104-10054-10018 . ee e , on MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, WHD for Cuba SUBJECT : Espinosa Allegations | 21. Sensitivity: Regardless of accuracy, they A. present & problem because of their having been presented to other government agencies; B. in view of matters touching on U.S. security, are delicate and could have unfavorable repercuga@ions - “if repeated to newsmen by the complainant or his associates (whose independent, previous threats were of greater potential embarrassment ) ; C. affect the reputations and the aceurity of our pergonnel at Madrid and Paris. 2. Action: in view of the foregoing, the allegations (A, should be put in proper perspective - i.e., not ignored because of the potential embarrassment but — considered in the light of what we already know ¢, (Almost all of them are repetitions of previous charges and reports, known well to both the Hadrid eee. ...., amd Paris stations and to Headquarters officers = -...--= . - concerned with the AMLASH group, whose members‘ reliability, reputations and good are question- able. Two of the charges - about and "Tota” and about AMWHIP-1 and CARRILLO - are new.); B. should be treated so ag to protect ug against any charge of laxity and so as to establish the facts but, at the same time, treated so as to avoid attributing wees to them more importance than they deserve; Cc. should be kept in mind ag examples of other Lon charges which may bebandied about and reported by the AMLASH group to other governmental agencies or to | other governments or to rews media (In the last connection recall the implied threat of publishing ODYOKE responsibility, as reported previously by HADR-3716, In 38634. 3 OD BGO
14-00000 eevee ( f eo vA ( ( -2- D. should be examined together with ai1 the other avallable reports so that we may | (1) clarify our own objectives and wishes with respect to aii the AMLASH group (and this includes AMWHIP); {2) sort out which people, if any, are worth our. time in the future; (3) take appropriate measures, including inter- rogation and polygraphing, to clarify doubts and then, when necessary, terminate those who are working for us but are not worthwhile; (4) tighten up our own operational and security procedures in connection with the AMLASH group. 3. Prelimi Analysis: As pointed out in a preliminary analysis of the SHEASH compiex, made in March 1965 when I was preparing for travel to Madrid in connection with the QUHOPS-1 cases "...There is no convincing evidence that the group is working either for or against the regize of Fidel CASTRO. Reports on their contacts with us and their discussions among themselves are at variance. In 1962 Fidel CASTRO, reportedly knowing that they were plotting against him, talked to AMLASH-1 and seven members of his group to enlist their support against Anibal BSCALANTE Dellunde and the communists in Cuba. Possibly they are playing both ends against the middle. They certainly . have been and are in contact with the two ends.” The following ccnments are keyed to matters raised by ESPINOSA: A. The AMLASH conspiracy - As detailed by HADR-3716 (IN 28634) on 6 April 1965, QUSPORT-1 reporting on a meeting significant points: of the AMLASH group, including AMWHIP-1 mentioned the following (1) KUBARK was criticized for "fooling around for years" without helping and for jeopardizing the operation; (2) the group was to be prepared to denounce | GDOYORE as responsible 42 the operation fails and believed that the resulting scandal would make the Bay of Pigs seem insi¢ni- ficant; and g (3) AMLASH-3 was in touch with Cuban Intelligence as establiosned by coded messages which he exhibited. As reported by PARI-1532 (IN 82939) on 4 June 1965, based on meetings with ESPINOSA, the probler seen by Paris is that : | | i
14-00000 tei Py . ihe f aie, “ET “the AMLASH circle is wide and each new friend of whom we learn seema to have knowledge of the plan." I believe that the _ problem is a more serious and bagic one. As indicated in paragraph 3 of the present memorandum, Fide] CASTRO himselZ reportedly knew as far back as 1962 that the group was plotting against him and, knowing it, enlisted ite support. Hence we cannot rule out the possibility of provecation. Assassination, obviously, is a dangerous game, not merely te the plotters in @& physical sense, but to a sponsoring government which may suffer severe political repercussions at home and abroad if its involvement ig made known. In the instant case, the riska of exposure of the ODYOKE hand would appear high, whether there is & provocation or not. Considering the individuals who are -involved directly, their contacta with KUBARK cfficers,and their reported plan to expoge ODYOKE, persisting in the plan could. -be highly embarrassing to KUBARK. (This is cven more the case now that ESPINOSA has talked to ODENVY and ODURGE, although fortunately the tenor of his complaint was that KUBAREK had not given adequate support to the plan.) « ; B. The contacts at Paris and the matters affecting the Paris Station.- The "recruitment" of Maureen had been the zr. subject of an exchange of cables between Paris and Headquarters and of discussions at Headquarters between H/C and WE (See PARI-1071 (IN 66557) and DIR-10955). The annoying thing in this connection now is that ESPINOSA has talked about it to ODENVY and ODURGES and the danger that, if he is indiscreet, . his story avout this (and the other matters) could reach sone curious newspaperman. (In this connection, it appears that the questionable decision to put Maureen in touch with the AMLASH group was made without the knowledge of STCCEVOOD.) ESPINCSA did not report any criticism of the KUBARKers at Paris but it is evident that the AMLASH group knows more about them than we might wish. What is new and of concern from ESPINOSA about matters in Paris is his story of AMWHIP.1 and UNSNAFU-19 deflings. The questions raised about AMWHIP-1 are of mutual concern also to Headquarters which has been running him and Hadrid which he has visited often. (On the occasion of my ‘previous trip to Madrid on the QUHOPS-1 case, GHOWERY had voiced his doubts about the whole group and specifically about AMWHIP-1 and his connection with UNSNAFU-19.) At issue are two bagic points, the knowledge om the part of UNSNAFU-19 about EUBARK's @onnection with AMWHIP-~1 and the charge that AMWHIP-1 has been defrauding KUBARK in the jewelry transaction. Also to be kept in mind is the fact that ODENVY has an office in Paris which well might have been informed of the allegations and which might have been asked for comments - although ODENVY policy always has been to stay away from any investigation of other government agencies unless specifically directed by the Attorney General to lavestigate.
14-00000 the Madrid Station by the AMLASH group is not new. AMLASH~2 about and involvement of Station targets with both the AMLASH notified KUBARK at New York that AMLASH-2 had telephoned ‘to obtain PRO information and to obtain clarification of the i i t t oP ROY BLEED when C. Criticism of the Madrid Station - Criticism of and ~3 were in Madrid and wanted direct contact, but the Station has bad reservations about seeing them. The Station has been involved indirectly because of reporting by its sources and AMWORLD operations (both handled from Headquarters). (Sea MADR-2982 (IN 72256) and MADR-2998 (1N 73094) (both RYBAT).}. ..... Meetings among QUSPORT, QUSWIVT-1, AMWHIP-1 and AMLASH figures produced conflicting reports which previously were discussed at Madrid and at Headquarters. Ineoftar ag GROWERY himself is concerned, it must be kept in mind that he is a natural target on whom the AMLASH group would be inclined to focus its com~ plaints. With regard to the specific complaint about "Tota", GROWERY has identifZied her as QUSWIFT-7 and has reported that no staffer from the Station ever had contact with her. tee 4. Further involvement of ESPINCSA: On 10 June ODENVY ESPINOSA to ask whether he had succeeded in contacting “the proper people" ~ 1.e., responsible KUBARK representatives ~ and to request notice of the resulting arrangements. 5. AMVHIP-1: Our plan calls for meeting him next week roles played by those involved with him in the AMLASH operation. Hig dealings with UNSNAYU-19 also will be covered. Following this, an LCFLUTTER examination is planned. This may help te determine whether he has been truthful in his reporting. Harold fF. Swenson WH/C/SP