NOVRR 16, 1978.
Hon. HENKY KIBATNOKK, Secretary of State, Washington, DEAR MR. SECRETARY: From time to time in the past, have raised with your two predecessors the matter of validating for travel to Cube the passport of Me. Pat Holt professional staf member of the Committee on Foreiga Kalations. now renew the request in the hope of eliciting an affirmative response.
Assuming that the Cuban Government would be willing to issue a visa to Mr. Holt, it is my thought now, as it has been in the past, that he would spend perhaps two or three weeks in Cubs and report his findings in confidence to the Committee on Foreign Relations. He would, of course, take care to make clear that his mission was purely one of fact finding on behalf of the legislative branch and that he in no way represented the executive branch. If you prefer, he would gladly use a regular, instead of an official, passport.
The Committee regularly finds the reports of its staff of great value.
Such a report from Cuba would meet a particular need, because there is so little other reporting from that country.
Sincerely yours, FULBRIGHT, Chairman.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington, December 7, 1973.
Hon. FULBRIGHT, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate.
DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your letter of November 16 concerning the validation of Pat Holt passport for travel to Cuba.
Our general opposition to travel by Americans to Cubs, with certain exceptions as set forth by regulation (22 CFR 51. 73. reflects our con tinuing assessment that it is important to our national interest and the security of the hemisphere to seek the isolation of Cuba in cooperation with other American Republics.
Nonetheless, while there has been no change in the Department policy to discourage travel to Cuba, we recognize the importance which you place upon Pat trip and reluctantly agree to validate his passport for this travel. appreciate your statement of Mr. Holt intention to make clear that the trip would in no way represent the Executive Branch. We would appreciate his makmy appropriate puotie statements that effect if his travel were to become publicly known. asked, the Department will reiterate our policy with regard to Cuba Best rogatus HENRA KISSINGER. VII)