Alfred Dunhill of London, Inc. v. Republic of Cuba

delivered the opinion of the Court.†

The issue in this case is whether the failure of respondents to return to petitioner Alfred Dunhill of London, Inc. (Dunhill), funds mistakenly paid by Dun-hill for cigars that had beén sold to Dunhill by certain expropriated Cuban cigar businesses was an “act of state” by Cuba precluding an affirmative judgment against respondents.

I

The rather involved factual and legal context in which this litigation arises is fully set out in the District Court’s *685opinion in this ease, Menendez v. Faber, Coe & Gregg, Inc., 345 F. Supp. 527 (SDNY 1972), and in closely…