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CONTINUATION OFDISPATCHSECRETOSMA-23,106known department stores. RUIZ checked with GALLO, hisdeputy, on the proper clothes for diplomatic functions inMadrid and an appointment was to be made with a tailor.Nilda declared that the apartment where CALZADILLA and hisfamily had lived economically was inadequate and theydecided to look for a chalet, something very spacious andwell-priced. They subsequently seriously considered oneknown to rent for 30,000 pesetas ($500) per month and thenturned it down, apparently for reasons other than price. Anew telex machine was ordered for the Embassy. The technicianstated they could install a teletype that could only receive,not send, messages but this seemed acceptable.3. On Monday, 4 December 1967, the day after his arrival,   RUIZ ordered the Cuban consuls in Barcelona, Sevilla and   Vigo to Madrid for a meeting. The order was couched in terms   of "wanting to meet" them, but after their arrival on   Wednesday, 6 December, all parties settled down to a detailed   meeting in which primary attention was given to administrative   matters, trade and propaganda. The latter two subjects will   be dealt with in separate dispatches. On the administrative   side, RUIZ listened sympathetically to complaints about low   salaries, old buildings and inadequate operating budgets and   concluded by asking for a monthly report on receipts and   expenses and a report on the consuls' current needs, their   monthly balances and their administrative activities. The   printing and telephone bills were the two items of expense   that kept recurring throughout the discussions.4. By the end of the week, RUIZ had prepared a report   on the situation he found in the Chancerry and the mission   in general for forwarding to Havana and which he first   discussed with his subordinates. Ile started by assuring   them that he had "found great co-operation among all the   comrades in this mission" and declared that the staff was   complete. Apparently, RUIZ intends to make no personnel   changes and Hector GALLO Portieles, who had previously been   most eager to return PCS to Havana, now has gone to Havana   on vacation. He left Madrid on the 20 December 1967 Iberia   flight.5. The Cuban mission has certain financial problems   since the present budget dates from previous years and does   not cover current expenses. However, the "new economic.   activities of the consulate" are expected to assist with the   problem. Here RUIZ is presumably referring to the pressure   brought to bear in November 1967 by Cuban sympathizers in   the Spanish Foreign Office working through the Customs and   the Immigracion Office to force Cuban exiles to register   with the Cuban consulate and pay the $22.50 fee for a valid   passport. Enough exiles have responded to this pressure to   relieve some of the financial problems of the Cuban mission.   This source of income will last as long as the Cubans' friends   in the Foreign Ministry are able to assist them.6. The reception of Cuban official travelers at the   airport and the handling of Embassy pouches poses a   continuing administrative problem for the Embassy. Jose   DIAZ Puga, who is in charge of this airport work has to   devote himself exclusively to taking care of the couriers   and their pouches when any come in, leaving visitors to fend   for themselves. This situation has been alleviated by   other. Embassy staff members jaunting out to the airport at   will to meet the incoming planes. Now, RUIZ has declared   that the rest of the staff must stay in the Embassy because   they have a work plan to fulfill. Thus, he has left himself   with an unresolved problem he must face in the very near   future.