14-00000 a. ’ At Coral Cables, Florida “4 #2190607 2 August 1960 GENERAL: o> : On 22 and 25 July 1960, a Forvard | Operating Base (FOB), was in ewed in his ce relative to the security violation at Coral Gables ( see Exhibit #1). outside of FOB. her stated that he head been briefed on the security leak while he wes in Washington, D. Cc. fue. who dia not attend the meeting where the security violation occurred, Jrepared a memorandum for the record (see Exhibit #2) setting forth the details of the arrangements and. ° On 22 July 1960, Case Officer Graver Ye “staff employee, vas interviewed at the Atlantic Motel wheye residing. He was most cooperative and appea reliable in his statements. a@ to be sincere and. Mr. BROWN, alias| stated that Jerry GROLIER, niias Prank BENDER, came to Coral Cables on Monday evening, 13 July 1960, from Wastrington, D. C. BROWN added that a meeting was held at a safehouse at 2300 hours, 18 July 1960, in order to discuss the program for the f day with mebers cf MRR. Staff employees William KENT, Jerry DROLIER,, and BROWN were present at: this meeting. TS Mr, BROWN continued that the reason that Mr. DROLLER came to ‘Coral Cables was to have a meeting with geveral members of the MRR on 19 July 1960 in order to "iron out" internal Gissensions. At O810 hours, 19 July 1960, Case Officer BROWN arrived at _the home of a friend of ARTIME vhose address he recalled to be 623 Velarde Avenue, Coral Gebles, Florida. BROW! could not further identify ARTIME's friend other than the fact that he was a Cuban and o Earvard University graduate. Upon arrival, BROW observed thet ARTIME was "still in the sack". ARTIME and EROWN deperted the residence at 0905 hours, proceeded directly to the motel, and. arrived there at approximately 0920 nours. He used a sterile rented vyenicle in transporting ARTIME and arrangements for the motel to be used for the meeting vere mada by Jerry DROLIER. . | © i ofbis a,
74-90000 ” pack to the car vhere he had lefs ARTIME, picked him up, and pro- { - : 4 n Case Officer EROGWN further elsborated thet he was not aware of Mr. DROLLER's room mmber until the actual morning of the mecting. DROLLER hed checked into the University Court Resort Motel under the name Frank EENDER end hed decided to utilize his quarters for the meeting. After Getermining DROILEZR's room mmber,. BROWN went ceeded to room 209 at the motel. He stated that at all tines unlle he vas in his cas he made sure that he vas not being sur- vyellled and took necessary action te precluie any mobile surveiliance. Ha d44 not expose the indigenous participants umecessarily while - at the motel. During the hours 0915 to 1015, 1120 te 1330 and 1430 to 1600, 19 July 1960, when the meetings occurred, the doors were locked ani there was no eating or drinking as there wes no room service afforded by the motel. To the best of BROM's re- eollection, neither he nor the indigenous personnel were seen by exy of the coceypants of the motel. BROWN mentioned that he vas nob aware of any security precautions that the responsible Case « Officer Jerry DROLEER took before, during, and after the mesting. The primary duty of BROWS during the meetings was serving as an interpreter for Mr. DROLLER. : , . The conversation was loufer than normal and it was noted that Jerry DROLLER speaks with an obvicus Germanic accent. English and Spanish were spoken freely throughout the meetings. BROWN indicated that the following names, areas, ani terms were mentioned during the meetings: . :
14-00000 21.9000 Le Bae bb. cCe ad. 2 August 1960 Lionel (used frequently and this is the code name for ene of the MRR men) ‘Mr. HUNT Oriente an@ Havana, Cuba References as to Washington, such as, "What are my friends in Washington going to say?" Mexico Frente National Directorite MRR Executive Committee Junta Visas Discipline (often used) Pilots (mumbers such as 40 or 50) Revolutionary Front (referring to FRD) Executive Camittees and Secretariats (example: hasn't the front case up with the Executive Camittee?”) Airplanes (Example: Frank BENDER stated, "I have planes in the training areas, but you have not produced the pilots.") At our meetings in New York "you have not cooperated with my Jimmie who came to Miami as ny military representativs." BROWN stated that to the best of his knowledge no mention yas natle of the United States Government or the CIA. =~ 3 = SEGRE]
14-00000 4 b? BROWN atated that no calle were received at the motel during the first meeting nor were there any cuteide calls made. There were no incoming or outgoing calls made during the second meeting. Two incoming calls were received by Jerry DROLLER at 1500 and 1530 . hours at which time Mr. ARTIME called and talked to BROWN who in- terpreted for DROLLER. EROWN further recalled that at. the end » about 1600 hours, Mr. DROLLER telephoned Jake ESTERLINE on their unlis & fron the motel roam. When Mr. DROLLER was talking ¢ ana} ESTERLINE, only BROWN was present. He outgoing calls were made by the indigenous persomel during the entire session at the motel. All calls were made through a switchboard, BROWN pointed out that at no time during the seasions with the indigenous personnel were they interrupted by motel employees or occupants. He added that . the motel roas’did not have a radio, however, there vas a tele- " visioa set which was not used during the meetings. . \ eee cers sitving next to his table. He pointed cut that although his chatting with the Cubans during lunch was in Spanish, they aia not discuss business. ‘There was no discussion between tables. After