Big Time 1958

"We in the United States have some doubts about the current relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba, and we hope that our two countries will not be in a situation of misfire!" Because of Dean Rusk's usual rigidity, Kennedy did not let Dean Rusk and Dobb Reining conversation. Instead, he sent his younger brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, to communicate with the Soviet side.

   Dobrynin, who had just sat down, habitually pushed his glasses, and quickly deduced what he wanted to know from this information. At present, the relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba is getting closer. Although he does not know all the news, he also knows the impact of this relationship. It is normal for Americans to have doubts about the development of this relationship.

"Mr. Kennedy, the relationship between our Soviet Union and Cuba is very normal. The hostile behavior of the landing in the Bay of Pigs forced Cuba to choose the Soviet Union as a friend. I believe you understand this point. Cuba asks us from the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union just passively accepts it. Dobrynin said in a hurry, "In a sense, the United States should review its own foreign policy. It's not our fault, but your policy of looking at Cuba. Yes, forcing Cuba to choose the Soviet Union as a friend..."

  Dobrynin did not exaggerate one bit by bit. This is the truth. It is not the unreasonable hostile policy of the United States. How could Cuba, a regime that is resolutely hostile to the United States to the end, appear? The emergence of such a situation today is completely out of the Americans' own play. Do they want to blame the Soviet Union for finding a good opportunity?

   If debate could solve problems, there would not be so many disputes in the world. What's more, Cuba's power is far from being so great that it has to admit its own mistakes. Every country has the position that it is not me that is at fault, but the whole world is at fault. Obviously, the United States in this era is the most qualified country to think so, and the second country qualified to think so is the Soviet Union. Is it fair to think so? Who cares about this?

  Robert Kennedy would not be entangled in this issue, not to mention that admitting this mistake would have a negative impact on his family’s governance. From a pragmatic point of view, Cuba, a small island country, why should Americans admit their mistakes? All the problems in this world are the problems of the US and the Soviet Union. As long as the Soviet Union, the world's largest rival and the country with the largest territory in the world, can be turned upside down in Cuba?

Without dwelling on this issue, Robert Kennedy asked Dobrynin straight to the point, "All problems in the world today are the problems of the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States is extremely concerned about the recent relations between the Soviet Union and Cuba. Peace in today's world is not easy to come by. Hopefully, the Soviet Union will also be rare in this situation. What we want to know is whether the Soviet Union has adopted a policy of hostility to the United States in Cuba, deployed some kind of offensive weapon against the United States…”

  The hostility is of course, but some kind of offensive weapon is deployed, which Dobrynin does not know. He didn't receive even the slightest bit of news from the country. It was normal. In order to allow the diplomats to have the confidence to confront the Americans, only the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gromyko, knew about it, far from the KGB and the Ministry of Defense. People are executing related plans.

   In fact, this kind of deployment is quite risky. From the very beginning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lost a lot of room for maneuver, but for military deployment. Diplomacy can only be temporarily put on the back burner.

   "No. I have never received even a bit of news from the country. Our motherland is also a responsible big country!" Dobrynin said righteously. "The relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba naturally includes our interests. Since Cuba has found the Soviet Union, we are obliged to help Cuba resist the aggression of the Americans, but that's all..."

  Dobrynin defined this kind of military relationship as defending against American invitations. Robert Kennedy directly pretended that he did not hear it, but he had already got the answer he wanted from the polite Soviet ambassador.

  After the Soviet ambassador left, Robert Kennedy immediately recounted his conversation with Dobrynin and his brother President Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk.

"So, the military relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba is limited to the policy of military development and defense?" Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, "This kind of threat is not very big, no matter how much the Soviet Union supports Cuba. , the geographical advantage cannot be changed, and Cuba can be reincorporated into our system at any time if we want..."

   At this time, Kennedy didn't want to make extra troubles. The congressional election is about to be held. There are less than two months left. He needs to focus on the general election.

"Mr. President, the Soviets can't be trusted, and we have to pay close attention to what's going on in Cuba," said Secretary of State Dean Rusk unmoved. "Only what we see is true, the communist says. I can't believe it!"

   "Of course, we will closely monitor Cuba's movements and let the Air Force investigate Cuba!" Kennedy nodded in approval, "Let the U2 reconnaissance plane inspect Cuba and see if there is anything to gain..."

