[1]14-00000
[3]104-10095-10276] - | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[4]us. . 0 ad
[6]MEMORANDUM FOR: DIREC
[8]SUBJECT
[10]oe In May 1959, the New Chine. News Agezicy (NCMA) opened.
[12]-an office in Havana in the El Medico Building which is occupied .- :
[13]_ partly by business concerns And partly used. for residential. apart-..
[15]“ments. Shortly thereafter, the Havana’ Station obtain ed the con- *
[16]currence of Ambassador Bonsal and Miss Carolyn O, Stacey, an
[18]Embassy employee, to mount an audio operation against NCNA through ocr
[19]the wall of the adjacent apartment in which Mises: Stecey Hved. In
[21]November 1959, the FE Division sent one case officer end ene TSD
[22]technician to Havana, and the installation of a microphone andtape
[23]recorder was completed in Miss Stacey's apartmext on 29 November -
[28]oe By Jane 1960, it ha a become Svident that two cther rooms |”
[29]occupied by NCNA possibly houzed communication equipment and o-oo T
[30]= Division
[32]wera used for conferences, At that time Bryan Mills
[33]_ ease officer, went to Havana and explored th
[35]the operation, He managed to lease a
[37]NONA office, and arranged for a stay-beb
[39]oe 3. In August "1960, a team of three 2S SD technicians “who were
[41]in Havana on a separate SR Division operation agreed to install the. © 4.
[42]additional equipment required-for the NGNA operation, A second FE. |
[43]‘Division case officer, Robert Neet, came down to Havana; and he,:
[44]together with the technicians, installed a probe microphone and tape ce
[46]recorder in the apartment obtained by Milla cver the NCNA office. se
[47]About this time the equipment was removed from Miss Stacey's -
[48]apartment, with the exception of the plastic probe which was left ar
[49]in the wall and plastered over.
[51]|
[53]is
[54]2
[55]Fo:
[56]g
[57]i
[61]14-0000
[63]oe ne cae ten ees
[65]told that access to her apartment was needed fox photograph
[67]and security would work against holding indefinitely the lease to.
[69]- eancelling, sub-lessors' contracts ‘and recalling leases... It was,:
[70]- therefore, decided to install transmitters and switches in order
[71]' permit continued monitoring of the target ifom a distant listening -
[72]. poste’ a ensnan tea se . ren
[74]- David L, Christ {alias Carswell), Walter E.- Szuminski {alias -.
[76]_ then sent to work on the instatlation of the transmitters in the apart- .
[78]Pe
[82]4, Asan additional security precaution to provide @ gafe ~ 7 ae -
[83]haven, and after consultation with the Acting Chief of Station, 4 key os.
[84]to an apartment in the same building leased by Mrs. Marjorie ge et
[86]Lennox, an Embassy secretary, Was obtained, Mrs, Lennox was chee
[88]surveillance purposes. ..”-
[90]“The Station was
[92]‘then faced with'the ‘probability that time
[94]the apartment over -NCNA since the owners.of tae building were -
[96]other three.-man in tearn.of TSD techni . nicians consisting of
[98]Taransky) and Thornton J. Anderson {alias Danbrunt} documented — .
[99]as tourists had been sext to Havana to install audio equipment in the- ee
[100]Chinese Nationalist. Embassy pefore it was due to be turned over to So
[101]the Chinese Coramunits.. This operation aborted, This team was -- ~~
[103]ment over the NGNA office. oa
[105]6, At 2400 hours on 14 September, Christ, who withthe
[106]other technicians was working in the target apartment, failed to keep
[107]= scheduled appointment with Meet. At 0100 hours on the 15th of >
[108]September, the apartment of Mrs, Lennox was entered into and. ot
[109]searched by Guban authorities, ‘and.she was taken into custody. -AE Le --
[110]1540 hours’ on 15 September, Neet, the stay-benind agent and bis wife-* 7 -
[111]were picked up by the Cuban authorities and detaines. te EN Ege
[113]7. AS of today the agent remains in the ‘custody of the Cuban
[115]: authorities. His wife bas been released and is still in Havana,  Neet —_
[117]was released.1715 hours 16 Septermber and has sudsequently returned... ~
[118]to Washington where be is being debriefed... Mrs. Lennox was +. boat
[119]subsequently released and has also returned to Washington where she -_
[120]ig being debriefed, The three TSD technicians remain in confinement.” -
[121]Thsy have been seen in confinement but not contacted by an Embassy
[123]oZficer when he first attampted to secure the release of Mrs, Lennox, —
[125]Christ was last se62 by Nest whe= they were jointiy interrogated
[127]the morning of 15 September. At hat time Christ did not appear
[129]14-0000
[131]7 knowledge as-to why he was being held,): . “The: sub-lease for the #?*?
