[1]14-0000
[2]4
[4]4.
[5]104-10227-10150
[7]| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992)
[9]10 Cctober 196)
[11]MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
[13]BUBJECT: iéeoting with De, MIEC Cardona on 6 Cctober
[15]I, Or. MIRC arrived about 9:50 a.m. for the meeting wo had
[16], $6t at $9:60; again he was driven by nis secretary whom he introduced,
[17]As during the (rot ineeting, she remained outelde inthe car. Cur
[18]tateting lasted anil! 12:99 noon, : :
[20]Z Firet, Dr, MIRG handed me a goto in longhand Jisting the”
[21]tegies discussed with we sa Cetoser. These points are: ;
[23]; a. Croupe conducting propagaada, ate. with Ageney support
[24]should raceive their support and be coordinated through the Council.
[26]BOA propaganda campaign should be wayed by the Coancil
[27]abined at: .
[28](1) Cabs, via a teng wave radio station in Key ¥ cot.
[29](2) Cubana in Miami and other. U, S. areaa by:
[30]. fa) Subsidising Diaris de Jaa Americas.
[32](a) Contracting for time on radio etations.
[34](3) Latia America, with a plan such ao the Cparacion
[35]Crista, "
[37]ce. Underground Activitios.
[39](1) Previaion of monthly funde te Council for procuring i
[40]Cuban pesos to eend ta the saven-odd resistance ;
[42]6Fouge in Cuba through reliable chanuels (such as j E
[43]previoualy aent through tha Italian 2 rcbaasy), : :
[45]. i é
[47]J :
[52]Fs
[58]ES
[60]. &
[61]E
[63]ctor ties
[67]42) Commando action 38 oullined in plan presented
[69]. $9 na vA 6 Letober,
[70]3.0 Corsmando ion
[71]on
[73]Then Dr, >(1KC handed me a plas (in: Engliah) for elandeatina
[74]action prepared by his military collaloraters, whom he BAMed as :
[75]Colonel Manus! VAKELA Castro, an officer of the Academy, Captata
[76]Eorique DESPAIGNE, and Colonoe? (fau) MON TEAGULI, He atated
[77]that they ware of the BARC:UIN sFoup and had been priscners,
[79]hit Feapect to the plan Jor claadesting Operations in Cuba,
[81]"he atated that 30c men could be eaented uson for eoramando actioa, part
[83]Of thorn‘bore, part iu Cuba, Ho reilavated that a commando uperation
[85]Was ossuatial to bolster morale ariszz the antl-Caetrs elaments in Cuba
[86]atel in exile sa well as to Conduct pabotave that would further waaken .
[87]Cabana economy aud the Cornmunist regime, Ha aald that for this operation
[88]U.S. help would be necessary tn grovidiug waapona, arnino, demeslittons,
[89]equipment, and funde, tia proposed that if thin plan was considered ta
[90]have merit, that I arrange to have eomaoue mact with hig milltacy mon
[92]to work out the dotaile. After ail preparations had been rade and
[93]matoriel provided, ote. the operatica wouid be purely a Cuban affair.
[94](WICTE: Plan turned over to Thomsen at ou? ne eting at 13:30 an
[96]6 Cctober for tranamiaaston, } ; :
[98]4. fequect for Aras ete, to send to Escambra
[99]EASE LOT AE ete. t6 cend to Escambray
[101]br.24IRO ronarked that over & month azo he had made a request
[102]fo Clark for arma for the anti-Castro incurvonts in the i sca:mbray, but
[103]to Gato had heard nothing relative tc the request. Ha commented wryly,
[105]"back but never hear anu ausyvor." He evid that the (ghtera there should
[107]be supported. fr, MIRC stated that he had a boat (srovided by ua) and
[108]& means for delivery of the arma, Cavaldo RA MIRE & fo chief af the
[110]5 scambray group. '
[111]| COMMAANT: Has anyUiing bees done abeut this request?
