[1][104-10275-10176 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[3]wo
[5]2 August 1963
[7]MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
[9]SUBJECT: Meeting with AMBANG-1
[11]1. I met with AMBANG-I on 27 July 1963 in Miami,
[12]The following is a resume of the business transacted at that
[14]meeting.
[16]a. Request for High Explosives
[18]AMBANG-! stated that in view of my outline
[20]of strategic targets inside Cuba during our last meeting which
[22]took place in Washington on 2] June 1963, he had decided to
[24]attempt a sabotage opera on against the Havana power plant.
[26]He informed me that he has a man employed in the power plant
[28]in Havana who is capable of launching this operation. In this
[30]connection AMBANG-] asked if we could make available twenty
[32]pounds of high explosives as well as six to cight thermite grenades.
[34]AMBANG-I asked if it were poscible to have the twenty pounds. -
[36]broken into smaller lots. In our further discussion of this subject,
[38]it became apparent that A-! would be willing to receive the materiel
[40]either in San Juan or inside Cuba, but that he definitely. preferred
[42]the latter if thia were possible, Like in méet other instances during
[43]i our conversation, I advised AMBANG-] that I would need to discuss
[45]this matter with my superiors but that I could tentatively assure .
[46]. him of our ability and willingness to furnish the high explosives in -
[47]: San Juan and possibly inside Cuba, At this point I asked AMBANG-1
[48]if he could foresee the need for matericl of this type inside Cuba.
[49]I told him that I asked this question because if his group were
[50]prepared now or in the near future for meaningful sabotage action
[51]inside Cuba it was conceivable that we could begin the caching of
[52]needed materiel inside Cuba. AMBANG-1 assured me that they _
[54]wae a
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[61]POMONA ee Me
[63]were in a position to sabotage the electrical plant in Havana. (I
[64]did not ask, neither did he specify which plant.) He did not promise
[65]immediate action, adding that he wanted to assure himseli of the
[66]details of the planned operation and the safety-odds of the man
[67]involved. A-1 then indicated that he would certainly be ina
[68]position to accomplish this mission and others in the future and
[69]would be most grateful for any materiel we could put in place.
[71]I left the matter with him with the understanding that if it were
[72]possible we would proceed with caching the high explosives in
[73]the general area of Havana. He assured me of their capability
[74]to service and retrieve the cache.’
[76]b. Request for Contact in Guantanamo
[78]AMBANG-1 asked me if it would be possible for us
[79]to arrange some means for Rogelio Cisneros to visit Guatanamo
[80]and talk to his brother who is an employee of the Naval Base and
[81]another agent of theirs likewise employed there. The reason A-l
[82]gave for the request was that they wished to inform Ramon Cisneros
[83]Diax of the JURE plans to begin the implementation of their plan
[84]of resistance and overthrow of the Castro Regime, I advised A-1
[85]that whereas I would look into this matter as I could tentatively
[86]tell him that the chances of accomplishing this were remote,
[88]c, AMBANG-1 Political Plans
[90]AMBANG-1 informed me that he was planning at
[91]this time to be in New York on or about 10 August and that following
[92]this trip he intended te go to Santo Domingo and Caracas. In Santo
[93]Domingo he hoped to set up a small base for operations such as a
[94]ema)! house on a farm near the shore which could be used for boat
[95]travel to Cuba. Once he had made such arrangements he intended
[96]to talk to President Juan Bosch telling him of the plan and asking
[97]his acquiescence if not support, AMBANG-1 intends to tell Bosch
[98]that he will not embarrass him and wil! go about his business in a
[99]secure and professional manner adding that if-he should embarrass
[100]Bosch, the latter could disclaim him and A-1 would desist from
[101]any further activity there.
[103]So far as AMBANG-1's trip to Caracas is concerned, that.
[104]will be principally devoted to orienting the JURE representation
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[108]er a eee
[110]pease s
[114]in that city. In addition, AMBANG-] will attempt to see and talk
[115]to Venezuelan Government officials including President Betancourt,
[117]Some time after this trip AMBANG-I intends to visit
[118]Central America principally Costa Rica and if he can procure a
[119]visa, Mexico, The purpose of all his travel is the raising of funds,
[120]the general tightening of his organization and discussione necessary
[122]to coordinate their efforts.
