Mar. 11, 1963 - Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, declaring the U.S. has not written off Cuba, indicated today this country might invade the island if provoked by overt Communist terror in Latin America. Although he refrained from pinpointing what action the U.S. might take, McNamara cited instances — such as the assassination of a Latin American official by Cuban agents — which this country “will not tolerate.” He also said the U.S. would consider it an “invasion” if the Russians sent in more troops to Cuba to quell an anti-Communist uprising there. McNamara’s blunt statements, a clear warning to the Cubans and Russians, were contained in testimony made public by the House Armed Services Committee before which the Secretary appeared last month.