[113]3. Information an Arms Heceivad by Castro Rerime
[114]i ere eee ee OLED FO Bio
[116]Or, MUG handed rao a lon« veport which he satd was brouzit
[118]to him by the Argentine Avoasgador to Cuba when the lattor Came te the
[119]U. 5. at the time of President PRONGILMS visit. * be said the Ambasoador
[121]would not divulge the source of the information but commanted, “You will
[122]know, ‘'
[123]* Report turned over to Thompson on 6 October,
[125]2
[128]44-0000
[130]Or, MIRG oald thers was no way to determine the acenracy
[131]of the figures givon of planes, guns, ete, received frore: tha Soviet bloe
[132]{and Raly end Canada) but aven if ths (igures wore skag serrated 109 por
[133]Cent, thay would still bo Impressive,
[135]Ot -,. - ¥lo added that Castro ie daily becoming stronger militarily
[136]ho with Weapons’ éod with & large militia of ¢lose to 303/009 bolas troined ;
[137]i te nee them while the oconomy coutinues (o deteriorate, F erbape only . :
[138]i half the militia wouid be offective, But tuat is siseable, Thus, Na sald, ;
[140]‘ + the longer the delay in positive military action to overthrow Castro, the ;
[142]"+ greater will be the task, ‘We must act soon, vigorously and effectively, :
[144]: ‘to fesure victcry, Another cofeat would be disastrous and would make
[146]i . Cubans, Latin Areeriéans and otheza believe Castra to bs invincibia,
[148]: Thon would come accommodations and oven worse, the fraplanting of
[150]i Castro-pecked’ Téegimea in the heruisphere, And the U. 5. weald sufier
[152]worst of ell, ‘being ¢ dlecredited for defeat and “gullt of interforenca, *
[153]“in ine UN na nation woud otand beside the U. 3."
[155]1 6. Proposal that Council zo to & ~uba with’ Commando Srone and . ;
[157]Latablien a Gaveruiment on Cub fydaa wadl
[159]Dy, MINS thea declared that he wa¢ ccavinced that Castro i
[160]1 - would never be overthrown by all tho propaganda, the eabrtasge, commands :
[161]; raids, guerrilla activities, rupture of diplomatic relations and deteriorating
[163]i ecensniy, anid that tt was inconceivable to.cestablish o vovaranent-teesite ‘
[164]for nothing would c:.me of It; that the only soluilen for defeating the
[165]Castro regime was ior the Xevelutionary Caunell to goto Cuba and estab.
[166]lish @ goveramert on Cuban poll, ask recognition by all friendly couutries
[167]aad oillitary aseistance wf tin prircizal ally, the U. «. » ondthat the U.S. \
[168]be ready to intervene immediately with ita Forces. ‘This would a:l have
[170]tc take place in a matter ci 43 hours, otherwise ie oule fail, I reecgalae
[171]— that thie is a bold pian, but boldness ie necossary. There will be many ;
[172]Pigke, tnany may be billed. As for mypeli, 1 don't care if 1 die, Thave :
[173]iaat all my gereonal poasessiuns and ny sen is a prisoner, he reiterated :
[174]that all zoust be well prepured in advance, thére must be no vaciliadion,
[175]everything must proceed rapidly. Firat, a commando raid in feres te
[176]Gelsa a pisces of Cuban lerritory, proferably near Gaantarsmo, aod losnve-
[177]Giately the membera af the Council go ashore, proclaini a pruvisiansl
[178]goverament, breadcast by radiv to all nations an appeal for recoyniticn
[179](and cables prepared in advance would glo be sent out), requeat U. 3. :
[180]assistance, anti the U. 5. should furnleh euch assistance at orca in ade- :
[181]quate strongth to ensure victory.
