Nevada Appeal at 150: Jan. 4, 1961: U.S. severs Cuban relations

President Eisenhower announced the United States is diplomatically breaking with Cuba and warned the Castro regime to keep hands off the $70 million U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay.

This country’s determination to keep the base, called the “Pear Harbor of the Caribbean,” was expressed in a terse White House statement:

“The termination of our diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba has no effect on the status of our Naval station at Guantanamo. The treaty relations under which we maintain the Naval station may not be abrogated without the consent of the United States.”

The base, with its excellent facilities and strategic location, was leased under treaty rights obtained in 1903 after the United States liberated Cuba from Spain. It played an important role in both world wars.

Despite the diplomatic break, State Department Press Officer Joseph Reap indicated the United States will try to find some way to take care of Cuban refugees seeking admission to this country.

Congress quickly rallied behind both the president’s firm stand on Guantanamo and last night’s break in diplomatic relations. The lawmakers agreed with Eisenhower that “there is a limit to what the United States in self respect can endure.”

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.