBER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001800010016-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: October 25, 1962
• Content Type: REPORT

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I. The Situation in Cuba
There is no change as of 1500 EDT in the number or
construction pace of offensive missiles in Cuba, but the
most recent aerial coverage to hand is that of 23 October.
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An untested clandestine anti-Castro Cuban source re-
ports that Cuban military road traffic in the vicinity of
the Guantanamo Naval Base increased greatly during 22-2:
October.
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II. Soviet Shipping to Cuba
The Soviet freighter KASIMOV, known to be carrying
military cargo for Cuba, has reversed course and reentered
the Baltic. As of 1430 EDT it has been determined that
15 of the 22 Soviet ships en route to Cuba on 23 October
have turned away. Two tankers and one dry cargo ship are
known to be continuing-hn course for Cuba. Another t4rpe
tankers and one ,freighter are believed without confirmation
to be moving coward Cuba.
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III. The Situation in the Bloc
A. Military:
There are
satellite armed forcesaelementsumaysbeoon anaa some Soviet but
there is insufficient evidence to conclude thateanyswidespre al
alert has been called. Most key commands continue normal
training.
have deployed ton the s wereport stern Arctic suggests
24 LRAF
ont 11
October it m.~
defense activities apparently are normal and there oisrstillrnr,
indication of an alert.
There have been no further suggestions of an alert
in the Soviet Ground Forces and no redeployment of units has
been noted other than for local training. Two temporary re-
stricted areas have been set up in East Germany along the
border with the Federal Republic, effective from 26 October
through 4 November. The duration of the restriction and the
location of the areas suggest a routine exercise.
Soviet naval activity appears to be at a normal level
with routine training under way in all fleets. The US Navy
is prosecuting two submarine contacts--one 500 miles north-
east of Bermuda, the other off the Oregon coast.
Moscow apparently has not yet replied to U Thant's
proposal of a two-week standstill for negotiations. The
Indian ambassador in Djakarta, however, has reported that
Soviet ambassador Mikhailov told him the USSR would be willing
to negotiate the question of removing rocket bases from Cuba.
Mikhailov told Pant the USSR would suspend shipment of further
material during such talks. Such a reaction would be consonant
with an apparent Soviet belief that time will
provide
opportunities to press the US for negotiations which coulding
lead to suspension of the quarantine and other Communist
objectives.
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25 October 1962
IV. Non-Bloc Reaction
Non-communist reaction remains generally favorable to
ripe
US, but there is some apprehension, as in Turkey, over possn 1=1
Soviet retaliation. In the UN, according to a Yugoslav
delegate, "many neutrals" agree that a "neutral socialist
Cuba" as defined in a UAR speech could be the key to a peace _ui
solution, The DAR called for dismantling of all foreign bases,
The Cypriot delegate says the non-aligned group seeking ;
solution through U Thant includes five unspecified Latin
American countries, Austria, and Sweden. Various report. note
that published aerial photographs of missile sites in Cuba
have had an impressive effect in increasing support for the
US on the part of UN delegations.
Nehru has expressed sympathy with the US position,
Several other leaders, such as Bourguiba and Nkrumah, arc
reluctant to commit themselves publicly to either side,
Macmillan told parliament today that any Cuban settlement
must include an accurate check on removal of offens.ve weapon,
from the island. Gaitskell agreed, and did not call for a
debate,
priva e y a he feels the US action did not gofarenouo;h
and that it would have simplified problems "for all of us_'
if the US had moved rapidly to destroy the missile bases.
Two cabinet ministers say De Gaulle feels the President's
action was correct, and that the USSR will back down or at
least seek a way out.
Major Zurich banks report a wave of demands from West
Germany for gold.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
25 October 1962
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Bloc Shipping Dispositions
1. The latest data available to this office indicate:
that with the exception of the vessels involved in the Cuba;
lift, the activity of the Soviet merchant fleet in both
domestic and foreign operations is continuing on a normal
basis. There has been no evidence of diversions or voyage
cancellations involving vessels outside of the Cuba lift.
Only a scattered few of these vessels have been involved
in cipher traffic with the USSR. The situation appears to
be similar with regard to the Soviet fishing fleet.
3. The latest a of Bloc maritime deployment
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to approximate present-day sposition:
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4. Answers to your specific questions: posi ports on 23)andh toberROZ o nYAhadrslowedodown cotionnsi -?e_
Subsequent position reports indicate that the ship isnoweprro'1.
ceeding at normal speed. This tanker has attached to ita deck
several tanks reportedly filled with a total of 566 tons of
ammonia for delivery to nickel producing firms. Two other
Soviet tankers which regularly call at Cuba are similarly
equipped.
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(c) The dry cargo shi
E
p
Pacific and . PUGACHEV, now in the north
scheduled to transit the Panama Canal on 2 November,
is en route from Vladivostok and is assumed to be carrying a
commercial cargo--reportedly including beans. All Bloc whips
passing through the canal are automatically subject to se.s.rch
(d) The return to the USSR of the 15 Soviet vest~els
which have thus far failed to continue their voyages to Cuba
should have no effect on the Cuban economy, since all these
ships were believed to have been carrying military equipment.
The two ships believed to be transporting commercial cargoes
have not turned around.
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