[104-10217-10221.pdf — page 26]
SECRET (PLA-254)he can exploit Iden A as a 'walking credential' in Algiers a unique way tosuggest to himself is one of Iden A's boys. It should be noted on theother hand, that this situation provides Iden A a unique means of monitor-ing STESONY/1's activities and contacts3. Of priority interest at this moment, however, is the fact that Iden   A has expressed to STESONY/1 his dissatisfaction with the progress to date   in getting his book (Iden A, published in English). Iden A claims that an   Australian is supposed to be working on a translation but that he has heard   nothing from him in over six months. STESONY/1 then told Iden A that he himself   could do the translation job with the aid of friends but that he would have   to spend some time with Iden A to work over fine points and to write together   a new chapter updating the book. In this way STESONY/1 feels he could cement   his personal relationship with Iden A4. There are obviously operational and station policy questions that   should be considered in this context. First of all, our sole reporter on   the STESONY/1-Iden A relationship is STESONY/1 himself. Is he really seeking   to set up a meaningful operational gambit to be exploited by EUBANK, or is he   seeking to regain status among his former peers? We tend to believe the former   on the basis of the results of STESONY/1's CFOSTER examination and his long   conversations with his deep cover case officer. Secondly, would the damage to   the [???] national interest inherent in the publication of Iden A's book in   English outweigh the operational gain to be made by putting STESONY/1 in Iden   A's confidence. STESONY/1 argues that, on the contrary, the publication of   the book in English could hurt no one except possibly Iden A himself, because   STESONY/1 claims the book is a tiresome polemic against one small communist   group by another small communist group. [???] has no intention of recommend-   ing that [???] help get the book in print in any case for that would be   Iden A's own problems forever. If STESONY/1 did not undertake too transla-   ting job, the Australian would probably come through before too long anyway.5. We are sure that addressees can see in this situation the seeds of   a useful operational contact with Iden A who, according to various reports   STESONY/1 is receiving from others of his contacts in the pro-Chinese factions   of the European Communist Parties. is starting to lose his grip on his own   organization.6. In any event, unless advised to the contrary, we intend to encourage   STESONY/1 to continue developing his relationship with Iden A, especially as   regards translation of the book. We are forwarding to Headquarters (use)   a copy of the book and request that the appropriate office in AP be   approached immediately and asked to provide, on a priority basis, an English-   language translation which we can pass to STESONY/1. He could then rework   this translation somewhat and involve his wife in the editing of it pre-   senting the finished product to Iden A as a family effort. Of particular   importance from a critical point of view is that translations of quota-   tions from non-Francophone sources (Marx and Lenin for example) should be   consistent with the 'official' English-language version of the quotations.7. The time element involved is this: KUWOL Career Agent Rufus P   BOCIDAST will be meeting STESONY/1 in Rome on or about 15 July. At that   time he should have some firm word from EUBANK on the status of the trans-   lation effort. In matter of fact, of course, the ideal situation would be   to have the translation in hand at that time though we cannot gauge from   here whether that is within the realm of possibility. In any case [???]   would have to have the translation definitely in hand the first week of   August when he will be leaving Paris for his second meeting with STESONY/1