State Historical Society of Iowa

"Department of State Memorandum of Conversation between President Kennedy and Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker Regarding Cuba and Latin America," 1961

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Courtesy of DocsTeach, "Department of State Memorandum of Conversation between President Kennedy and Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker Regarding Cuba and Latin America," 1961

Description

The meeting detailed in the memo took place during President Kennedy's trip to Canada to address the Canadian Parliament. In his remarks Kennedy stressed the importance of working together for safety and security in the region. Exactly a month prior to this speech the US launched the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. While the failed invasion began under Eisenhower, Kennedy did authorize the invasion in February of 1961. The failed invasion paved the way for the Cuban missile crisis that would begin on October 14, 1962. The memo emphasized Canada's continued reluctance to join the Organization of American States. The goal of the Organization of American States was to increase regional security and commercial cooperation. Through its involvement the US hoped to use the organization to work against communism in the region. Canada for its part did not join the organization until 1990. Cuba was one of the original members in 1948 but had been expelled from the organization in January of 1962.

Full transcript coming soon.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Whose perspective was the memo written from? How did the memo portray Kennedy? Diefenbaker?
  • How did President Kennedy describe the situation in Cuba to Prime Minister Diefenbaker in the memo? What reasons did Prime Minister Diefenbaker give for declining an invitation to help with negotiations in Cuba and for joining the Organization of the Americas?
  • Considering the Prime Minister's responses, how did this foreshadow conflict between the US and Cuba? Why were the US attempts at winning a war of ideals in Latin America not working?

Citation Information

Department of State Memorandum of Conversation between President Kennedy and Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker Regarding Cuba and Latin America; 5/17/1961; Conference Files, 3/25/1949 - 5/17/1972; General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. Courtesy of Library of Congress