After Dobrynin returned to the Soviet embassy, ​​he always felt uneasy. After walking back and forth in his room for several times, he still felt unsure. He immediately sent a telegram to the Kremlin, describing today's conversation with Robert Kennedy. He told the country all about it. He had no intention of wanting to know the truth in his heart, but he still managed to endure the doubts in his heart.

   In less than a year after taking office, he conquered the media in Washington with his kind and polite attitude, so that many American newspapers thought he was a moderate force within the Soviet Union and could be won over. Dobrynin sneered at this statement in his heart. Americans are always so optimistic that they are almost incompetent. His kindness is only his own style, and it is far from being able to stir the patriotism in his heart.

"Comrades, let's talk about Comrade Dobrynin's telegram. What can we tell from the telegram?" Khrushchev took the telegram just handed over by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his eyes first fell on Kozlov, then It was Brezhnev, then Suslov, and finally Sherepin, who in turn swept over the people present in the Central Presidium and asked slowly.

  The wisdom of everyone is always greater than that of a single individual. The words of three cobblers on top of Zhuge Liang explain the truth of collective wisdom. Nothing is too much to be afraid of. If everything is discussed by the whole people, it is estimated that nothing will be achieved.

After the people from the Central Presidium finished speaking, the three major departments began to express their opinions. Whether it was the diplomatic response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the military preparations of the Ministry of Defense, they all had their own perspectives to consider. Finally, it was the KGB's turn to think. After Snee's speech, Serov stood up and said, "This matter fundamentally proves a problem, that is, the Americans have begun to doubt the purpose of the Soviet Union and Cuba's closeness, but it is more obvious that they have no evidence and can only pass Guessing to evaluate our actions, it also proves that our internal secrecy is excellent!"

"Keep talking!" Khrushchev rubbed his red eyes, and this showdown also put him under heavy pressure, although he always said something in public to show Americans , but in fact he is more willing to coexist peacefully with the United States, but the Americans have never turned a deaf ear to his kindness, and this action is also a great determination.

"The Ministry of Shipping should act as soon as possible and send all the things we have prepared to Cuba. The longer we can hide, the more prepared we will be!" Serov spread his hands and said, "The action is based on complete preparations. The department has assessed the relevant risks, and I don't believe that the Americans will risk the death of the United States and we will have a nuclear war..."

   "How long will our preparations take!" Khrushchev asked, looking at his deputy Kosygin sideways.

"If it refers to the Il-28 bomber, it will only take ten days to reach Cuba. If the weapons for a campaign of the Cuban cluster are delivered to Cuba, it will take longer!" Kosygin gave himself without hesitation. answer, as if the data were completely in his own mind.

  Khrushchev did not speak and leaned on the back of the chair for a long time in silence. Time passed by every minute and second, and finally ended the meeting directly. On September 1, the Soviet cargo ship from the Baltic arrived in Cuban ports, and Lubyanka and Smolensky, that is, the KGB and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received confirmation at the same time. All shipments of nuclear weapons are now complete, with the exception of conventional ammunition and the personnel of the Cuban cluster.

The next day, Khrushchev was interviewed by the world's media, and under the intensive flashing lights, Khrushchev announced, "At the request of the Republic of Cuba, the Soviet Union cooperated with Cuba in an attitude of assistance. The Soviet Union will supply Cuba with arms and technical experts."

   "First Secretary Khrushchev, is the Soviet Union's actions in Cuba obviously hostile to the United States?" A reporter from the British Times stood up with a somewhat aggressive tone.

"Cuba is a sovereign and independent country, my British friend, is your thinking still stuck in the colonial era? Or have you not woken up from the dream of an empire on which the sun never sets?" Khrushchev asked loudly with his head raised slightly. Then he softened his tone and deceived, "The weapons provided by the Soviet Union do not belong to the category of offensive weapons..."

This is the first time that the Soviet Union has admitted that it has established military cooperation with Cuba. After the news reached Washington, the Kennedy administration immediately started discussions, "We must find out what is on the island of Cuba? All Soviet stations are within the scope of reconnaissance. Inside!" Kennedy always felt that this time things were not so simple. (To be continued~^~)