157-10004-10068 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORDS SERIES : CHRONOLOGY AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM : TO: TITLE SUMMARY CHRONOLOGY DATE Date:05/24/94 Page: 1 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION SSCTA 157-10004-10068 OF ZRRIFLE/QUWIN ACTIVITIES : 00/00/76 PAGES : 5 f) 7RRIFLE/QUWIN DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : HW 50955 DBocld: 32201957 SUBJECTS : BACKGROUND AND CHRONOLOGY OF PROGRAM PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT U 1A, 1B, 1C, DONOR REST., REFERRED X 05/24/94 [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED Page i
ZRRIFLE/QJWIN Summary Chronology ummary ZRRIFLE is ostensibly a program to rectruit criminals for teams hich could break into (Ronen@nmembaseiesgtcmsceniecodes. However, here is evidence in the files that this purpose, though useful to he Agency, was in reality a cover for another operation. From other ources, it appears that the real purpose was at least kidnapping and ossibly murder. _ ZRRIFLE was run out of the (rmypeouoniey counterintelligence shop piston yy in the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence. It began sometime 960/early-1961 and lasted until at least mid-1963, although ayments to its principal agent QJWIN were continued into 1964. ZRRIFLE appears to have been PCa and wae set of 4 Prosrams Knowledge of the program in the CIA appears to have been limited :o the following people: eae O'Donnel RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT Richard Bissell | Feo?” Richard Helms W. ‘Lloyd George Sidney Gottleib The principal events in the chronology are set forth below, but ‘he major phases were: , -~-Oct.-Dec. 1960 - recruitment and visit by QJWIN to the Congo allegedly for a kidnap or assassination of Lumumba. --1961-1962 - QJWIN becomes contract employee. Seeks out potential candidates §xong as eakeing. Possible more permanent assignment to Leopoldville under considera- tion but finally dropped. Dee --1963 - While supposedly establishing cover WingGermans in minimal contact with case officer, QJIWIN apparently meets Wm. Harvey in Florida in April and engages in some kind of operation involving a boat. HW 50955 DocId:32201957 Page 2 and
Go Te. UC UB & Sor ghesytions LOK Mb. Msaooeaa ° a OLLUUWY Ubu ZRRIFLE/QJWIN l. What was your responsibility in regard to (Division’D.} of the FI Division? Would you describe its functions? 2. What can you tell us of an operation run out of fivi= FXtonoy) in the Congo in late 1960? Wouldn't you have to approve such a project? 3. Have you ever heard of project ZRRIFLE or an agent by the name of QJWIN? Would you describe your recollections? 4. Did you ask phi Donnell in 1960 to recruit an agent in Europe (use real name if necessary) to assassinate Patrice Lumumba? To kidnap him? 5. Did you cause to be delivered to the CIA station in the Congo in late 1960 a quantity of poison or a biological agent for the purpose of killing Patrice Lumumba? 6. Could these things have happened without your knowledge? 7. Have you ever heard the term "Executive Action"? If so, explain meaning and circumstances. 8. Do you recall a meeting on January 25 and 26, 1961, where Executive Action was discussed? 9, What do you make of these handwritten notes? 10. What do you make of the handwritten note that says "ORRIFLE started in 1961 on Bissell's say-so''? ll. Did you ever authorize a program to Bb eak, intoy embassies. | abroad? To recruit people for that purpose? How high up would such a project be approved? Be known? 12. Would you know if such a supposed counterintelligence operations were in fact a cover for an assassination capability? If not, why not? If so, explain. 13. Do you recall any discussion of the use of Executive Action, ZRRIFLE, QJWIN, (the agent's real name), in connection with plans to assassinate Trujillo or Castro? HW 50955 DBocld:32201957 Page 3 eerie wen tmerr tt a
