ao é UNITi:.s STATES DEPARTMENT OF Jc-sTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Reply, Please Refer to. File No. wee ee Miami, Florida. CLAS 134-1191 September 17 1965 Eyten ny, shag i WOT, BF oom / REASON Poe \ DATE @F REVAL. ; ae Te eesuscag /— DEgpAAssiricaNgn......4.nlge, fan L ‘RE: GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y¥ WESSIN 4 INTERNAL SECURITY - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC own SLBA On September 12, 1965, MM T-1, a confidential source abroad, advised as follows: os General ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN, commanding officer of the Central de Ensenanzarde las Fuerzas Armadas (CEFA) (Armed Forces Training Center), was retired, appointed Dominican Consul General in Miami, and sent out of the Dominican Republic (DR) to Panama on the night of September 9, 1965. Indications were that WESSIN was to travel from Panama to Miami and it was expected that he would be joined by his - family in Miami by September 12, 1965. . According to MM T-1, WESSIN has stated that had not United States troops landed in the DR in April, 1965, the country would have been lost to communism. According to information available to. MM T-1 on September 9,.1965, WESSIN was visited by Brazilian General ‘ HUGO ALVIN, Commanding General of the Inter-American Peace ‘Force, and General BRUCE PALMER, Forces, DR. This visit was made of American Ambassador ELLSWORTH tive to the OAS Committee in the and PALMER directed an ultimatum The September 15, 1965 a local daily newspaper, carried Commanding General of U..S. at the express instructions: | BUNKER, American Representa-— | DR. It appears that ALVIN. to WESSIN to depart the DR. KO edition of the "Miami News," an article entitled, "Bayonet Forced Me ~ Wessin." This article attributes WESSIN with alleging that an, American lieutenant put a bayonet in his back . and forced him out of his country and carried WESSIN's | rejection of a consulate post in Miami. The article quoted - WESSIN as saying, "The American official who ordered my expulsion in such a humiliating way has given the coup de grace to the fight for democracy in Latin America." This ; article further. contained excerpts from a letter purportedly written by WESSIN to the Dominican Provisional Presid yd \ ‘HECTOR GARCIA GODOY. 2-14 77 —- t g Ai 7 70 | eh Excluded Kon automatic Ba downgrading and ation & Docld: 32299996 Page 5
GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN On September 15, 1965, General ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN was located at his temporary residence, the home of ANTONIO LLANO MONTES , 751 Swan Avenue, Miami Springs, Florida. On May 19, 1965, MM T-2, a Cuban exile familiar with activities. in the Miami Cuban. colony in Miami, Florida, and acquainted with certain phases of pro and anti-CASTRO activities throughout Latin America, advised that ANTONIO LLANO MONTES was the editor of a monthly magazine entitled "Carteles," which was then published in -Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. MM T-2 ; described this magazine as anti-CASTRO in tone, whose director was listed as RAFAEL BONILLA AYBAR. The Miami editor at that time was listed as VICENTE S, PUJALS. On September 15, 1965, General ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN advised Special Agents of the FBI as follows: He does not intend to accept a consular post in Miami, Florida, which was assigned to him by Brazilian Generali HUGO: ALVIN at the: ‘time he was deported from the DR. _WESSIN “““stated that the details of his expulsion from the DR were essentially. correct as reported by the local press, to wit; He - was approached by Generals DEAN and PALMER of the U. S. Armed Forces and Brazilian General HUGO ALVIN, the ever-all military commander in the DR. His offices were surrounded by armed units/of the U. S. Armed Forces and he was directed by General ALVIN. to relinquish his command to his first subordinate. Because of the display of armed force, WESSIN realized that to resist would have meant . additional bloodshed in the DR and undoubtedly, would result in the wounding or death of his own troops, who he believed: would have remained loyal to him. Recognizing the futility of resistance and to save his own troops, he ' relinquished his command as ordered. WESSIN stated that. United States Generals DEAN and PALMER advised him that the "constitutionalist" forces Docld: 32299996 Page 6
} Vw GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN under the command of General FRANCISCO CAAMANO had demanded. his departure from the DR as a basis for further negotiations . to settle the Dominican crisis. WESSIN thus believes that the United States acceded to these demands by the "communists." WESSIN .pointed.out that although he referred to CAAMANO forces as "communist," United States military officials referred to them as “constitutionalist" forces. — -WESSIN fears the rapid expansion of communist influence in the DR and cited as an example the appointment on September. 