Philip Bonsal
Encyclopedia
Philip Wilson Bonsal was a United States foreign
diplomat
and the last United States Ambassador to Cuba.
in 1903, his father was Stephen Bonsal, a well-known Far Eastern correspondent. Bonsal became Ambassador
to Colombia
1955, Bolivia
1957-59, Cuba
1959-60 and Morocco
1961-62. Prior to becoming an ambassador Bonsal had been chief of the Latin American Division and an employee of AT&T
in Cuba, he was considered a "Latin American hand" due to his apparent Latino
background. After his brief spell as Ambassador to Cuba, Bonsal published the book "Cuba, Castro and the United States".
and reportedly attempted to find a working arrangement with the leader of the new Cuban government, Fidel Castro
. Bonsal admitted that "animosity was inevitable", but he was hopeful that "at some point we can get down to a reasoned dialogue". Castro was critical of the arrival of Bonsal in the Cuban press comparing him to a colonial Viceroy
, and dialogue was not easily forthcoming. On September 4, 1959, Bonsal met with Castro to express "serious concern at the treatment being given American private interests in Cuba both agriculture and utilities." Castro responded by saying he “admires Americans, especially tourists, for whom he is planning great things.”
Bonsal's reconcillatory approach was also poorly received by leading members of the United States Congress
, who felt his methods were an appeasement of communism
. He was withdrawn after serving barely a year in office. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed shortly after, and current US diplomatic representation in Cuba is handled by the United States Interests Section in Havana
which remains part of the embassy of Switzerland
.
Foreign relations of the United States
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. The United States federal statutes relating to foreign relations can be found in Title 22 of the United States Code.-Pacific:-Americas:-Caribbean:...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and the last United States Ambassador to Cuba.
Biography
Bonsal was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1903, his father was Stephen Bonsal, a well-known Far Eastern correspondent. Bonsal became Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
1955, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
1957-59, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
1959-60 and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
1961-62. Prior to becoming an ambassador Bonsal had been chief of the Latin American Division and an employee of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
in Cuba, he was considered a "Latin American hand" due to his apparent Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
background. After his brief spell as Ambassador to Cuba, Bonsal published the book "Cuba, Castro and the United States".
Cuba
In 1959 Bonsal became the first United States Ambassador to return to Cuba after the Cuban revolutionCuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
and reportedly attempted to find a working arrangement with the leader of the new Cuban government, Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. Bonsal admitted that "animosity was inevitable", but he was hopeful that "at some point we can get down to a reasoned dialogue". Castro was critical of the arrival of Bonsal in the Cuban press comparing him to a colonial Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
, and dialogue was not easily forthcoming. On September 4, 1959, Bonsal met with Castro to express "serious concern at the treatment being given American private interests in Cuba both agriculture and utilities." Castro responded by saying he “admires Americans, especially tourists, for whom he is planning great things.”
Bonsal's reconcillatory approach was also poorly received by leading members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, who felt his methods were an appeasement of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. He was withdrawn after serving barely a year in office. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed shortly after, and current US diplomatic representation in Cuba is handled by the United States Interests Section in Havana
United States Interests Section in Havana
The U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is inaccessible from within Cuba. Consular issues regarding the naval base are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.-Location:...
which remains part of the embassy of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
See also
- Cuba-United States relationsCuba-United States relationsCuba and the United States of America have had an interest in one another since well before either of their independence movements. Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward at various times by United States...
- History of CubaHistory of CubaThe known history of Cuba, the largest of the Caribbean islands, predates Christopher Columbus' sighting of the island during his first voyage of discovery on 27 October 1492...