[183]yon MPA LCP PS Gy ie ie oe ee
[185]Pe yrecn., Mien wed yet
[189](Pesta,
[191]14-0000
[193]Belore such an aetion ia undertaken, tha enemy rast be
[194]scftened by propsyanca, fauctare, ratdy, undersruand action, and the
[195]298 Of the peaple of Cusa rausi be prepared to accept the provisionai
[196]sovernroéal throush propasanda, increasad knowledya of €be Council |
[197]and fle unifying afforte, a a |
[199]. . : a
[201]Ge, MEINC asked ime what [thought of ibbepreject; did 7 think |
[202]that Castro could be. overthrowa in Bay other way. [adroitted that
[203]strong military action appeared necessary, | otated fartner that i
[204]‘ : tf course Ma plan would have to be otudied at the. plgheat government Coot
[205]: levaie. He proposed that be might elaborate a plan with bie rtlitary Oy
[207]‘ colaboratora, and I eugzested that he dv this go that it might be examined a
[209]and considered. . :
[211]: Dr. MIRC dec lared that he was convinced that thia Communist ; oe |
[212]dagger in tha side of the ftates could only ba eradicated by exch action, — en
[214]: that the U.S. tg and will be blamed fer all dati-Castro prota sande,
[215]: gadotage, ete. and that enemy ctaton will csenounce it Yor intervention _ _
[216]I lo Cuba, but that ifthe U. 5. goes to the ald of a frienaly revoletionary. — - ot
[217]i regime ostabliehed In the ceuntry and. hoiso it defeat the Soviet-baczed i
[218]: : Communist rogime, ail friendly governmeata will agplaad, 7 Oy
[220]: “Lhaye no parsenal politica: ambitions,’ dectared MIAO,
[222]“lmevrely am tryiag to chair tae Counell, whose mission is ts unify tae H
[223]: a anti-Castro elernsats inaide aad outelde of Cuba. If ths teara ien't con- {
[224]a a sidered olfective, thea ¢hanze the pitcher. But I believe the Corneil rust i
[225]po establish itself on Cub2n evil, and soca, Tirso is against us. °"The : unta
[226]: del Este agresment will backfire avaliot the U. 5. if Castres te aNewed . | : i
[227]; i to remain in Cuba. tm a year, alter tho politlesa of the ceuntriss re- ; poe :
[228]i | ceiving U. 5. afd have gotten their handa an U. i. gold, they wild eay, | :
[229]i : “Thanks to Castro, we got thie,’ And they will spend t: aa dn the past
[230]i! . with no berefite to the social and ecovomic welfare of the feaple, © j
[232]i
[234]7. Views about the Judzes and Lawyera
[236]ot + . j
[237]Fo ; Tquericd Dr, AIRC as to his views relative to the Peiges aud :
[238]! : lawyers and their future atatus, He said he Roped that they eegld all , |
[239]i : Founite and that they euald be stvea sestotance as. in tha paet. He des i
[240]poo Clared that Gr, ALABAL' wag aot qualified to be a justice and that ae wag - ;
[241]i SG daing acthing but moking politics and trying tu discredit the Council . ;
[242]; | Gad MIRG and VARNA, Dr. 21RO doctared that he, ao Price Lintoter |
[243]: in the osrly days cf the Castro aevernment, bad named - LAZALU te tho
[245]i ,
[246]: . - v
[249]14-00000
[251]aden
[253]Supreme Court, but that aow he considered 7 LABAU unfit to hold any
[254]judicial position, : : . i i
[256]_ &. Mombera of the Revolutionary Council
[258]_ , Dr. MIRG. remorked that he had a meeting of the Council on
[259]10 Cetober, Taskod what elements now composed it and-what ha pro-
[260]posed to add, He namod.the following as presently in the Consejo: «>
[261]Rescate.
[262]. 30 de Novtembre
[263]+ MRR a
[264]Acelun Damoeratica
[265]20 de Mayo - -
[266]AAA Indepondiento ;
[267]Montecristi . : M
[269]_ Ho said ho had invited to join:
[271]_ MRP
[272]Unidad Revolucionaria -. . _
[273]and awaited their reply, ,
[275]He would aleo like to have the Workers, Studenta, and the
[276]Professionals (Doctors, Lawyers, ote.) come into the Council. He be-
[277]Heves Batistiancs and Comunistas and elements unwilling to. cooperate.