[123]d. Isolation of Cuba,
[125]AMBANG-1 made it exceedingly clear that the
[126]lifeline to his assets inside Cuba had been severely restricted
[127]when PAA flights were suspended. Nothing could suit AMBANG-}!
[128]more than to have these flights resumed. AMBANG-I's obviously
[129]great interest in the resumption of these flights was the most eloquent
[130]statement yet of his belief that he has a network, or that he can
[131]revive a network within Cuba. At least at this stage of JURE
[132]operations, AMBANG-1 does not appear to consider the infiltration
[133]of manpower as necessary.
[135]AMBANC-!1 stated that the use of flights from Spain and
[136]Mexico to Cuba was difficult and costly whereas the Miami-Havana
[137]run had been most useful in maintaining contact within Cuba. It
[138]was AMBANG-I's opinion that the resumption of PAA flights would
[139]be an operational boom to JURE and that whereas he could see
[140]Castro making some politica] capital out of the flights, he believed
[141]that some appropriate statement such as "'there is no political
[142]significance but only a humanitarian and compassionate reason for
[143]the reestablishment of this link, '' would be sufficient to negate any
[145]political advantage by Castro.
[147]e. AMBANG-1 Phasing Out of his Employment
[149]‘ AMBANG-1 gave me to believe that he is closing shop
[150]and giving up his position with the Corporacion de Renovacion Urbana
[151]y Viviendas where he is employed as an engineer in-charge of building
[152]pre-cast concrete houses. AMBANG-1 stated that during the past
[153]week Governor Munoz Marin gave final authority for the erection
[154]of a plant to produce these houses in Puerto Rica. AMBANG-1 is
[156]sad
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[160]Ae re eve
[164]torn with the thought of leaving this project which he believes
[165]will be most successful, and which would assure his livelhood,
[166]but he knows that he must devote himself to the fight against
[167]Castro, It ie obvious to me that AMBANG-] will within the next
[168]two months phase out of this employment to devote full time to
[169]the liberation of Cuba,
[171]{, A JURE Radio Link
[173]AMBANG-] asked me if I would be able to assiat
[174]him in the establishment of a San Juan-Caracas-Miami radio link.
[175]He explained that the JURE has spent a great deal of money on
[176]telephonic communications between these points and were most
[177]anxious to set up a means of radio communication in order to
[178]economize. I guess that AMBANG-! could tell from my reaction
[179]that I was not too sympathetic to his request for he withdrew it
[180]almost as soon as he had made it. He went on to say that this
[181]was a problem which they could overcome and I presume that he
[182]will seek to establish such radio communications without our
[184]assistance,
[185]g. Aerial Maps of Cuba
[187]AMBANG-1! informed me that the JURE membership
[188]had brought out of Cuba an entire series of maps showing key roads,
[189]bridges, industrial plants, et al, which they had copied by the Aero
[190]Service Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AMBANG-1
[191]stated that they had received most of these photos from the Aero
[192]Service Corporation but that the 101 were still missing. He gave
[193]me the numbers of those missing and asked if we could procure them,
[194]Ihave since informed. AMBANG-1 that it would perhaps be best it
[195]he could, or his organization, do this instead but that we would
[196]pay the travel of one of his men, should this prove necessary. -
[197]Attached, hereto, is a copy of the missing photos in question.
[199]h, JURE Organization and Strength
[201]AMBANG-] informed me that the membership of the
[202]JURE in San Juan was now at about 500 members and that each
[203]of these individuals makes a weekly contributionto the organization,
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[207]“Ty
[209]-$.
[211]In addition there are large JURE organizations in Caracas, Veneeucla
[212]and Dallas, Texas. There are according to AMBANG-1 a total :
[213]of thirty delegations in Latin America, the U.S.A. and Europe.
