PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO (CUBA) - DOCUMENT SIGNED 01/30/1959 - HFSID 286016

FIDEL CASTRO
Three weeks after gaining power, Castro signs a typed document authorizing transfer of documents and data to one of his lieutenants.
Important Typed DS: "Fidel Castro", 1 page, 8½x11. Fortaleza de La Cabaña, Havana 1959 January 30. In Spanish. "From: Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz/To: All the Ministries". In full: "It is authorized to Captain Dr. ANTONIO NUÑEZ JIMENEZ to remove collections and documents and data to him, necessary for plans of the REVOLUTION." Dr. ANTONIO NUÑEZ JIMENEZ (1923-1998) served under Che Guevera in the revolution which brought Castro to power. He later organized geographic expeditions to locations around the world including the North Pole, Antarctica, the Andes, Amazon, Galapagos Islands and Africa. FIDEL CASTRO marched into Havana on January 9, 1959 and became Cuba's new leader. Fulgencio Batista had fled Cuba on January 1, 1959, after his government was overthrown by an armed revolt. After the fall of Batista, the Constitution of Cuba of 1940 remained in force for a very short period. It was almost immediately replaced by the Basic Law of February 7, 1959. This law granted the highest legislative powers to the Council of Ministers. On January 30, 1959, the day Castro issued this document, the Council amended articles 27, 29, 196 and 197 of the Constitution of 1940. Amendment of these articles suspended a number of guarantees of personal liberty for a period of 90 days, including the right to appear before a judge within 72 hours of detention and recourse to habeas corpus. In practice, the revolutionary courts were legalized. These changes were made permanent through an amendment to the Basic Law of November 2, 1959. File holes at blank left margin. Creased. Toned at edges. Sporadic pinhead-size stains in blank areas. Folds, not at signature.