[132]. apartment in which the men were caught is in the name of the stay- _ ween
[133]penne agent with the original lease being in the names of Mills, the .. -
[135].Was unsuccessful, He was not Permitted to sea taem but was told.
[137]. company consists of a telephone answering service and a name on , thé
[139]. leaving: ‘Cuba as tourists since the £ illing out of the lending card +----+-*
[141]to have been maltreated.
[143]8. According to articles in the Guban ; papers ‘the three
[144]technicians were arvested while in the apartment over the NCNA |
[145]ofiice and completing the ‘installation of the equipment. The
[146]press article adds that the key to Mrs, Lennox's apartment was SS
[147]found on one Of. the technicians who idsntiz ted the apartment to -- a
[149]which it belonged, AU Cuban press releases have referred to the
[150]men by alias and. have not.identified them as Government or Agency _
[151]mployees.. It is unclear at present what story had been: ‘agreed:
[152]upos by the technicians and station personnel to be used in ‘thé éyent
[153]they were caught, (While being interrogated with Neet, Christ
[154]indicated that Neet was his boss, and Neet con sistently denied. any:
[156]= Division Case Oificer. wre eee
[158]9. Initial information indicated that the. three technicians would
[159]be charged with espionage "against the people of China". Subsequent
[160]press veleases have been unclear on this point,- An attempt by Consul
[161]Hugh Kessler to contact the three men at 1730 hours on 17 September
[163]they were in custody, ee ee ene
[165]10, The three technicians travelled to Cuba a
[166]very light commercial cover, two.of them wor} xing for aco in oo. s-
[167]New York and the third, one in Baltimore, In each case the cover oe
[169]door, Telephone messages. and mail 2re picked up periodically by an
[170]Agency contract employee. The men were ‘provided with this cover ~
[172]as well as unbackstopped rome addresses for use when entering or..._
[173]requires this information. Subsequent to their detention the home- ~~
[174]addresses have been partialiy backsto opped so-that-ingviries will =~) 07° -
[175]indicate that someone with this alias name had Hved in the apartment
[176]house in question, Insofar as the cover companies are concerned,
[178]aiforts are being made to provide a backstop to withstand inguiries
[180]from the press should the Cubans reveal this information. In view
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[184]ef the thinness of the cover, it is uncertain whether this will succeed. -
[185]ll, A cleared and witting law firm in New York has been briefed .
[186]ty Mr, L. Houston on the situation with the tous’ bt that inguiries _..
[187]received by the cover company could be referred to the firmof
[188]lawyers from whom no comment would be ‘obtained by the press or.
[189]other inguirers,. The law firm has been briefed on the entire situa-_
[190]tion so that they may be in a position to set if any action by them es
[191]appears desirable or feasible, It would not appear that much support
[192]of any kind can be obtained from the law firm or the law firm ms in-
[193]Cuba which are associated with! ‘ther a
[195]“12, Insofar as ‘the families are concerned, one of the technicians
[197]is a bachelor resertly on home leave between two tours in Japan,
[198]His father, a. “cook in a diner in the Boston area, bas been cont tacted .
[200]by the Gffice of Security, and he will get in touch with Security if
[202]he receives any inquiries on this matter, Security, by the same -_
[204]token, will keep in touch with him as the Cubans reveal their i inten-,
[206]tions and course of action, = 7
[208]13, The wives of the other two technicians have been told what
[209]has happened and are being contacted at ieast once daily sy TSD —
[210]staifers and their wives who have Been briefed on the sit reation. A :
[211]conference with the two wives was
[212]over the whole situation and deterza!
[213]roblems on which the Agency cou
[214]- _- the wives are telling their neighbo
[215], trip. This story will be adjusted
[216]the Cuban Government takes, whet!
[217]and whether recognizable photographs of the individuals
[218]0° te the press, ‘The two wives so fer have taken vthe bad new!
[219]"well. : a Lae ar
[221]RUDOLPH E. GOMEZ
[223]Acting Chiez, WH De es
[224]Distribution: .
[225]DCI -2 WH -3
[226]DDCI - 1 , Pir. 3
[228]COPS -1 Cl. i
[230]o
[233]14-0000
[235]. RELEASE CONTINCE CY OPLAY Sz-
[239]; CHART OR MAF REPLRESCE: oe re Be
[240]Seetioral scrozauties) wracts: ay requar:3.
[241]TASK OG ANTE ATION:
[243]het. 1, 105th Opevats Louel Eut.asties ant Teadairg Group. Major ,
[244]Billy B. GCarpbell, Dousenter.
[246]1. SENUIATICN:
[248]Becbeun’ (Akées) end Bdwrd
[250]Dantol L. Curpyall (Midas), Rebaes F.
