</s>104-1039-10021 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 ROUTING TOP SECRET- TO: NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS (Security Classification) 1 2 3 4 ACTION APPROVAL DIRECT REPLY DISPATCH PREPARED REPLY COMMENT DISPACH RECOMMENDATION COMMUNITY FILES RECOMMENATION REVIEW COUNCILENCE INFORMATION SIGNATURE REWARDS: CONTROL NO. REMARKS: INFORMATION COPY OF FROM: NAME, ADDRESSS, AND PHONE NO. DATE COPYR OF CAA HISTONICAL REAL AUGUAM DATE RELEASE AS SANITIZED 1998 Handle Via Channels Access to this document will be restricted to those approved for the following specific activities: NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sentitions TOP SECRET (Security Classification)

Summary  
This document contains a series of classified reports dated 25 November 1963, detailing Cuban reactions to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Fidel Castro delivered a two-hour speech on 23 November describing the assassination as "serious and bad news," expressing concern that U.S. policy toward Cuba might become harsher. He accused U.S. "ultra-reactionaries" of exploiting the event to push for aggressive policies against Cuba. Castro also questioned the guilt of Lee Harvey Oswald, suggesting he may have been a tool of U.S. reactionary forces or a psychopath. The Cuban military alert remained in effect following the assassination, with no unusual activity noted. Cuban diplomats, including Carlos Lechuga (UN ambassador) and Foreign Minister Roa, issued statements expressing condolences and requesting information on Lyndon B. Johnson. Che Guevara warned of heightened global tensions and potential threats to world peace. The Venezuelan government planned a press conference on 26 November to link an arms cache found in Venezuela to Cuba, with follow-up reports to the Organization of American States (OAS).  

Key People  
- Fidel Castro: Cuban leader who addressed the implications of Kennedy's assassination.  
- Carlos Lechuga: Cuban UN ambassador who issued a statement expressing condolences.  
- Roa: Cuban Foreign Minister who requested information on Lyndon B. Johnson.  
- Che Guevara: Cuban revolutionary who warned of global tensions post-assassination.  

Key Locations  
- Cuba: Central to the document's focus, with references to military alerts and diplomatic statements.  
- Santiago de Chile: Location of the Cuban Embassy involved in anti-U.S. rhetoric.  
- Caracas, Venezuela: Site of planned press conference linking arms cache to Cuba.  
- New York: Mentioned as a location for UPI dispatches related to Cuban reactions.  

Key Events  
- Fidel Castro's speech (23 November 1963): Analyzed the assassination's impact on U.S.-Cuba relations and questioned Oswald's guilt.  
- Cuban military alert: Maintained after Kennedy's death, with no unusual activity reported.  
- Venezuelan press conference (26 November 1963): Scheduled to reveal Cuba's connection to an arms cache found in Venezuela.  
- Che Guevara's speech (24 November 1963): Warned of global threats to peace due to U.S.-Cuba tensions.  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Monitored Cuban reactions and provided analysis on Castro's statements.  
- National Security Agency (NSA): Intercepted communications related to Cuban military activity and diplomatic responses.  
- Organization of American States (OAS): Mentioned as a potential recipient of Venezuela's report on the arms cache.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10302-10021.pdf

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