IMPACT OF FOREIGN POLICY
● Castro believed that Cuba needed to develop its economy outside the shadow of the
USA
○ Their interests began to be affected by Cuban policies, and the US pressed other
countries to prevent economic aid reaching them
● President Eisenhower cancelled the sugar quota, extended into an economic embargo
that was intensified in October 1960
○ US banks in Cuba were confiscated
● Cuban relations with Soviet Union increased and improved
● May 1960 the Soviets established formal diplomatic relations between the two countries
● Trade agreements signed and Cuba found a new market for the sugar production
● Cuba was granted loans from Soviet Union to purchase industrial weapons
○ Soviets promised Cuba to help prevent an armed US intervention against Cuba
● Huber Matos (1918-2014)
○ A former teacher and farmer (brilliant rebel commander during sierra campaign)
○ Hired as military governor
○ Wrote a letter about the concerns about the influence of communism
■ Sent two days after Raul Castro was appointed as Minister of the Armed
forces
○ Mastos was arrested for rebellion and sentenced to 20 years in prison
● The escambray rebels (war against bandits, 1960-1965)
○ Some soldiers still loyal to Batista decided to continue to fight from the
Escambray mountains
○ Other anti communist people joined (e.g William Alexander Morgan)
○ Was a guerrilla campaign, had less support than the M-26-7 rebels
○ Castro’s forces defeated the rebels
● William Alexander Morgan (1928-1961)
○ Was a US citizen who volunteered to fight against Batista and had been recruited
to the M-26-7
○ The US government denied claims that El Yanqui Comandante was an agent
from the CIA
○ He was one of the leaders of an anti-Castro group
■ But also secretly informed Castro of the plot and it failed
● Castro believed that Cuba needed to develop its economy outside the shadow of the
USA
○ Their interests began to be affected by Cuban policies, and the US pressed other
countries to prevent economic aid reaching them
● President Eisenhower cancelled the sugar quota, extended into an economic embargo
that was intensified in October 1960
○ US banks in Cuba were confiscated
● Cuban relations with Soviet Union increased and improved
● May 1960 the Soviets established formal diplomatic relations between the two countries
● Trade agreements signed and Cuba found a new market for the sugar production
● Cuba was granted loans from Soviet Union to purchase industrial weapons
○ Soviets promised Cuba to help prevent an armed US intervention against Cuba
● Huber Matos (1918-2014)
○ A former teacher and farmer (brilliant rebel commander during sierra campaign)
○ Hired as military governor
○ Wrote a letter about the concerns about the influence of communism
■ Sent two days after Raul Castro was appointed as Minister of the Armed
forces
○ Mastos was arrested for rebellion and sentenced to 20 years in prison
● The escambray rebels (war against bandits, 1960-1965)
○ Some soldiers still loyal to Batista decided to continue to fight from the
Escambray mountains
○ Other anti communist people joined (e.g William Alexander Morgan)
○ Was a guerrilla campaign, had less support than the M-26-7 rebels
○ Castro’s forces defeated the rebels
● William Alexander Morgan (1928-1961)
○ Was a US citizen who volunteered to fight against Batista and had been recruited
to the M-26-7
○ The US government denied claims that El Yanqui Comandante was an agent
from the CIA
○ He was one of the leaders of an anti-Castro group
■ But also secretly informed Castro of the plot and it failed