16, 1965, of MIGUEL SOTO as Secretary of Labor, This individual is a supporter of JUAN BOSCH and has made © public statements which WESSIN believes reveal his communist _ideals. WESSIN, however, could not recall the specific text of these statements and emphasized that while he had no documented proof of SOTO’s communist affiliation, he never- theless considered him as at least a communist sympathizer. Another example of expanding commumist influence in the DR is. typified by the present Director of Passports, name unknown, who is believed by WESSIN to be communist because he instructed the deletion from Dominican. passports - of a stamped prohibition of travel to iron curtain countries . WESSIN pointed out that his immediate future plans consisted of remaining in Miami, Florida, and awaiting his _ family from the DR. He has no intention of accepting the consular post proffered to him by the Dominican provisional government. He intends to live off of a pension awarded to him as a retired military officer. - It is noted that on September 15, 1965, Special Agents of the FBI observed that MARCOS DIAZ  LANZ,. was in contact with General WESSIN at the residence of ANTONTO LLANO MONTES. On September 17, 1965, -DIAZ LANZ was again - observed in contact with General WESSIN along with FRANK FIORINI: . On September 17, 1965, MM T-3, a Cuban. exile who is personally acquainted with MARCOS ‘ DIAZ LANZ and FRANK FIORINI, advised as follows: Me) Docld: 32299996 Page fF
GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN , MARCOS. DIAZ is the brother of PEDRO LUIS DIAZ LANZ, former chief of the Cuban Air Force under FIDEL CASTRO. MARCOS DIAZ . LANZ defected from Cuba at the same time as his brother PEDRO, when PEDRO d mced CASTRO as a Communist in about 1960. HL) MM T-3 has known FRANK FIORINI for approximately Six or seven years and described FIORINE as a U. S. citizen closely associated with the DIAZ brothers in anti-CASTRO activities Since 1959. Previous te 1959, FIORINI associated with the DIAZ brothers in smugg Ling weapons into Cuba on b lf of FIDEL CASTRO during the _BATISTA regime. ai) . MM T-3 described both MARCOS DIAZ LANZ and FRANK FIORINI as individuais who have become pro- fessional opportunists and who have attempted to enrich themselves by associating with anti-CASTRO and anti-communist elements. At the present time, MARCOS DIAZ LANZ is in desperate financial straits. It is the opinion of MM T-3 that the significance of MARCOS DIAZ LANZ’ and FRANK FIORINI’s contacts with General ELIAS WESSIN relates to their intention of exploiting the resources and facilities o General WESSIN for their own personal gain. {WL On September 17, 1965, General ELIAS WESSIN advised Special Agerts of the FBI as follows: The newspaper article stating that he was deported from the DR at bayonet point is a figure of speech but WESSIN reiterated that he was forcibly retired and deported. WESSIN indicated that a newspaper article indicating that he | . intended to move to Puerto Rico and organize Dominicans ‘against the provisional Dominican government is without fact since he did not release this information to thé press and has no plans at the present time other than to await the arrival of his family in Miami, Florida. WESSIN made available a letter that he directed to the provisional . leader of the Dominican gevernment, HECTOR GARCIA GODOY. A translation of this letter is as follows: Docld: 32299996 Page &
GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESS?Nesumeeieam "ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN™ Brigadier General “Miami Springs, Florida ' September 106,. 1965 “Dr. HECTOR GARCIA GODOY Provisional President of: the Dominican Republic National Palace i ‘Santo Domingo. "Mr. President: "T am writing this letter a few hours after ny arrival in Miami in order to explain clearly and definitely. my position in regard > to the recent events in which I.found myself involved. "The Dominican people are aware that, thanks to my loyalty during the grave events which began on April 24, our country is not completely dominated by Communism at this time. “An elementary sense of honor as a military man prevents me from accepting the position of Consul General in Miami for a Government which has availed itself of foreign troops to send me into exile by force. I told this to Generals ALVIN and. PALMER when they notified me that I was Consul in Miami. . "The afternoon that Generals ALVIN and PALMER informed me that I was to leave and a Lieutenant in the United States Army prevented me from going: _to my hduse to pick up my clothes and my passport, I firmly decided that I would not serve your Government, either in the Consulate of Miami or in any other position. “Never did I imagine that a military man of my rank would be taken to the airport dressed in full. uniform and. taken out of the country with a bayonet at his back. Docld: 32299996 Page 93
Se GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN wenssonmmmnissei "The United States officials who ordered my departure from Dominican territory in such a humiliating manner have dealt the death blow to the fight for Democracy in America. Can you imagine the effect that this action against my person by the O.A. Ss. and the United States © Government will have on the > military men of. Latin America? "Do you believe that the military men of Latin America will be disposed to fight against Communism when they know that they will be paid for doing their duty by being expelled from their country and. ousted from their military career? "When the ‘United States troops arrived in the Dominican Republic, after the men under my command had been violently attacked by a Communist crowd, seeking vengeance and death, I never imagined that those same troops, making common