This is apparently based on 1967 CIA Study which states that Harvey said that early in the Kennedy Administration "Bissell called him in to discuss what Harvey refers to as an Executive Action Capability, i.e., a general stand by capability to carry out assassinations when required. Harvey's notes quote Bissell as saying ‘the White House has twice urged me to create such a capability.'" It should also be noted that ZRRIFLE was not a covert action but was conducted under the aegis of counterintelligence--for which no formal mechanisms of high-level review appear to exist, even today.) new oe r 2 és HWY 350955 DBocidy32?270T97
sé . . \ HY 0955 for ZRRIFLE. (Comment: These notes must be seen t Jan. 26, 1961. More systematic description of operating methods for projects which imply that codeystealing is a cover. Other notes sandwich these notes but in another hand; spellout i tealing) mission © be appre ” (Other handwritten notes, undated but apparently done later, refer to QJWIN/ZRRIFLE with notiations "Done early 1961 on Bissell’s say-so.” March 1961. QJWIN signs contract. Subsequently seeks out potential criminals for unspecified tasks. Discussion goes on about Leopoldville assignment. Mid-1962. African Division in Hq. finally says "no" to Leopoldville assignment. QJWIN kept on for job of spotting criminals. Station@luxe: wants to know what to do with him. (By this time Bissell has left CIA. toe ae t % as (Note: In ZIRRIFLE/QJWIN contract/Project file following Helm's contract renewal of March 1963, and Harvey's memo of June 27, 1963, is an envelope addressed to Lloyd which contains a card which says: John Rosselll alias John Ralston ony mms ry st Ge ate NN NEY GEL SD EN ED. end note.) (Comment: Apart from the handwritten notes and €ivourciWwey statements there is nothing to suggest assassination was the purpose of ZRRIFLE. On the other hand, there is also no suggestion that the "candidates" developed by QJWIN ever did any "jobs" for the Agency. However, the Inspector General's Report of 1973 (First pages of Senators' White Book) contains a two-page summary of ZRRIFLE describing its purpose as an Executive Action operation. It alleges (with no reference as to source) that: “'trhe White House’ urged Richard Bissell to create an Executive Action capability; i.e., a general stand-by capability to carry out assassinations. The Executive Action program came to be known as ZRRIFLE. Its principal asset was an agent, QJIWIN, who had been recruited earlier by , for use in a special operation in the Congo te (the assassination of Patrice Lumumba).... Doctd: 32201957 Page 5
~-June 1963 - Harvey proposes QJWIN be terminated or used in other capacity. --1964 - Last payment to QJWIN Chronology Relevant to Bissell October 1960. Message from Station bf indicates arrange- ments being made for contact of unknown agent (with: onsiicansy for project briefed orally to |Station by Silva. October . Hq. asks cos { Jaf certain person available Wikauncky reports he is. October 1960. Following (Si®iverivisit O¥HsSnnel meets with individual who is to become QJWIN. §@@OSnieiy claims he asked QJWIN to join in plot to kidnap Lumumba from UN custody and deliver to Mobutu for trial. Report of meeting says that QJWIN not told of actual ot purpose but told assignment involved great personal risk. Bissell personally asked him to assassinate Lumumba but @eune Snell>claims i refused. Nov.-Dec. 1960. QJWIN with cryptonym goes to Congo ostensibly en route@bakam? .Activities unclear but’ reportedly contacts two: Frenchmen to "take unspecified job." @0&ponnely comes from Washington to direct QJWIN's activities. . to recruit QJWIN to join qj "exceeding instructions." and "medical immunizations." elOEy 05) Leopoldville had vial of Jan. 25, 1961 - Cryptic, handwritten notes in QJWIN/ZRRIFLE project contract file suggest ZRRIFLE created for "Executive Action" capability. QJWIN mentioned by name. Relevance to Trujillo assassination suggested by name "El Benefactor." On page, notes contain phrases: "Executive Action" "The Magic Button" "The last resort beyond the last resort” "anesthetic" "never mention(s) assassination" \The initials on the paper include B-WHEAS), which appear to stand for © Bissell, Wm. Harvey, and ®Arnold Silvey. Technical Services Division mentioned along with"Sid" -- presumably TSD Director Sidney Gottleib. HW 50955 DBocld: 322701957 Page 6