Annex No. 3 Chronology of the Developement and Emergence of the Revolutionary Council

3 L. 1961 MEMORANDUA SUBJECT: Chronology of the Development and Emergence of the Revolutionary Council 1. As Castro's true position became progressively more apparent in the first half of 1959, much consideration was given by the State Department here end "The Country Team" in Havana to the .possible posture of U. s. policy toward Cuba. The general conclusion reached in the latter part of 1959 was that any group or coalition of groups which could hope to supplant the Castro regime could gain popular acceptance only on the besis of continuing the revolution with more practical menagement and less nationalist, socialist and Marxist contact; the United States would have to disassociate itself from Batista elements which would rush to undo the revolution. Elements within the De- partment of State catalogued actual or potential opposition to Castro as follows: a. The Autenticos (Antonio de Varona). b. The Monticristi (Justo Cerrillo). c. Triple A (Sanchez Arango). d. Catholic Labor and Youth. e. Ex-26 July Members. f. Ex-Batista elements. 2. 3. As the project approached its stage of formalization, i.e. approval on the highest governmental level, the possible composition of a junta" was discussed on the appropriate Assistant Secretary of State level. After the project was approved on 17 March 1960, the Department was kept fully informed of each step leading to the eventual formation of the F3D on 11. May 1960 and its advice on personalities and substance was sought regularly: There was no objection to the original Varona, Carrillo, Rasco, Artime (and later Sanchez Arengo) constellation. Coordination with the Department continued throughout the entire project: In September 1960 the Department's advice was sought on the inclusion of additional personalities into the FRD Executive Committee, such as Manuel Ray; in Jenuary 1961 the problems inherent in the establish- ment of a "Provisional Government" were discussed both in terms of personalities and substance; on 13 February 1961 approvel was received for the establishment of a Revolutionary Council with the understending that there should be no U.S. interference and that the Cubans were to nominate anyone they saw fit as