 the Carter administration, Cuba and the United States opened Interests Sections in their former embassies.

A step below embassies, Interests Sections allowed the Cold War foes to have diplomatic dealings without officially restoring relations.

Keeping a diplomatic low profile in Cuba

Diplomats returning to the old U.S. Embassy in Havana found years of dust accumulated on the furniture and calendars from 1961 still on the walls.

Since the United States couldn't fly the American flag or name an ambassador to Havana, there were no obvious signs of a large U.S. diplomatic presence in Communist-run Cuba.

"Most Americans who visit Cuba seem to think there's no relationship, there's just a tiny room in the Swiss Embassy. And every day they are driving past the old embassy, but they don't know there's an embassy because there's no flag," said Vicki Huddleston, who was chief of the Interests Section from 1999 to 2002.

With 51 Americans and 300 Cuban employees, the U.S. Interests Section is one of the largest diplomatic missions of any country in Cuba.

But instead of improving relations with Cuba, the Interests Section often served as a lightning rod for confrontation.

The Cuban government plastered propaganda around the building, including one iconic sign that showed a fatigue-clad revolutionary telling a hissing caricature of Uncle Sam, "Mister imperialists, we are not the least bit afraid of you!"

Fidel Castro called the section "a nest of spies" and led frequent marches with hundreds of thousands of supporters in tow to protest U.S. policies.

Tarantulas would show up in the oddest places

Cuban intelligence kept a close eye on American diplomats' comings and goings.

"They had 3,000 to 4000 people that were focused on our personnel, trying to recruit them or harass us," said James Cason, the chief of the Interests Section from 2002 to 2005. "They would break into your house and do things to show they had control of your existence. In my days, if they knew you didn't like spiders, you would find a tarantula wandering around your room."

Cuban diplomats serving in the United States complained of similar harassment at the hands of American minders.

Cuban flags all but block out the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana during frostier diplomatic times.

the Carter administration, Cuba and the United States opened Interests Sections in their former embassies. 

 A gradation below embassy, Interests Sections allowed the Cold War foes to have diplomatic transaction without officially restoring relation. 

 keep a diplomatic low visibility in Cuba 

 diplomat returning to the previous U.S. Embassy in Havana found years of debris accumulated on the furniture and calendars from 1961 however on the walls. 

 Since the United States couldn't fly the American masthead or name an ambassador to Havana, there were no obvious signs of a big U.S. diplomatic presence in Communist - run Cuba. 

 " Most Americans who visit Cuba seem to remember there's no relationship, there's just a tiny room in the Swiss Embassy. And every day they are driving past the previous embassy, but they don't know there's an embassy because there's no flag, " said Vicki Huddleston, who was chief of the Interests Section from 1999 to 2002. 

 With 51 Americans and 300 Cuban employees, the U.S. Interests Section is one of the largest diplomatic missions of any country in Cuba. 

 But instead of improving relations with Cuba, the Interests Section often served as a lightning rod for confrontation. 

 The Cuban government plastered propaganda around the building, including one iconic signal that showed a fatigue - clothe revolutionary telling a hissing caricature of Uncle Sam, " Mister imperialists, we are not the least moment afraid of you! " 

 Fidel Castro call the section " a nest of spies " and head frequent marches with hundreds of thousands of supporters in tow to protest U.S. policies. 

 Tarantulas would show up in the leftover places 

 Cuban intelligence kept a close center on American diplomats' orgasm and going. 

 " They had 3,000 to 4000 people that were focused on our personnel, try to recruit them or harass us, " said James Cason, the chief of the Interests Section from 2002 to 2005. " They would transgress into your house and do thing to show they have control of your being. In my days, if they know you didn't like spider, you would find a european wolf spider wandering around your room. " 

 Cuban diplomats serving in the United States complain of similar harassment at the hand of American minders. 

 Cuban flags all but block out the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana during frostier diplomatic times.
 thf Carter administration, Guba and the Unijee Statxs opensd Interdsts Sections in their formec emvassitf.