cause with the’ enemies of Democracy would remove me from my country in a way which does little credit to those who call . themselves the leaders in the fight for the survival ‘of the Western World. "Y arrived in Miami without a passport, without money and with a suit given to me by the soldiers at Fort Amador in Panama, but I still have my dignity and my name. Men who are fighting for an ideal can-= ~ « not be destroyed, and even though they may be physically eliminated that ideal will reamin inalterable. "I have always been an honest soldier and the U..S. Intelligence services know that for they have searched all the banks in the world for evidence to. besmirch my reputation, "At this moment, I find myself obliged to break up my home,to sell my furniture amd my house arid to leave my family. In order to maintain that home which I will have to start up again in exile, I have va Docld: 32299996 Page 10
GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN ee "only the pension to which I am entitied after .21.years of service in the Armed. Forces of my ‘country. My departure from my country presages grave events for the cause of Democracy, What self- respecting Dominican will. be disposed to assume - responsibilities when Communism launches its final attack against our country? - "At the present time, the world is fighting for survival in the face of the Communist threat, and it is necessary for men with deep convictions _ to assume the defense of Democracy. Those men can- not be destroyed in order to satisfy political ambitions, nor in order to appease Communism, without leading us to total destruction. "My departure from my country will be a disgraceful page in the political history of the Dominican Republic and for its governing officials, who, like yourself, are responsible for it. No Dominican: can remain unmoved by such a monstrous deed, and ‘the day will come when the truth will win out against treachery and deceit. "I repeat to you that I cannot accept the appointment as Consul General, in Miami, because it would mean serving a Government which has « betrayed Dominican Democracy, and it would mean being disloyal to the brave soldiers and officers ‘who accompanied me during those tragic days when blood flowed over the soil of our country. "I cannot betray those soldiers and officers of the Armed Forces becanse that would be an act of . cowardice. I cannot abandon the Dominican people because that would be a denial of the ideals of DUARTE, SANCHEZ and MELLA, I cannot turn my back | to American. Democracy, because that would mean opening the doors to Communism in order to deal the death blow to our way of life. Docld: 32299996 Page il
_ GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN . "As General JUAN SANCHEZ RAMIREZ said in the battle of Palo Hincado, when he defeated the troops. of Emperor Napolen: ""'The death penalty to the soldier who turns back; the death penalty to the drummer who sounds retreat; and the death penalty to the officer who orders it, even though it be I, myself.’ "J, Mr. President, will never order retreat. My brave soldiers and officers, my beloved Dominican people, my sacred fatherland, ‘Will always find me honorably fighting in the front lines against the traitors who try to deliver us to an ideology which, represents a system of slavery and brutality. "I hope that the United States Government will make no further mistakes and that it will understand that sacrificing democratic military men is not the best way to hold back the advance of Communism. I trust that the United States is able to break up that network of infiltrators who are conspiring against Liberty in their own land and in the very offices which handle their international affairs. - "As I publicly criticize the action against my person, it is not my intention to furnish weapons for’ Communism to attack the United States. I wish -to state that I repudiate the action of these evil North Americans who are causing a loss of prestige to that great nation, and I trust that there will soon be a proper rectification of the mistaken policy which has been followed in my country. "Remember, Mr. President, that it will, be difficult for you to oppose the Communist con- . Spiracy by committing injustices against the military men and the democratic people of our ' country. "If you were going to act that way, it would be necessary to maintain permanently the presence Docld: 32299996 Page 12
GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN "of foreign troops in our country, and that would c be equivalent to a definite surrender of our sovereignty.. "Very truly yours, (Signature illegible) "Copies to; General HUGO PANASCO ALVIN General. BRUCE. PALMER Mr... ELSWORTH BUNKER | { General DEAN" This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. ~ 9* . ae Docld: 32299996 Page 153
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et a ‘Miami, Florida In Reply, Please Refer to September 17, 1965 FileNo. 134-1191 ‘ ‘Title GENERAL ELIAS WESSIN Y WESSIN Character INTERNAL SECURITY - : “DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Memorandum dated and captioned as above at Miami, Florida Reference All sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable information in the past. \ . This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI, It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency, Docld: 32299996 Page 14