REPORT ON VISIT TO CUBA

Remember Heber Meeks who’s letter to Lowry Nelson started Nelson’s letters of protest? Well, this is the Report Meeks was writing when he reached out to Nelson to ask him about his experiences in Cuba.

Below are quotes from Meeks’s report to the First Presidency on the viability of missionary imperialism in Cuba. ​

REPORT ON VISIT TO CUBA

"July 23, 1947 

Dear Brethren:

Submitted herewith is the report on visit to Cuba made for the purpose of studying the conditions with a view of doing missionary work in that country:"

"THE PROBLEM"

"The determining factors… as to whether missionary work should be carried on among this people, are: 
(1) the number of pure white (Spanish) blood on the island 
(2) is the trend toward the preservation of this pure white blood 
(3) will there be an increase in the pure white blood 
(4) would an injection of our doctrine into the Cuban situation of no racial discrimination be wise 
(5) should the gospel be taught to (Black people)."

"Population graph showing per cent of white and colored and foreigner's in Cuba, city of Havana and provinces," showing that white people to occupy 60-79% of these provinces populations. Meeks's Report.

"THE WHITE ELEMENT"

Meeks writes that “these figures are misleading” because “the census takers” simply ask a person if they are white or black “and accepts the answer given.” 

Which is a problem for this church because “it is general practice (in Cuba) if they are less than 50% colored, they are classified as white" whereas this church's "pure white blood" doctrine is a "one drop rule."

But Meeks has somehow found that there are “approximately one million of pure white blood” and that “this group is made up largely of the professional and business class” (i.e. the oppressor’s class, probably the majority of people kicked off the island in the 1953 Cuban revolution) 

“This group…(maintains) a strict segregation... We were advised that genealogies were carefully checked of all members... There is, no doubt, some of the blood of Israel among the Cubans.”

“There is a definite trend in the direction (of increased white-supremacy & eugenics) at the present time." But at present, “as a general practice there is no race discrimination in Cuba. In the middle and lower groups inter-marriage is the common practice. They socialize on a common basis of complete equality.”

“The government is democratic in name only. Only a small percentage of the people interest themselves in government… The government is completely in the hands of corrupt professional politicians.” (Today ~80% of Cubans vote)

“The Small rural communities gave evidence of poverty… the laborers are housed in thatched roof huts. Here and there beautiful homes of the land owners are seen... Cuba is becoming Americanized.”

THE  NEGRO PROBLEM

Black people “in Cuba presents a problem," writes Meeks. "There is no race discrimination other than social with groups as previously stated. They mingle together freely in all social, business, and poltical activities. They have intermarried freely (and there are no reliable records to prove ancestry)."


“The problem is different than in the South. (There) we do not proselyte among (Black people) because of race discrimination. (Black people) cannot attend white meetings…(or have church) among themselves because they cannot hold the Priesthood... In Cuba there would be no such barriers. (Everyone) would attend the same meetings.


“Here the question arises, and this, it seems to me, is all important: what will be (Black peoples’) reaction, in a country where there is no race discrimination, to a doctrine that he cannot hold the Priesthood and thus be denied executive leadership in the Church, while his Spanish neighbor may enjoy such a privilege.

"Would injecting (race discrimination) bring the Church in disrepect in (Cuba)?

“We may well ask ourselves the question, would it be a tragedy to teach them the truth.  Would it be a disfavor to teach them racial purity? Would not (Black people) be a happier race if they knew their racial status and enjoyed the blessings of membership in the Church, its purifying influence in their lives? Are they entitled to know their true relationship to God and their status in His Kingdom? Are other people entitled to this knowledge? The cursed (African) blood would not be in their veins had they known the truth.

“It may seem uniwise to inject the program of the Church and its philosophies into the Cuban situation, yet, are we justified in anticipating the reactions of these people and remaining out of Cuba? It indeed would seem an unwise thing for Joseph Smith to confront a Chirstian nation with the declaration that all their churches were apostate and not accepted to the Lord."

WHY WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF CUBA​

Unfavorable factors
(1) Possible fractions against the Church in introducing the doctrine of “race superiority” into an existing condition of [relative] race equality. 
(2) Difficulty of determining (African) blood in large part of the population. No adequate records kept by which color can be determined.
(3) The sins of the people (intermarriage and mixed race people) have denied them the blessings of the gospel.
(4) They are of Latin blood and if opposition arose, local or general, it would be swift, intense, and ruthless. 

CONCLUSION

"I cannot bring myself to recommend – after days of prayerful consideration that we stay out of Cuba. I cannot overcome the feeling that these people are entitled to the truth.

Faithfully your brother, 

Heber Meeks
Mission President (to U.S. Southern States)"

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So, it was because of this report, that Meeks reached out to Lowry Nelson who had recently spent a year in Cuba for his advice on the Cuba Question. 

I think it's also important to remember when reading this report and of this church's quest for "pure white blood" that the Nazi's had only surrendered two years prior.