Approved in 10/19/65 Sli!ti'.i!! ;;-/U:C7 EBFordJr SecDeI/MC/34 October 7, 1965 SECRETARY'S DELEGATION TO THE TWENTIETH SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY New York, September-October 1965 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION Date: October 6, 1965 Time: 10 A.M. Place: U.S.Mission Subject: U.S.-Spanish Relations (Part IV of VI) Participants: u.s. Spain The Secretary Foreign Minister Castiella Mr. Emmett B.Ford,Jr. Ambassador to U.S. Merry Del Val Mr. Jose DeSeabra Mr. Ramon Sedo, Director General for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Nuno Aguirre de Career, Minister Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Washington. Distribution: S/S SCA AmErnbassy MADRID G S/IL S/P DOD INR/OD CIA ARA White House EUR USUN-3 --------------~-~---------­ The Secretary asked Foreign Minister Castiella how our relations looked from Madrid. Castiella noted that our relations seemed very good indeed. There are certainly no points of friction, and things seem generally on the up-swing. There is a definite desire on the part of Spain to cooperate with the United States wherever possible. DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958, Sec. 3.5 State Dept. Guid Ii )' t" 'Ht'.!' By ~----NARA, ....,_._._.&;l.,,___;~..;...... • swn:tr.r -2­ The Secretary said he was most pleased to hear this, and wanted to thank the Spanish Government for its coopera­ tion. We are also grateful for the welcome which our astronauts received in the Canary Islands. Castiella then raised a problem having to do with Cuba. He began by explaining that the Spanish had reduced their contacts with Cuba to a bare minimum. But, in view of the common cultural heritage and the many human ties which still exist between Spain and Cuba, the Spanish Government does not wish to break completely, despite the fact that there is no sympathy for the Castro regime among Spanish leaders. He went on to mention that, since Spanish shipping no longer called at Cuban ports, the only communications link between Spain and Cuba was Iberia Airlines. In this connection, he pointed out that Iberia is cur­rently using Super Constellations on the Madrid-Havana run. These planes are rapidly wearing out and spare parts are be­coming increasingly difficult (and expensive) to obtain. (Castiella said that in Spain the Constellations are referred to as "Complications.") The technical people say that it is simply dangerous to use the Constellations much longer. As a consequence, Castiella said that Spain would like the agreement of the United States to supplant these Constel­lations with DC-8s which were purchased through the Guarantee Trust Company of New York under a guarantee from the Expert­Import Bank. (Ambassador Del Val explained that while there had been no binding commitment not to use these DC-8s on the Cuban runfi Spain felt that there had been a "gentleman's agreement'.) Castiella said that he was not asking for an answer now, but wanted the Secretary to understand the problem. As a matter of fact, the Spanish Finance Minister and Minister of Commerce had been in Washington recently and had talked with Vice President Humphrey on this general subject, although the matter of the DC-8s had not specifical­ly been raised. The Secretary said thatJ while he wouldn't want to be responsible for an Iberia plane crash, this was a problem of some sensitivity for the United States • He told Castiella that he would certainly look into the matter and let him know. §j@ET • SjQRE • -a- Castiella then went on to say that the Spanish had made serious efforts to decrease their contacts with Cuba despite continuous solicitation on the part of the Cubans to increase trade. He emphasized again that Spain does not want to lose all contact with Cuba, particularly in the cultural field. The Secretary asked how many Cuban refugees were presently in Spain. Castiella said that he did not know but there must be a very great many. The Secretary asked whether Castro had made a proposal, similar to that made to the United States recently, on the admittance of refugees who wished to leave Cuba. Castiella replied that there had been no direct approach to the Spanish Government. Castiella expressed the appreciation of the Spanish Government for the new immigration law, which will permit more Spaniards to enter the United States and thereby in­crease cultural bonds between the two countries. The Secretary remarked that this was one part of .the social revolution which is going on in this country. He said that our principles are now in good order and we have begun to complete this social revolution. The Secretary then mentioned the forthcoming visit of David Morse of the ILO to Spain. Castiella said that Mr. Morse would be most welcome. At the conclusion of the conversation Mr. Sedo asked the Secretary whether he would be coming to Spain. The Secretary said that he always likes to go to Spain but was non-conunittal on his plans in this regard.