[279]should be excluded, but that all other groups should be brought together
[281]undor the Council. :
[282]Ho contends that all anti-Castro activities, except clandestine
[284]‘and military, should ba coordinated. by meradars of the Council, but that
[286]the excepted activities should bs known oaly to him (MIRO),
[288]9. Probable Argontine Rupture of Relations with Cuba
[290]Dr. MIRO declared that he believed finminent the Argentine
[291]rupture of relations with Cuba. He said the Argentine Ambassador to |
[292]Guba (Julio AMCEDO) was ordered to return to Havans the had been
[293]vacationing in the U. S. after FAONDIZI's visit); that VILLANUEVA, a
[294]Secretary af tho Argentine Embassy in Cuba wan coming to sce MIRO
[295]today; and further that he {MIAC) had received a Phore call last night
[297]. i
[298]Loree erer de
[300]14-0000
[302]_ tine: ‘and:pls
[304]eLi.
[306]te
[308]from a Spaniard (Meanor FE RNANDE Z) in Buenos Alrea, ‘urging WIRG
[309]a goto Buonos Airea to arouse aatl-Castro sentiment of the people,
[311]Inag much ao some Argentine action against Cuba appeared imminent.
[313](FERNANDE 7 said be had already writtea MIRC a letter.) MIKG eays, |
[315]“Of course, U'cannct go. Ibavo the Connejo meeting on tho 15th..
[317]‘Furthermore, Iam going to New York on Cetober 11th or 12th for the
[319]SIP. (Sectoded interamericana de Frensa) recting and havo. boen allotted
[320]12 tninutes to address tho meeting. * :
[322]40, Farce to attrnd Homage to: LACF RDA (Brasiliag who
[323]Precipitated QUADKCS' reelynation on Octuber 15
[325]Dr. MIRO sald he planned to. remain in Naw York City. laftor
[326]11 and 12 Cetober SIP meoting), until Cétobery 15th to attend the homago
[327]for LACERDA, othe Governor of: Guanabara province {a Brasil, ‘i41RO
[328]probably’ will etay at the Fark Chambere Hote}, but will advise Clark
[330]of bia location, -
[332]i cominented that 1 would probably remain in Washington noxt
[333]week in view of his plans, but that I might go to New York City to meet
[334]with him, if 90. I.would get in touch with him and arrongo a moeting
[338]ik Propaganda Commiseton
[340]I asked Dr, MIRO-about hia ideas on the future organization |
[341]and atracture. of the Propaganda Commission. Ho stated that it is out-
[342]alde the Consejo and act under his’ direct control, although tho Council
[343]accountant has been passing funds to ft. Ho said CASS RILLC had resigned
[344]as head of Propaganda and that he would like CONTE AGUF-.RC to handle .
[346]1
[348]"it. He claimed that. MESTRE! tad not -done. anythin; with propagands,
[350]12. MIRO’ Views Relative to Suprerns Court Justice or PRIO
[352]boing Hecoznized as tiead of a Provisional Vovernment
[354]Tasked Dr, MIRO if he believed that there were many anti-
[355]Castro Cubaaa (both fo and out of Cuba) who favored PRIC, or the head
[356]of the Supreme Court to be the Provisional president {f a sovernment were
[357]to be established on Cuban coll, Ur, MULG declared that the revolution
[358]ia a fact, and that practically nobody wants to go back to any former
[359]rogime. . The peaple in Caba would reoist any such possibility, He dae
[362]14-0000
[364]. pross, tha refugee ‘centor, otc.
[366]nouncod FRIC's activities acainat the Council! and ita efforts to’ unify
[367]the anti-Castro clements, tic aaid that the people should bo given an
[368]opportunity to elect their chicl of state after Castro's overthrow and
[370]Feestablishment of arder in the island,
[372]13. Cffliceo of Counes} (Consejo Revoluctonarte)
[374]‘When ‘questioned about his bue inesa and private telephones,
[376]_ MIRO: said, “The ‘business. phone is also in my: ‘Rauss, Phave no office ve =
[377]- except in my ‘house, but that phone is always busy: 4JEMerssn. 2-4680),
[379]So use tho. other phone WEfforaon 44-2751) when you wteh to. call me,"
[381]“l need to. have 8 sma}! offices somewhere. away from my. home -
[383]because all the activities there are driving my wife.crazy. I want to.