[215]He cited as an example the delegation in San Francisco which had
[216]recently purchased a typewriter through the collection of green
[217]etampa. He added that Rogelio Cisneros had travelled to San
[218]Francisco some time ago to communicate with that group and to
[219]tighten its organizational activities,
[221]i, AIMABANG-1 Asks About ARTIME and the Activities
[223]in Central America
[225]AMBANG-! raised the question of Manuel ARTIME's
[226]activities in Central America and particularly in Nicaragua. He
[227]stated that any association with Somoza would not help in creating
[228]the mistique and political coloration necessary to inspire revolution
[229]and resistance from the non-Communists clements in Cuba. Whereas,
[230]I had expected AMBANG-! to go into a long harangue ae to the
[231]positive damage that ARTIME's actions with Somoza could cause,
[233]he left the matter at about this point. J agreed that the Somozas did not
[234]have a liberal political reputation throughout Latin America, but
[235]added that whatever Cubans caild do from that or any vantage point
[236]against Communism in Cuba would in my estimation be helpful, --
[237]while Iam sure AMBANG-1 did not agree with me, he did not say
[239]60. In respect to ARTIME and Miro Cardona, whose name entered
[240]into the conversation later, AMBANG-] took a fairly objective view.
[241]He stated that Miro had arrived in San Juan and that he wished him
[242]the beat as he figured he had suffered enough. Insofar as ARTIME
[243]was concerned J gathered that AMBANG-, might feel that the associ-
[244]ation with Somoza would not do ARTIME any good in a post-Castro
[245]Cuba. Ae AMBANG-1 is convinced that a government after Castro
[246]must be of a progressive liberal stripe, ARTIME was not doing
[247]himself any good by identifying himself with the Sornozas.
[249]j. A List of Cuban Diplomats
[251]As AMBANG-] had asked for a list of Cuban Diplo-
[252]mats abroad while we were in Paris, ] advised him that such a list
[253]had been prepared and we would make it available to him, In this
[254]connection he asked if we could include the addresses of each of the
[255]Cuban installations. Speaking of diplomats, AM BANG-] wanted to
[257]14-0000
[259]know if Ambassador Gustavo Arcos had returned from Prague.
[261]l informed him that I did not knew. AMBANG-1 was most interested
[262]to learn that Franqui's wife and children had actually come out of
[263]Cuba, and indicated that he would intensify his efforts to maintain
[264]contact with Cuban Diplomat Cabrera Infante in Brueegels as a
[265]means toward the eventual recruitment of Franqui.
[267]k. AMBANG-1 Relation with Jorge Volsky
[269]In conjunction with questions tegarding propaganda
[270]sent to Cuba, and the JURE‘s general plans in this field, I asked
[271]A-! about his relation with Jorge Volsky. <A-1 stated that he con-
[272]sidered Volsky to be an extremely able, serious newspaperman.
[273]He added that whereas he saw Volsky frequently on hia trips to
[274]Miami, the latter did not work for him. A-I atated that Volsky's
[275]work was a full-time job which left him little time to do anything
[277]else,
[279]A-] stated that JURE propaganda was produced by a twelve -
[280]man board.
[282]A+] added that the JURE expected to shortly introduce a
[283]statement on its position into Cuba,
[285]1, AMBANG-1 Aska about Two Man Underwater Craft
[287]A-l asked if 1 knew anything about a two man type
[288]craft which travels through the water. I presume A-1 was talking
[289]about the "sca-sled." I advised him that I knew little about thig |
[290]type craft, but in my opinion ite usefulness for the type activity
[291]he had in mind was limited. AMBANG-1 would use this craft for.
