"OLDEST OVERSEAS U.S. NAVAL INSTALLATION"

DR. GUTIERREE RECOMMENDS CANCELLATION OF GUANTANIMO LEASE

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) On September 9, 1926, the Evening Star reports that Dr. Gustave Gutierree, consulting lawyer of the State Department and professor of international law at Havana University, has suggested "the cancellation of the lease of the United States naval station at Guantanimo Bay*" to President Gerardo Machado**.

Other suggestions by Dr. Gutierree include "broadening of communication between the U.S. and Cuba and closer co-operation by Cuba with...Latin America."

**Guantanimo Naval Station is the oldest overseas U.S. naval installation.  Established in 1903, it is located on 45 sq. mi. of land & sea at the SE end of the island of Cuba.

***Gerardo Machado (1871-1939) was born in Camajuani, Cuba & was a general in the Cuban War for Independence.  GM served as president of Cuba 1925-1933.

SOURCE

"Removal of Naval Base In Cuba Urged," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 9, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Welcome to Guantanamo

Photo by Paul Keller

2008

CC SA 2.0

 

 

 

"STATE DEPT. FLATLY DENIES ANY U.S. INVOLVEMENT"

CASTRO BLAMES U.S. FOR 'CANNON BARRAGE' DAMAGING BUILDINGS IN WESTERN HAVANA

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) On August 25, 1962, Cuba claimed a "cannon barrage" damaged several building in western Havana last evening.

Although Fidel Castro blames the United States for the attack, a group of Cuban exiles in Miami, Florida have claimed responsibility for firing more than 60 shots in 6 or 7 minutes.

The attack, according to Castro, was "staged from an area" 5/8 of a mile off the Havana suburb of Miramar*.

A State Department spokesman "flatly" denied any U.S. involvement in the incident.

JFK+50 NOTE

This incident marks the first attack on Cuba since the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961.

*Miramar, located west of the Almendares River, was developed in the early 20th century by wealthy magnates & American businessmen.

SOURCE

"Havana Shelled by 'Enemy Ships'," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 25, 1962, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

 Avenida de las Americas

Photo by Happypepe 

2007

CC BY-SA 3.0

"CIA WANTED TO HELP OVERTHROW FIDEL CASTRO"

CUBAN EXILES BITTER ABOUT U.S. HANDLING OF INVASION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 18, 1961, George Sherman of The Evening Star reports that the Cuban exiles involved in last month's failed Bay of Pigs invasion "are admittedly bitter over handling of the invasion and its dismal failure."

Sherman says that the exiles are convinced the Central Intelligence Agency, "and, therefore, the United States government," wanted to help them overthrow Fidel Castro.

The American agents, in the view of the Cubans, while trained specialists in undercover activities, had little to no knowledge of the politics and geography of Cuba.

JFK+50 NOTE

Publicly JFK had taken full responsibility for the failed invasion ("Victory has a hundred fathers, defeat is an orphan").  Privately, however, he blamed the CIA & threatened to "splinter (it) into a thousand pieces & scatter it to the winds."  

SOURCE

"Cubans Complain U.S. 'Took Control'", by George Sherman, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 18, 1961, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency

1950

www.law.cornell.edu/

PD

"HELD ON COUNTER REVOLUTIONARY CHARGES"

GOOD NEWS FROM CUBA:  21 AMERICANS FREED BY CASTRO

Miami, Florida (JFK+50) On April 22, 1963, twenty-one Americans were freed by Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro.  The group were flown to Homestead Air Force Base* on an airplane chartered by the American Red Cross.

The Americans, who had been sent to Cuban prisons on counter-revolutionary charges, included Rafael Del Pino, a Cuban native and naturalized American citizen, who was shot down near Havana in 1960.

Mrs. Pino "broke into tears when the last man left the plane at Homestead."

*Homestead AFB is located 25 miles South of Miami, Florida.  It is a major training, deployment & humanitarian support hub for South America & the Caribbean.

SOURCE

"21 Americans Freed by Castro," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 22, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Homestead AFB Sign & Tower

Damaged by Hurricane Andrew

Photo by James Ferguson (1992)

www.nara.getarchive.net/

"SCORES JFK'S RECORD AT HOME & ABROAD"

NIXON WANTS JFK 'TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY' TO DRIVE SOVIETS OUT OF CUBA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 20, 1963, former Vice-President Richard M. Nixon called on the Kennedy administration "to do whatever is necessary to force the Soviet beachhead" from Cuba.

Mr. Nixon was speaking to the American Society of Newspaper Editors meeting here in the Nation's Capital, and according to Cecil Holland of The Star, scored "the record of President Kennedy's administration at home and abroad."

The former VP said...

"The United States cannot tolerate the...existence of a Soviet military...base 90 miles from our shores."

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy spoke to the ASNE the previous day.  He told the editors that an invasion of Cuba by the United States "would be a mistake."  April 1963 marked two years since the failed U.S. sponsored invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.

SOURCE

"U.S. Decision on Cuba Is Demanded by Nixon," by Cecil Holland, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 20, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Richard M. Nixon

www.picryl.com

PD

"WE WERE FURIOUS OF THE LIES CASTRO WAS UTTERING"

IKE CLOSES US EMBASSY IN HAVANA, DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SEVERED

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) On January 3, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower closed the U.S. Embassy here in Havana officially severing diplomatic relations with the government of Fidel Castro.

The bearded revolutionary had taken power in 1959 and signed a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in 1960. 

The Eisenhower administration began financing and training Cuban exiles to prepare for an invasion of the island and the overthrow of the Communist dictator.

President John F. Kennedy, inaugurated on January 20, 1961, inherited the CIA operation and authorized the ill-fated invasion at the Bay of Pigs,

At the time of the embassy closing, more than 50,000 visa applications were on file from Cubans wishing to come to the United States.

Harvey Summ, Consul, based in Santiago said (we)... 

"were furious of some of the lies that Castro was uttering."

SOURCES

"January 3, 1961," JFK+50, January 3, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"Turning Out the Lights at U.S. Embassy Havana, 1961," ADST, Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, www.adst.org/  

Fidel Castro

1950s

www.picryl.com/

"NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL ADHERENTS HIDING OUT"

PRE-REVOLUTIONARY SITUATION NOW EXISTS IN CUBA

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) On September 25, 1923, The Evening Star reports "a pre-revolutionary situation is now existing among the leaders of the veteran's movement" here in Cuba.

Just five days earlier, those same leaders arrest was ordered by the Alfredo Zayas* government which resulted in the "hiding out of national and provincial adherents."

Other measures of control have been put in place by the government.  It is believed, the Star reports, a revolution in Cuba is possible "within a week" or "before next year's elections."

*Dr. Alfredo Zayas (1861-1934) was mayor of Havana, Vice-President of Cuba 1909-1913, President of Cuba 1921-1925.  AZ was one of the leaders of the Cuban insurrection of 1895.  He did not seek re-election as president.

SOURCE

"Cuban Revolution Ready To Explode," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 25, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Dr. Alfredo Zayas

Sept 23 1925

National Photo Company

Library of Congress