Morgan Clelland
History of U.S.
Diplomacy
Cuban Missile Crisis
, In 1962, Cuba became the source of a crucial diplomatic battle between the United States
and the Soviet Union. President Kennedy of the United States vehemently objected to the
presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba that could be fired against America. Premier Khrushchev of
the Soviet Union equally defended his right to place Soviet missiles there for the defense of
Cuba. The political firestorm that ensued between the two may have lasted for just a short period
of time, but did have lasting implications for both sides. While the initial reasons for each side
entering into the crisis appear to be an eagerness to protect against a feared attack, the reasons go
much further. Both the Soviet Union and the United States feared a possible attack, but did not
wish to appear weak in front of their allies and enemies. However, while each side wanted to
appear strong, neither side was willing to be aggressive to the point where warfare was a
possibility. In the end, both powers acted to defend themselves against a possible attack and
appear strong in the face of their enemies and allies, but resorted to diplomacy to avoid the
possibility of total destruction from a nuclear conflict.
Before the advent of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S was extensively involved in Cuba.
Upon defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Treaty of Paris (1898) granted
American forces the right to occupy Cuba until it could govern itself.1 On paper, it appeared that
the United States would have no further involvement upon Cuban independence. However,
dominating Cuba for the furtherance of American economic and political interests won out with
the signing of the Platt Amendment. Cuban and American officials approved the amendment in
1903, which granted the United States extensive control over Cuban commercial and foreign
1
Department of State, “A Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain,” 10 December 1898, U.S. Statutes
at Large, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp (accessed November 5, 2011).
1
, relations and provided for the leasing of land to use as coal and naval stations.2 These
stipulations did not make Cuba an outright American possession, so there was an appearance of
continued Cuban sovereignty. However, this appearance of sovereignty was only meant to justify
intervention in Cuba. American businesses came to dominate the sugar, railroads, utilities, and
oil refining industries.3 To protect these interests, American presidents did not hesitate to use
force. The military in 1906 and 1912 was sent to quell political unrest and ensure domination of
the sugar economy.4 Eventually, there were efforts in 1934 to dilute this influence with the
Treaty of Relations. This treaty rejected the right of the United States to intervene in Cuban
affairs if American interests appeared to be in danger, but did allow the United States to maintain
possession of the Guantanamo Bay naval base.5 Almost nothing changed as a result since
American businesses were firmly entrenched and in control of the economy. Economic
dominance only continued to increase. By 1959, the U.S purchased 74% of Cuban exports and
furnished 65% of its imports.6
American domination and exploitation of the Cuban economy raised extensive anger
among the Cuban public. The government itself under Fulgencio Batista facilitated American
control with his corrupt and repressive governance. To maintain power, Batista endeavored to
remain in the good graces of American businessmen by implementing policy that benefited them
2
Department of State, “The Platt Amendment,” 22 May 1903, U.S Statutes at Large, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/
acad/intrel/platt.htm (accessed November 5, 2011). The Platt amendment did not specifically give Guantanamo to
the United States, but allowed for such an agreement to be made at a future date. Cuba leased Guantanamo to the
United States on February 23, 1903 with the signing of a treaty that allowed for the lease of lands for coaling and
naval stations. The United States and Cuba then signed an agreement on July 2, 1903 that declared the United
States will pay two thousand dollars a year for use of Guantanamo.
3
Max Frankel, High Noon in the Cold War (New York: Ballantine Books, 2004), 60.
4
Robert Smith Thompson, The Missiles of October: The Declassified Story of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile
Crisis (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), 75.
5
Department of State, “Treaty Between the United States of America and Cuba,” 29 May 1934, U.S Statutes at
Large, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/dip_cuba001.asp (accessed November 5, 2011).
6
Keith Eubank, The Missile Crisis in Cuba (Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company, 2000), 3.
2
History of U.S.
Diplomacy
Cuban Missile Crisis
, In 1962, Cuba became the source of a crucial diplomatic battle between the United States
and the Soviet Union. President Kennedy of the United States vehemently objected to the
presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba that could be fired against America. Premier Khrushchev of
the Soviet Union equally defended his right to place Soviet missiles there for the defense of
Cuba. The political firestorm that ensued between the two may have lasted for just a short period
of time, but did have lasting implications for both sides. While the initial reasons for each side
entering into the crisis appear to be an eagerness to protect against a feared attack, the reasons go
much further. Both the Soviet Union and the United States feared a possible attack, but did not
wish to appear weak in front of their allies and enemies. However, while each side wanted to
appear strong, neither side was willing to be aggressive to the point where warfare was a
possibility. In the end, both powers acted to defend themselves against a possible attack and
appear strong in the face of their enemies and allies, but resorted to diplomacy to avoid the
possibility of total destruction from a nuclear conflict.
Before the advent of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S was extensively involved in Cuba.
Upon defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Treaty of Paris (1898) granted
American forces the right to occupy Cuba until it could govern itself.1 On paper, it appeared that
the United States would have no further involvement upon Cuban independence. However,
dominating Cuba for the furtherance of American economic and political interests won out with
the signing of the Platt Amendment. Cuban and American officials approved the amendment in
1903, which granted the United States extensive control over Cuban commercial and foreign
1
Department of State, “A Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain,” 10 December 1898, U.S. Statutes
at Large, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp (accessed November 5, 2011).
1
, relations and provided for the leasing of land to use as coal and naval stations.2 These
stipulations did not make Cuba an outright American possession, so there was an appearance of
continued Cuban sovereignty. However, this appearance of sovereignty was only meant to justify
intervention in Cuba. American businesses came to dominate the sugar, railroads, utilities, and
oil refining industries.3 To protect these interests, American presidents did not hesitate to use
force. The military in 1906 and 1912 was sent to quell political unrest and ensure domination of
the sugar economy.4 Eventually, there were efforts in 1934 to dilute this influence with the
Treaty of Relations. This treaty rejected the right of the United States to intervene in Cuban
affairs if American interests appeared to be in danger, but did allow the United States to maintain
possession of the Guantanamo Bay naval base.5 Almost nothing changed as a result since
American businesses were firmly entrenched and in control of the economy. Economic
dominance only continued to increase. By 1959, the U.S purchased 74% of Cuban exports and
furnished 65% of its imports.6
American domination and exploitation of the Cuban economy raised extensive anger
among the Cuban public. The government itself under Fulgencio Batista facilitated American
control with his corrupt and repressive governance. To maintain power, Batista endeavored to
remain in the good graces of American businessmen by implementing policy that benefited them
2
Department of State, “The Platt Amendment,” 22 May 1903, U.S Statutes at Large, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/
acad/intrel/platt.htm (accessed November 5, 2011). The Platt amendment did not specifically give Guantanamo to
the United States, but allowed for such an agreement to be made at a future date. Cuba leased Guantanamo to the
United States on February 23, 1903 with the signing of a treaty that allowed for the lease of lands for coaling and
naval stations. The United States and Cuba then signed an agreement on July 2, 1903 that declared the United
States will pay two thousand dollars a year for use of Guantanamo.
3
Max Frankel, High Noon in the Cold War (New York: Ballantine Books, 2004), 60.
4
Robert Smith Thompson, The Missiles of October: The Declassified Story of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile
Crisis (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), 75.
5
Department of State, “Treaty Between the United States of America and Cuba,” 29 May 1934, U.S Statutes at
Large, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/dip_cuba001.asp (accessed November 5, 2011).
6
Keith Eubank, The Missile Crisis in Cuba (Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company, 2000), 3.
2