[292]the final phage of an infiltration effort. A-] stated that this craft
[293]was being used at the hotel beaches in San Juan as a type of sporting
[294]activity. I will advise him that he could pursue this matter himeelf
[295]ae all knowledge on this subject is publicly available,
[297]m, AMBANG-I Trained in(Simple Storch System)
[299]A WAVE technician, Culver Ladd Culver Ladg 1, Calver Ladd, under the name
[301]of Mr, Lane trained A-] to use a(simple scorch systémjof S/W. A-1
[305]14-00000
[307]-7T-
[308]was given some eighty pills with which he will be able to make
[309]the "ink" used in this system of S/W. A-] was pleased with the
[310]eyaters, elyeciamy ste eamipiicity, He wil: use tae systeia to
[312]communicate with his chie{ delegate in Paris and undoubtedly
[313]other personas in Cuba as well as in the other JURE delegations, —
[315]an, AMBANG-1 is Writing an Articie for Cuadernos
[317]At the request of German Arcienegas, the famed
[318]Colombian intellectual, A-l is preparing an article which is to be
[319]published in Cuadernos, The article will dea! with the problems
[320]facing Latin America and how they can be resolved. A-1 will be in
[321]select company as Arcienegas has asked a number of prominent
[323]Latin American intellectuals for their views.
[325]oe. Communication Between AMBANG-1 and Case
[327]Officer
[329]AMBANG-I gave me the following addresees at which
[330]he can be reached:
[332]Corporacion de Renovacicn
[333]Urbana y Viviendas
[334]PARADA 3}
[336]Ponce de Leon,
[338]Hato Rey ;
[339]Puerto Rico Telephone No. 723-1671
[341](NOTE: This is not AMBANG's office or home, but that of a
[342]friend who is always able to reach A-1, }
[344]Also:
[346]Mr. Jaime Mitrani
[347]1260 W. 6) Place
[348]Hialeah, Florida
[350]AMBANG-1! was given the following means of
[351]contacting me:
[352]Mr, Alfred Fernandez
[354]P.O. Box 104, Main Post Office
[355]Washington, D. C. Telephone No. 737-8294
[357]AMBANG-1! wili use the name "Tony" as a signature in mail
[359]cl
[361]to me,
[363]14-0000
[365]2. General Observations
[367]I beleive AMBANG-1 is planning to return to Cuba.
[368]He indicated that he would give the matter serious thought to
[369]even go in, disguised, as a legal traveller if that road were ;
[370]generally open, i.e,, if rather large numbers of travellera were
[371]going in via PAA flights. This line seemed a bit out of character
[372]for A-], for it seemes unrealistic and somewhat remindful of Macaulay's
[373]references to the state of mind that exiles develop. I also detected
[374]what we consider to be a somewhat unrealistic appraisal of the Cuban
[375]Situation in A-1's estimate that Castro has coneidecrably less than
[376]40% of the Cuban people with him, A-1l may be Josing more than a
[377]little touch with Cuban reality.
[379]A-] remaing convinced that he is on the right track in
[380]working for the eventual overthrow of Castro, He is convinced,
[381]however, that two to three years is all the time left for actually
[382]destroying the Castro regime, believing that there will be a favorable
[383]turn in the Cuban economic situation by late 1965. A-] is likewise
[384]convinced that Castro cannot add to the improvement of Cuba, to
[385]the contrary that so long as the principal decisions are made by
[386]Castro, the genera] trend will be confusion arising from a failure
[387]to concentrate on specific problema until they are corrected,
[389]AMBANG-1 is likewise convinced that the JURE is building
[390]a political group and general outlook which will have an impact on
[391]Cuba for many yeare to come. He is especially concerned with the
[392]need to carefully consider cach position of his grow in order to
[393]create the lasting impression that JURE knows where it is going
[394]and that its leadership is composed of men who know how to "run"
[395]a country without the false starts, confusion and chaos identified
[397]with the Castro regime.
[399]AMBANG-1 is Nkewise greatly concerned with the neceasity
[400]of not creating an impression inside Cuba that the JURE will return
[401]to mete out "Justice," It is essential, A-1 states, to convince the
[402]general populace that the overthrow of Castro will not result ina
[403]bloodbath, rather that the sole aim js to save the revolution that
[404]has been betrayed, He is anxious that the people inaide Cuba see
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[410]wea os
[412]the JURE as a responsible, intelligent and dispassionate group
[413]which is capable of bringing to Cuba all that the revolution promised.
[415]Alfonso Rodrigues
[416]SAS/SO
[419]1- C/SAS
[420]1 - SAS/Bolten; Heckeher;(Amori?
[421]1 - Chrono
[422]1 - RAY File
[424]CO
[426]Sh
[427]a