Organization of American States

Abstract

The Organization of American States (OAS) Council met in a special session on October 23, 1962, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the threat to the security of the western hemisphere posed by missile bases clandestinely erected in Cuba by the government of the Soviet Union. The Council voted to act as provisional Organ of Consultation under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance of 1947 (Rio Treaty). In that capacity, the Council approved the same day a draft resolution calling for the immediate dismantling and withdrawal from Cuba of all missiles by a vote of 19 in favor, none opposed, with I abstention (Uruguay). The delegate of Uruguay explained that he had abstained on the vote because he had not yet received instructions from his government.