[251]R. Teransxy (Allies) are TI) Sia E nen 125 tho vers eppreloanied by
[252]Cuban autaorities £2 Senoeer ak IU and weo ere wi serving ten year teutea-,
[253]ges. SPorte are: belag sade to aou-re. Theis sallanea. Stree their release
[254]may ecsur witheut advenus novice at: “osha varloty oe? ploses, le. Hence,
[255]Miaal, Mexico City, Sviteerlard, a eli, eti., Lt 26 imypersitve tant a.
[256]coutirngencsy plex de Forshee ad be wagare fB% 2udare Dae 2 chess
[257]emlcyees. ;
[259]Tue vortreliiag factor in ali ciaste o¢ the rebease pre: eéure Ls
[261]thit thers: enph cysts Vere dn Uyoe 1.dar obi and linet daring tae entire
[262]rericd eiwe their axptere thedr ic 83a “sad ooryer oe és. epearectiy
[263]pave tern medater ned, Thevevora Li is % gs nijensa bt
[265]ential that tae
[266]» kee spire te Agemy aoa
[267]S guisEly ga puerie
[269]catateined eutzgh susth t)22 Gu bose 20 oe
[270]trol eed then have thegs ating afi is)
[273]7
[275]Por oe Laine parposes the cellecae peivte bil aa iewece, ‘Mes 29
[276]Cisy or “other sreas” .
[278]2. MESH. LON:
[280]tet. aa ae Rota Operas: ened Ee aati
[281]hlagk atic trenseortation Bc Bars. o
[283]RA nok
[285]Spencer eee
[288]14-0000
[290]Ee GG OE CG
[292]36 aEuest | Yor Diack teqnapart should inside:
[294]w
[296]4. Request that RELRASE CONTINGENCY OULAT 6242 be seplononted
[297]2. Port of entry. Bee
[299]3. Date, Local tine, ard aixflcld desired for as ope
[301]h. Dasired destination.
[303] §. Other regrirements, Jeo, otretebers orb punks in the event
[304]erbdjests are aspital Cased,
[306]6. Nan, organization and Selephons somber of requesting perty- .
[308]Le Jame end telepnore rmucaur of KUBFRIC ganteets et Jeating
[309]and off-Loading ng poants.
[311]o, Tas Pollewing per pereonuel sre wncuipagvanle ond chorsed with the
[312]responsibility of netivating trie plor.:
[314]i. Major Richaré. I: Skinner, an/psp/Bo/?
[315]Organigetion: Air Support Divisio, DD m/P
[316]Home Phone: JE 3-1405
[317]Offiee Face: Sterile fenbors. pe 8.5285, EE 3-8535
[318]Recensione 6862,75 S5b, 7307 ;
[319]Rol Idee 1058
[321]2. Me. Robert Nerrero *
[322]Organization: Air Surpart pivisier, nb/e
[323]Hore Phone: JA NeQtgs
[324]Offiee Fhene: Same 25 2s.
[326]3. Major Billy 3- Cabell, Commander, Tate i. ; :
[327]Organization: Dat. 1, iC45%h Cperzt2.onal Bralze‘ion anil
[328]Treiiing Creeps Eslinu Air Forse Base, Florida
[329]Home Phone: 66273T 7
[330]' Offlee Fhone: Ezlin Siz Fees Bes, Pieridae 631590
[332]* he Major Kenseth R. Burten, O28 orgsear, I ‘Neb. Je.
[333]Organization: Dat. 1, 3085" sh Cporstionel salvation ant
[334]Proining Coteus, Betin Sy Fesee Bose, Florida.
[335]Home Phone: 662154
[336]-Offiee Facne: Eglin ¥oree Rese, Florida €31215
[338]- Hefei} Re B-T
[340]14-0000
[342]i ca teed oer ats htt des tania inet eee os ant aang aba ett cto
[344]a
[346]i
[348].
[349]t
[350]vat
[351]0
[353]a
[354]co
[355]4
[357]G-ReC-RoEWT
[359]D. Det, i. furnish 1 ¢-5% end rey 4n stentby cepectty until
[360]further notice. BStanIby expactty is heroin defined as espability to
[362]position the eirereft at any port of entry in east, - eouth er gsnuithyest:
[364]U. S. from Easton to Los Angeles within 15 heurs.
[365]8 Asevming the subjects will be relsased jn Havena cr Mexico
[367]City, Bet. 1 wild Drezere mission Folders fcr flights Trem meat
[368]provable porta of entry to Isalstien end Andrews Aly Fowea Base.
[370]’ RECHARD I. SICINNER
[372]Distribution:
[373]Orag. & 1 - CI Stat?
[376]g
[378]vuuwwowns
[380]!#e ep eten
[381]sage
[382]me