Cuba 1953: Montreal Pact

Cuba History Timeline Events
June 2, 1953
Late in May the revolutionary factions of the Autenticos led by Carlos Prío, and a gathering of Ortodoxo leaders and other political activists convened in Montreal, Canada. On the 2nd of June they solemnly signed the Pact of Montreal to coordinate their efforts to overthrow the Batista regime.

Uninvited, Fidel Castro attempted to participate in the conference and also lobbied for the Communists to participate. Both requests are categorically rejected by the conferees. Irate, Castro declares he doesn’t need them, and that he will wage his own war against Batista.

Major declarations agreed by the pact signatories were

1. Resolution of the crisis required restoring the 1940 Constitution.
2. The Batista regime because of its illegitimate origins was unqualified to restore political institutions to the people and bring about elections, and so must be removed unconditionally.
3. Upon removal of Batista, a provisional government would restore the Electoral Code of 1943 and guarantee free and fair elections.

After the sessions were over almost all of participants returned to Cuba. Their travel to and from Cuba encountered no interference or harassment from the regime’s secret services or the police.

based on Manuel Márquez-Sterling's Cuba 1952-1959 and
Cuba 1952-1959 Interactive Timeline