A step below embarsies, Intvrests Sextiois allowed the Cold War njes fl hare diplomatic deslings witvout officiallf fedtoring relations.

Keeping a diplomatyc low lrlfile in Cuba

Dyplokwts dvtmrning to the old U.S. Embassy in Gavana hound years of cust accumulated on the fugnitkre and calendars vrom 1961 still on eye walls.

Sincd the Unittd States cooldn't fly the American flag or nxme au ambassadot fo Vavana, therx were no obvious signs of a largr U.S. diplomatig prevenxe in Communist-run Cuua.

"Most Americans who visit Cuta seem to think thwrw's no reldtiovwhio, tgece's just w tmny room in the Swiss Wmbassy. And every dsy nney are drivjng paft the old embassy, but they don't know thege's zn embassy because therw's no flag," said Vicki Huddlestjn, who was chief of the Interests Section from 1999 tm 2002.

Witi 51 Amtrlgans qnf 300 Cuban employees, the U.S. Interests Section if ome of the largesb diplomatic missipnd ps any country in Cuyz.

Bht instead of imprlving rglatiobs with Ctba, yhe Interests Section often served as a oightning rod for eonfrontatiou.

The Coban gpvernment plastered pro'agandz around thf buildinf, including one izonpc shgn that showed a fatigue-cjad revolntioncry tellkng s hissyng caricahure of Uncle Sam, "Mister impetialisds, we are jot the least bit afraid of you!"

Hmdel Castro cslned the seccion "a nest of spief" and led freqoent marckes wigh hundreda of thmusands of fupporters in jow to protesv U.S. polisies.

Rarabtulas duuld show up im the oddvsu places

Cuvan intelligence kcpt a dlose eye on Amzxixan diplomats' cpmivgs ajd gjhngs.

"They had 3,000 to 4000 pdpple ghat were fizusec on our personnel, tsyinf to recruit them pr harass os," said Jwmes Cason, thr chief of the Inttrests Sertion groi 2002 to 2005. "They would break into ykur house anq do things eo smow jhey had coutrol of your existence. In my days, if thxy knew you didn't like wpiders, you would fnnc a tarantuka wagdering asound your room."

Cuban diplomats servinn in the United States compldined of similar harassment at the hands of American minders.

Cuban flags all bur block out the U.S. dipkomatpc inssion yn Hevena during frostivr diplomatic times.

the Carter administration, Cuba and the United Interests in their embassies. A step the War foes to diplomatic dealings without restoring relations. Keeping a diplomatic low in Cuba Diplomats returning to the old U.S. Embassy in Havana found years dust accumulated on the furniture and calendars from 1961 still on the walls. the States fly American flag or name an ambassador to Havana, there were no obvious signs of a large diplomatic presence in Communist-run Cuba. "Most Americans who Cuba seem to think no relationship, there's just a room the Swiss And day are driving past old embassy, but they don't know there's an embassy because there's no flag," said Vicki Huddleston, who chief of Section from to With Americans and 300 the U.S. Interests Section is one diplomatic missions of any country in Cuba. But of improving with Cuba, the Interests Section often as a lightning rod for confrontation. The Cuban plastered propaganda around the building, including one iconic sign that showed a fatigue-clad revolutionary telling caricature of Uncle Sam, imperialists, we are the bit of Fidel Castro the section "a nest of spies" and led frequent marches with of thousands of supporters in tow to protest U.S. policies. show in the oddest Cuban intelligence kept a eye American diplomats' comings and had to were on personnel, trying to recruit or harass us," said James the chief of the 2005. "They would break into your house and things to show they had control of existence. In my days, if they knew you didn't like spiders, you find a around your room." Cuban diplomats serving in the States complained of similar at the hands of American minders. Cuban flags all block the U.S. mission in Havana frostier diplomatic times.
 the Carter administration, CuBa and the UnIted STatEs oPeNed INterEsts Sections in THeir Former embassies.

A step beLow emBaSSies, iNtErestS SectioNS aLLOweD tHe colD WAR fOes to HavE diplomAtic dealinGs wItHout officialLY rEstoring reLatIons.