[384]{lind something. modest 50 that no accusation can be nade of ostentation _
[386]morely a room for nryaolf,. one {or my eecretary, and.ono for: rreotings, . =
[388]The FRD had a place but at that place aloo wag the
[389]It- would not be satisfactory. Tho F.RD
[391]fo pow practically dead, k was the foreruangr of the Cansojo aa the
[392]unifying agency of the anti-Castro resistaace, *
[394]of the’ Couseil, ate..
[396]ma, MIRO 's.
[399]. After De. MIRC. reiterated. hia view that he should be the
[400]channel for funds snd coordinating the activities of groups outside the
[401]Consejo ouch as the Students, FORD (Labor), ote., I aaid that I under- ©
[402]stood that some of these elornents were unwiJliny to function under. the
[403]Consejo; and that-in.view of that cituation, did he consider that an. .
[404]Activity Committee might be organised with a delegate from ach of..
[405]thege groups sad under the chairmanship ofa. momber of the ‘Consejo.
[406]Thie would scrve to ‘coordiniato their activitios, give them a Cle-in with
[407]the Consejo, yot not make them subservient to it. Dr. MIRC replicd —
[408]that this would merely set up ancther Consejo outside of and parallel to
[409]the existing Consejo. I did not pureue thie further, not having enough
[410]background of these organizations to be able to discuss the matter
[412]effectively,
[414]a. Views. on Coordinating ‘tho Activities of Cther Exite-.
[416]15, Tole; no Conversation with JRO on 7 Cetober
[418]Before my departure {rom Miami for Washington on 7 October,
[419]1 telephoned to Dr. MIRO (vom the airport. He appreciated the call and
[420]gaked if I had seen in the morning paper the action taxen yestorday by
[422]14-0000
[424]ta
[426]-of the chief justices in exile) ae
[428]the ALABAU Lawyere’ group in prociairsing Jullo CARCE RAN (one
[429]“Ppgaident of Cuba at sr. He ane
[430]pressed bis indignation at-thid unilateral "political" move by ALABAU
[431]‘and his adhorents among the exiled lawyers and judres. Ho added his
[432]beat wishes to 12 and reminded mo that he would probably go to Now
[434]York on Cetober Lith or 12th for the SLP (sociedad Iuteramericana do
[435]‘Pronsa}: mooting. I ‘Feplied thas [would appreciate if he wiuld contact -
[436]” Clark aft hia arrival to-give nia location in New York City, aad that
[438]‘request | {som me for an. appointment with bin, aT
[442]‘this: seemod doairablo, 1 ‘suggested. that in future phono conversations
[443]-P.would,. bo‘ kaown.as. JUANITC., Ho agreed with pleasure that this would.
[444]‘be.8 good proceduro. I wished bisa  Codepoed, and he repiiod ikowtse .
[446]to. 8s
[447]. :
[449]“165 Comment
[450]. During. thood. figot two mestingo 1 endeavored to. ootablish ;
[451]mysell favorably. with: ‘Dr. ‘MIRC and therobre. refrained: from bringing”
[453]ep ‘détails of budget OF. oppooition to any of bis specific: proposals.
[454]L Notoned, aoked various ‘quooticas, and he talked at length.
[456]; la future meetings, after I have gained further background and.
[457]‘pave. ‘more. -polley. guldance,. I shall be able to diocugs with hint specific |
[459]iseucs and endsavor ‘to Feach agreémente or compromiass, 2 ae may bee
[460]requirod, - . : on.
[462]RP
[464]fhe oe
[466]SEP EN ep NCE SAFI nae cdr ABU Taree BPSK, cacpiife verges oececeqire ea