◆ SpookStack

J9P'SEeRET meeting with President Eisenhower, on 28 December, the minutes of the Specia~ Group Meeting of 29 De- cember read as follows: The latter {President Eisenhower] made two points: (a) it would be desirable to obtain the cooperation and support of indi- vidual Latin American Governments, (b) it would be desirable, if possible, for us to break relations with Cuba, in concert with other countries some time before January 20th. 22/ In contrast to the suggestion that the US break realtions with Cuba, prior to the inauguration of Kennedy, General Goodpaster's record of the Merchant- Eisenhower meeting of 28 December reported that: He, [President Eisenhower] thought, however, that [Presidents] Frondizi, Prado, and others should take diplomatic initiative to get Latin American countries to take a position that they would like to remove Castro from power, but, lacking the means to do so, would like the us to take the lead. The President said it was clear to him that Latin Americans must be brought to see the necessity of action. He was inclined to think that it might be time to recognize the anti-Castro front as the Cuban Government. He added that he would like to see a definite move taken in this matter before January 20th, and said that the State Department should be thinking of some definite action that could be brought about be- fore that time. 23/ "Thinking of some definite action" differs consider- ably from the suggestion that the President. thought - 187 - ...TOP SECRFF