Keeping a DipLomatiC lOw pROfile In CUba

DiPlomatS ReturnIng to the oLd u.s. EmbasSY in HavaNA FoUnd yEars of dust accumulATeD On the furniture And calEnDArS FRom 1961 StiLl on the walLs.

since THe UniteD stATES coULdn't fly the AmeRican flag or NAme An ambaSsAdoR To HavaNa, theRe WEre No obvious siGns oF a large U.S. DiplomATic presENce in CoMmunisT-ruN CuBa.

"MoST AMeRicAnS Who VIsIt CUBa sEem to thiNk ThEre's nO relATIONshiP, thEre's Just a Tiny room in the swiSs EmBAssY. And eVery dAy thEy Are drIving pAst thE oLd embassy, but theY don'T know therE's aN eMbaSsY becaUSe therE's nO flAg," said VIcki HudDLesToN, WHO wAs chief of the IntereStS sEcTion from 1999 To 2002.

With 51 aMeRiCAns and 300 CuBaN emPloyEES, the U.s. IntEReSts SectiOn is onE Of ThE largesT dIplomaTiC miSsiOns of ANy coUntry iN Cuba.

But InsteAD of improving reLAtions with CubA, ThE iNtERestS SeCtion often sErveD As a lIghtNInG roD For coNfronTaTIoN.

the Cuban government pLaStered PropaGanda around thE building, iNCLUding one IconIC sIGn that showed a fAtiguE-clad revolUTionary tEllinG a hissinG caricatuRE Of Uncle SAm, "MIstEr iMpeRIAlIsts, we are not tHE LeasT bIt afraiD of You!"

FideL CaStrO caLleD tHe section "A nest of sPiEs" AnD lEd fRequeNT marches WiTh hUnDreDs of tHOusandS of suPporTeRs IN toW to protESt u.s. PoliCiEs.

taraNtuLaS woulD shoW Up iN the oddEst places

cubAN intElLiGence kePt a close eye on amErican diplOmAts' ComingS ANd goings.

"they had 3,000 to 4000 people that were FOcused oN ouR persOnneL, trying to RecRuit thEm oR Harass Us," said james caSon, THE chieF OF tHe INtErests SectION frOm 2002 to 2005. "THeY wouLd break Into your house and do THinGs to show they hAd cOntrOL Of YouR ExISteNcE. in mY DAys, if they knew yoU didn't like SpIDeRs, you would FInd A tArantulA wanderIng arOUnd your Room."

Cuban Diplomats SeRvinG IN thE United StaTes complAined of siMIlar hARaSsmenT at The hanDs Of AMericAn mindERs.

CUban fLags alL bUt blocK out tHe u.S. diplomAtic mission in Havana duriNg frosTier dIplOmatic timEs.

 the Carter administration , Cuba and  theUni ted  S tate s op ened Interests Sect ions in their former e mbass ie s .

A st ep be low emb a ss i e s,In te res ts Se ction s a llowedthe Cold W arfo es to have d i pl omatic dea lin gs without o ffi cially  r est o ringrel ation s.

Ke e ping a  diplomat ic low pr o file in C ub a

D iplomats returnin g  t o  the old U.S.Embass yi nH a van a f ound years  o f dus t  accumu l at e d ont he furnitureand calenda r s f rom 19 61  st i ll onthe w al l s.
Since theUnit ed States  could n 't flyt he Amer ican f lag  or  nam e  a namb as s ado r  t o H a van a, there  w er e noobvi o u s sign s o f alarge  U.S. diploma tic  pre s enc e inCommu nist -r un Cu ba.

" MostAm ericans who vis it C uba seemtoth ink  t here' s  no re lat ion ship, t here'sj ust  a t i ny  room in the Swiss  E m b as sy. Andeveryd ay  t h ey are d ri vin g pa s t  theolde mb assy, bu t they do n' t knowth ere'san  em bas sy be c ause  there 's no fl ag,"s aid Vicki Hudd l eston, who wa s  c h i ef of t heInterests S ecti o n fr om 1 9 99  to 2002. 

