CUBA--INTERNAL REACTION TO US QUARANTINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001800010023-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: October 26, 1962
• Content Type: IM

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
26 October 1962
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Cuba--Internal Reaction to US Quarantine
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1. The general mood of the people, as gleaned
from Havana press dispatches, Cuban radio broadcasts,
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is one
of relative tranquility on the surface but with some
tension apparently now building up, The Castro regime
seems to be increasingly apprehensive over the possi-
bilities_of an internal uprising as_ well_ as of an in-
vasion. That part of the populace opposed to Castro,
while heartened by the US quarantine action, is
worried over the possibility of bombings.
2. The Castro regime's order of 23 October sus-
pending all commercial airline flights between Miami
and Havana has reduced almost to zero the number of
Cuban refugees arriving in this country since the
quarantine was announced. Much of our direct informa-
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22 October. The reaction to the move expresse by nearly
all those persons contacted was one of jubilation--
although the disenchantment of these people with Castro,
as evidenced by their willingness to communicate with
US residents, makes this an admittedly one-sided sampling.
3. There is no specific information available to
indicate whether and to what extent the general popu-
lace's attitude toward the US may have been affected
by the quarantine action.
4. The Castro regime is devoting most of its time
and energies to increasing its military preparedness.
Leaders of the regime, including Raul Castro, Che
Guevara, and President Dorticos have not made any pub-
lic statements since the crisis began, and no word has
been heard from Fidel Castro since his 90-minute speech
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on the evening of 23 October, although he reportedly
is still in Havana. Guevara is reported to have es-
tablished his military headquarters in Pinar del Rio
Province, and Raul is rumored to have gone to Oriente
Province.
I eveal some confusion over mobilization orders
and supply difficulties in at least several military
units. All-source intelligence reporting reflects
regime concern over military morale and fighting
spirit, which, however, still seem generally high.
CubanJnt_erna1 security units have been alerted to
make a close check and report soonest any possible
insuirect ion "and mitry commanders have been or-
~e~ed to__make.-da 1y reports on combat morale and po-
liticaL rP1iability in- their respective commands.
Known dissidents are-being rounded up z as was the case
d rn previous military alerts.
6. Cuban propaganda outlets continue to play
down any references to the presence in Cuba of Soviet
missiles or other offensive weapons, and most Cuban
spokesmen at home and abroad are still denying the
presence of Soviet bases in Cuba. Many Cubans, how-
ever, have long believed that Soviet offensive mis-
siles were being emplaced in Cuba. Most of the people
in Cuba contacted by telephone since President Kennedy's
speech on 22 October showed a lack of knowledge about
how the crisis is developing. Cuban radio transmitters!
have remained silent on the turnabout of Soviet cargo
ships originally bound for Cuba but gave heavy play to
plans for a rousing welcome for the Soviet tanker
Bukharest which was to arrive in Havana early this
morning, A "celebration" at 1300 Cuban time today
marking the Bukharest arrival. is to feature Cuban
labor boss Lazaro Fenak as one of the speakers.
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