i
4-00000
104-10215-10003
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
.
AIR
(SPECIFY AIR OR SEA POUCH)
TO
:
Chief, WHD
FROM :
Chief of Station, Habana
SUBJECT: GENERAL- Administrative
О
SPECIFIC Arthur G. VAIVADA
SECRET KAPO
CLASSIFICATION
DISPATCH NO. HKH-A-1025
(201-16681)
(23-88/2-139)Local
ти
Dahlgun
DATE: 7 November 1957
1. Attached herewith is a memorandum prepared by the Subject, dated
29 October 1957, calling the attention of Headquarters to the fact that
his assignment in Habana terminates in June 1958 and setting out his wishes
as to reassignment thereafter.
2. While Vaivada did not include it in his memorandum, in recent
conversations with the case officer he has expressed considerable interest
in the possibility of being assigned under unofficial cover to Spain,
saying that both he and his wife would welcome such an assignment. The
Subject has also said in those conversations that he would not take it
amiss if an opportunity for reassignment outside of the Central America-
Caribbean area were to become open to him at any time prior to June 1958.
3. In the opinion of the Station, Vaivada has done a very good job.
here, having been confronted with and overcome a number of difficult
problems and situations during his tour of over three years in Habana.
The Station is happy to recommend that his request for reassignment be
given every consideration.
дек
Attachments:
Palinger
James R. Palinger"
Memorandum of Reassignment (4 copies)
Distribution:
- Washington w/att.
2
-
Files w/att.
4 November 1957
JRP/afn
FORM NO.
MAR 1949 51-28 A
DESENSITIZED
i
For all 43-20
SECRET KAPIK
CLASSIFICATION
201-168881
14-00000
Havana, Cuba
29 October 1957
SUBJECT: Reassignment
то
:
THROUGH:
-
Arthur G. Vaivada
Headquarters Desk
Chief of Station, Havana, Cuba
1. While at Headquarters in the early part of May 1957, it was verbally
agreed 
that I return to Cuba for about 
one year, security permitting.
2. While my operational work in Cuba from August 1954 until February
1957 
was concentrated on communist 
targets in the University of Habana, it
should be pointed out that 
my dities during that period also involved many
contacts with subversive 
oppositionist elements.
increased 
during February 1957, two of my key agents were lost, one of them
When governmental persecution
by governmental assassination, 
so that I was obliged to leave Cuba temporarily
pending clarification of 
the security factors involved. During my three
months'absence in PEPRIME the local 
situation deteriorated; and after my
return my position was 
less favorable than it had been as a newcomer since I
had lost assets but had retained 
the cumulative security hazards of three years
of cultivation and recruitment efforts. 
The University was, and still is,
closed. Our communist penetration 
efforts are continuously barrassed by
official persecution of the 
target group.
3. Since by June 1958 I shall have spent four years in Cuba, I believe
it 
appropriate to submit this letter 
at this time requesting that Headquarters
begin to study the possibilities for 
reassignment about June 1958, or prior
to that date if necessary. 
As to future assignments, I have no reservations
or special requests. I am willing and 
repared to travel to any area
consistent with my 
qualifications. Generally speaking, and for obvious
security reasons, I am interested 
in getting out of the Central America-
Caribbean area if 
possible. It may be recalled that I was denied an Argentine
visa in 1953, for purely technical 
reasons. This situation may be changed,
and I would not be opposed to a tour in Argentina, Chile, or any of the South
American republics. In this matter, 
the nature of the new project or
assignment would take 
precedence with me over personal preferences as to
particular area of assignment
.
DESENSITIZED
For C 43-26
Att to HKHA, 4025
7NOV57
201- 168881
14-00000
Reassignment Arthur G. Vaivada
29 October 1957, Page 2
4. Regarding my cover status: I entered Cuba in 1954 under student
cover 
(Pan American Foundation 
Scholarship), and as it became increasingly
more difficult to maintain owing to 
student disturbances, I completed a
course in the writing of free-lance 
fiction and am thrice published.
writing has been used as a 
realistic, stop gap cover, even after I was
This
provided with a notional business cover 
(Public Surveys Institute) by Head-
quarters. I understand that journalism 
is considered a weak and time-worn
cover; yet if it is worked at, and 
financially managed through a PÉPRIME
checking account, it not only 
satisfies local SS probes but it does not have
the inherent disadvantages involved in 
setting up a full-fledged business
cover. I set this out as a possible 
suggestion to Headquarters, but have
no insistence as to journalistic over 
business cover.
business 
cover provided me has proved satisfactory in a limited sense thus
The notional
far, and even utilized as cover for 
action occasionally, but I would be
uncertain about introducing it 
in a less "Americanized" country than Cuba.
อง
$ 1 837
Arthur G. Vawoda
Arthur G. Vaivada
201-168881