Memories of the 28th Century

Recently, Obama has tried to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, and the matter of the trade embargo and the billions of dollars worth of expropriated property have been noticed again. The original amount of the properties was determined to be $1.8 billion, and inflation has brought that up to about $7 billion. A large part of the stolen property is being used by Cuban government corporations, but some has been transferred to cooperatives, individuals, and at least a few pieces were sold to foreign corporations. Whether the eventual settlement will be in cash or the return of the properties is unknowable at this time, but the present law is that the embargo cannot be lifted until payment will be made, even if Obama wants to violate another of the laws that he swore to uphold.

I just found certifiedcubanclaims.org (link below), which is an organization that appears to be working for the interests of the people and companies whose properties were expropriated. Interest seems to have increased in these properties recently, and the NY Times had an article that described the situation (link below).


Since the early 1960's it has been the policy of the United States of America that we would not have trade or diplomatic relations with Cuba until the owners of property expropriated by the Cuban government were fully compensated. U.S. citizens owned a great deal of real and personal property in Cuba when the Battista regime was overthrown by Castro. Over the next few years the Castro regime became more dictatorial than Battista ever dreamed of being, and Castro seized most of the commercial and industrial infrastructure of Cuba, and some of that was owned by Americans.

In attempts to pressure Cuba to compensate the owners, among other reasons, the U.S. banned travel to and trade with Cuba. In a misguided attempt to help Cuba become a going proposition again legislation has been filed that would overturn the laws banning travel and trade with Cuba, even though Cuba has not paid for any of the stolen property. Such proposed laws should not be allowed to pass. The U.S. government exists to protect its citizens and their property, and overturning existing policy toward Cuba would overturn that principle; the U.S. would be complicit in stealing from its citizens.

But we shouldn’t lose perspective. Cuba is a minor issue for the U.S.A. While the losses in Cuba financially ruined a few families and corporations, most of the Americans who had direct investments in Cuba had more assets in other, safer locations, and most Americans had no commercial connection with Cuba. If the situation remains unchanged, then the rest of the world will continue, but it would be nice to resolve the situation while Fidel Castro is still alive. It would be nicer for the people of Cuba, if their country were to become free and open, and that may happen someday, but the U.S. should not become involved there again.

Until Cuba becomes free and open and free of debt it will be an issue that will make or break politicians in the U.S., depending on which side of the issue they come down on. You can be sure that I won’t back any who do not demand payment in full.


http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?r...tion:prelim%29
http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content...-travieso1.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/wo...rtunities.html
http://www.certifiedcubanclaims.org/faqs.htm

I write like H. P. Lovecraft according to iwl.me