Cuban archive of documents, includes memo about "Bay of Pigs" and letter signed by Castro. This fascinating Cuba archive traces the reparations of hostile Latin relations and attitudes after the Bay of Pigs. On April 17, 1961, approximately 1,300 members of a CIA-supported counter-revolutionary Cuban exile force stormed the beaches of Cuba, beginning a brief military adventure which ended in total failure. The incident quickly became a foreign policy debacle for President Kennedy, who approved the plan just three months into his presidency. This lot includes documents between Cuba and political leaders of Central America, signed by members of the Cuban government, with a letter signed by Fidel Castro included as well. All documents are of course in Spanish.

a. Nine page unsigned memorandum that could have been written by Raul Roa, who was the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1959 to 1973. Roa was appointed Foreign Minister by Castro and he gained international prominence with his blunt diplomacy. In the 1970s he worked to restore good relations with other Latin American countries, and in 1973 he signed an anti-hijacking agreement with the United States. The memorandum typed on "Republica De Cuba, Minister of Foreign Relations" stationery is dated in Havana, May 5, 1961 "Year of the Education," less than a month after the Bay of Pigs. This document measures 13 x 8.5 and describes the "Bay of Pigs" in detail. The document also denounces Kennedy and America and goes to far as to compare North American imperialism to Hitler's tactics.

b. A document typed and signed in blue ink by Raul Roa, on the Republic De Cuba Ministry of Foreign Relations stationary in Havana on May 7, 1963, addressed to Jose Fellman Velarde, the Minister of Foreign Relations of Bolivia. The document reads in full, "Your Excellency: I have the honor to advise Your Excellency that the Revolutionary Government of Cuba has designated Mr. Roberto Lassale del Amo, Fully-Empowered Minister, to fill the position of Business Chief at interim for your Esteemed Government. I ask that your Excellency accept Mr. Lassale del Amo in the role above mentioned and I take this opportunity to reiterate the assurance of my highest respect." Signed in blue ink at bottom.

c. The earliest document in this archive is a July 18, 1956 document by Fulgencio Batista addressed to Victor Paz Estenssoro, President of the Republic of Bolivia. The document was written in Havana at the Presidential Palace on July 18, 1956 and reads in part, "Wishing to interpret the feelings of affection and true friendship of the People and the Government of Cuba toward the Bolivian nation, I have decided to entrust its representation in the solemn act of the formal introduction of the First Magistracy of Your Country by the elected President, His Excellency Mister Hernan Siles Zuazo, which is upcoming, to Mister Doctor Emilio Cancio Bello y Mazutier, Extraordinary and Fully-Empowered Ambassador of Cuba to Uruguay; assuming the position of Extraordinary Ambassador in Special Mission, he will present to Your Excellency my sincere homage of high consideration and appreciation..."

d. A final extended handshake towards the future comes from a 2002 Fidel Castro document to Gonzalo Sanchez, President of the Republic of Bolivia. The document reads in full, "With the wish to continue the maintenance of the cordial, friendly relations that exist between the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Bolivia, I have chosen Mister Luis Felipe Vazquez Vazquez to represent the people and the government of the Republic of Cuba as Extraordinary, Fully- Empowered Ambassador in front of the Government of Your Excellency. Mr. Vazquez Vazquez is tasked with supporting the interest of both countries; the integrity and aptitude that he exhibits allow me to hope that he will gain the esteem and the kindness of Your Excellency. With this confidence, I beg your Excellency to extend full faith and credit to what Mr. Vazquez Vazquez will say in name of Cuba and, most importantly, when he will express my sincere wishes for the prosperity of this Country and for Your personal happiness. In the Palace of the Revolution, Havana, on August 8, 2002." Signed by Fidel Castro in black marker.