Chile's Asylum Policy in Cuba in 1959

This article analyzes, from a historical perspective, the policy and practice of diplomatic asylum of the Chilean government in Cuba during January-March 1959. A policy that continued in force until August 1964, the date on which Chile broke diplomatic relations with Cuba. Coinciding with the escape of the dictator Fulgencio Batista from Cuba on January 1, 1959, there was an important request for asylum from his supporters in different embassies in Havana, including the Chilean diplomatic representation, which was the one that received the most asylum seekers. The so-called "problem of the embassies", which should have been solved in a few weeks, took two months, being finally resolved after Fidel Castro took office as Prime Minister. Based on these events, and those that occurred in the following months, Cuba would adopt a clearer criterion on the application of the right of diplomatic asylum. This research is based, mainly, on the qualitative study of documentation from Chile (Archivo General Hist & oacute;rico del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) and Cuba (Archivo General Hist & oacute;rico del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Archivo Hist & oacute;rico del Consejo de Estado and Biblioteca Nacional Jos & eacute; Marti).