From the South China Morning Post this week in: 1962
'This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military build-up on the island of Cuba. Within the last week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
'Upon receiving the first preliminary hard information of this nature last Tuesday morning at 9am, I directed that our surveillance be stepped up. And having now confirmed and completed our evaluation of the evidence and our course of action, this Government feels obliged to report this new crisis to you in full detail.
'The characteristics of these new missile sites indicate two distinct types of installations. Several of them include medium-range ballistic missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical miles (1,853km). Each of these missiles, in short, is capable of striking Washington DC, the Panama Canal, Cape Canaveral, Mexico City or any other city in the southeastern part of the United States, in Central America or in the Caribbean area...
'Acting, therefore, in the defence of our own security and that of the entire Western Hemisphere, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the resolution of Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately:
'First: To halt this offensive build-up, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba, from whatever nation or port, will, if found to contain offensive weapons, be turned back...
'I have directed the Armed Forces to prepare for any eventualities; and trust that, in the interests of both the Cuban people and the Soviet technicians at these sites, the hazards to all concerned of continuing this threat will be recognised.'