Wit h5 1A mericans and 300 Cu ba n empl oyees , the U.S. In terests Se c t i on is on e of th e  largest diplo matic  missionso f any co untry  in Cuba .

But in s t ead of i mpr ovi ngrel a t io ns with Cuba, t he I nt erestsSec tion of ten  se rve d a sa lightni ng rod f or  c on fr ont ation . 

The Cu ba n g ov ern mentp laster ed pr opag an da aro und the bu i l ding ,in clud ing  o ne ic onic sig n thatshowed afat i gue- cl ad  revolu tionary telli ng  a hissing  c ari cature o f UncleSam, "Mister imperialis t s, we a renot t he l east bitafr aid of  yo u !"

Fi del Ca stroca lle d the s e c ti on"a  nest of s p i es"  andle d fr equentmarches with hundr e dsof thousandsofsupp o r te rsi nt owto pro t e st U.S. policie s.

Tarant ul a swould show upin  the od dest pl acesCuban i ntelligen ce kept a  c lose e yeon America n diplom ats' comi n gs an d  g oings .
"Theyha d 3 ,000to 400 0  pe oplethat w er e focu sed o nour pers onnel, trying to recrui t them  or h ara ss us," s aid Jam es Cason,  the  chief ofthe  In teres tsS ectio n fr o m200 2  to 2 005. "They wou l dbre a k  i nto your ho u s e  an d dothi n gs toshow  they had control of your existe nce. I n m y d a ys,if  they knew you  di dn ' t  like sp id ers, you wo uld find  a taran tula w anderi ng arou n d  y o ur roo m."
Cu ban diplo mat ss ervingin  t h e Unit ed S ta tes co mplain e d of s imilar harassmen t att h e han d s o f Ame ri can min d ers. 

Cuban fl ags all but  block  out  theU.S. di pl omatic  mi ss ion in Hav a na during  fros tier di pl omat ictimes. 

 the_Carter administration,_Cuba and the United_States opened_Interests_Sections in_their_former embassies.

A step_below embassies, Interests_Sections allowed the Cold_War foes to_have_diplomatic dealings without officially restoring relations.

Keeping a diplomatic low profile in Cuba

Diplomats returning to_the_old U.S._Embassy_in_Havana found years of dust_accumulated on the furniture and_calendars from_1961 still on the walls.

Since the United States_couldn't_fly the American_flag or name an ambassador to Havana, there were_no obvious signs of a large_U.S. diplomatic presence_in_Communist-run_Cuba.

"Most Americans who visit_Cuba seem to think there's no_relationship, there's just a tiny room_in the Swiss Embassy. And every day_they are driving past the old_embassy, but they don't know_there's an_embassy because there's no flag,"_said Vicki Huddleston,_who was_chief of the_Interests Section from 1999 to 2002.

With_51 Americans and_300 Cuban employees, the U.S. Interests_Section_is one of_the_largest_diplomatic missions_of any country_in_Cuba.

But instead_of_improving relations with Cuba, the Interests_Section_often served as a lightning rod for_confrontation.

The Cuban government plastered_propaganda_around the building, including_one iconic sign that showed_a fatigue-clad revolutionary telling a hissing_caricature of_Uncle Sam,_"Mister imperialists, we are not the least bit afraid of you!"

Fidel_Castro called the section "a nest_of spies" and led_frequent marches_with_hundreds of thousands_of_supporters in_tow to protest U.S. policies.

Tarantulas would show_up in_the oddest places

Cuban intelligence kept a_close eye on American_diplomats'_comings and goings.

"They had 3,000 to_4000 people that were focused on_our personnel, trying to recruit_them_or_harass us," said James Cason,_the chief of the Interests Section_from 2002 to_2005. "They would break into your house_and_do things to show they had_control_of your existence. In my days,_if_they_knew you didn't like spiders,_you would find a tarantula wandering_around your room."

Cuban diplomats serving in the United States_complained of similar_harassment at the hands of_American_minders.

Cuban_flags all but block out the U.S. diplomatic mission in_Havana during_frostier diplomatic times.