lunch the group returned to the room at about 1125 hours and waited for Mr. DROLLER to return. Mr. DROLLER returned to the roem_at about 1440 hours sat which time the third meeting comenced. ERCWN noted that while waiting for Mr. DROLLER, little or no Giscussion transpired between he end the three Cubans. Attention is invited to Exhibit #3 which is a memorandum for the record, setting forth in detail am account of the meetings on 19 July 1960. . : BROWN mentdoned that he“had never been at the University Court Resort. Motel before the meeting nor has he been there since. dtd GRE ca 22 and 23 July 1960 im his office and the office of/Hr He was cooperative 9hd: gave what appeared to be truthful statements. REYCHHARDT stated that he does not have much more information to offer than has been cited in his cable (Sxhibit #1), dated 20 . July 1960. Mr. REICHHARDT was instructed by the Reporting Agent (i L : . ’ i”
14-00000 to write a memorandwa for the record aa an eddenfim to Exhibit #1 setting forth in detail the receipt of information fron the FRI and what subsequent action was taken by him in this matter. Attached as Exhibit # is a memorandum for the record, dated 23 July 1960, voluntarily submitted by Kr. REICHHARDT. =. Mr. REICHHARDT volunteered the information that he had learned that Mr. Justin F. GLEIGHAUF, Chief, 00/Contacts Office, ug OK Coral Gables, was to meet with oa 22 aly 1960 and discuss 8 matter not commected with the seciirity incident. In this connection, eee ren ee eee ce ncutien of this incideat during hie me , alert te a mention of this incident during hia meeting . - 9 ar wae mY tment rie a RELCHHARDT had no further pertinent information to offer! mia John J. SULLIVAN, Security Officer, FOB, on 25 July i ee At Miami Beach, Florida Acting Special Agent in Charge, Richard BAKER, of the Miami FBI was contacted in his office, third flecr, Justice Building, 3915 Biscayne Blva., at 0955 hours, 23 July 1960, by the Reporting Agent and FOB Security Officer, Jonn J. SULLIVAN. Mr. SULLIVAN briefed Mr. BAKER why we were there and requested that he furnish eny information available relative to the incident that occurred at the University Cours Resort Motel on 19 July 1960. Mr. BAKER at 1005 hours requested FBI Special Agent George DAVIS, the in~ veatigator handling thie matter, to participate in the discussion. Special Agent DAVIS inficated that at 1500 hours on 19 July 1960 a call was received from Mrs. Clark YALENTINER, wife of an executive of the Continental Can Caspany,. Havana, Cuba, who re~ ported that she had overheard a discussion of an anti-CASTRO group. At this point, Mr. DAVIS pointed out that his detailed report on this matter which is incorporated in a larger report dealing with unsolicited information, was forwarded to the FBI Headquarters on Saturday, 23 July 1960. DAVIS added that the only matter that he did not include in his investigative report vas two license plates numbers which Mrs. VALENTINER hed provided hin. Mrs. VALEVTINER had noted the license plates of the participants in — the meeting conducted in Rocm 209 at the University Court Resort Motel. SEGRET (3. Attached as Exhibit #5 10 0 memorandum for the record pre- Sate | peeeeentetemeretctiee ot teceetecertitrmetirerteriersirfrertit tates cet th | te simon emneeeeetmrehver—ceinntttinnentn——ttaeite—Eittrpsee tnt —ttttnSnt_n mwterreetenth renNnPeereTNe:spnfunsetiAehre tibetan deifcrreneni hn nied Pe Re REL ern
14-00000 a ghia te CR ee #219000 : : 2 August 1960 cnertly after the call was received by the FBI from hrs. VALENTINER, FSI. Special Agent Howard ALBAUGH informed “Bernie” RETCHBARDT of the aforementioned telephone call. "Bernie" sub- sequently asked Special Agent DAVIS to contect Mrs. VALENTINER for the purpose of determining vbat she had overheard, refrain fren discussing this matter further with anyone, and also to caution her friends whon she had told of the incident to do like- Special. Agent DAVIS mentioned that Mra. VALENTINER hed returned to her roam, 210, at the University Court Resort Motel at 1130 hours, 19 July 1960, and noticed bellows of cigar smoke enanating from underneath ber kitchen doar. Upon examining the situation, she overheard loud conversing in the connecting room. In listening further, Mrs. VALENTINER was able to record the conversation in Room 209 by taking copious notes. Mrs. VALENTINER believed there were three Cubans -present together with two other . individuals whose nationality shs coulé ‘not determine but whose names she established to be Frank BENDER and “Jimmie.” One of - ‘the Cubens served a3 an ‘4aterpreter and BENDER spoke with a dis- tinct Germanic accent. Mrs. VALENTISER told DAVIS that Mr. BENDER during the meeting hed stated that he was “hired by. the United States to do away with CASTRO." Mrs. VALENTINER also noted during the meeting references to Howard and HUNT, which she surmized to be one Howard EUNT. Agent DAVIS indicated that he interviewed Mrs. . YALENTINER in her quarters in the motel during the hows 2300 te OU4S on 19 and 20 July 1960. ‘he writer, at this point, inquired as to the size of the crack underneath Mrs. VALENTINER'’s kitchen door. DAVIS answered by stating that it was large (exact dimen-~ sions not noted). He further dedlared that she had mentioned to him that she was able to cbserve the portion of the leg (to the knee) of many of the individuals participating in the discussion. The weiter further queried DAVIS as to whether she had any know- ledge of Spaniah. DAVIS replied that she advised him that she possesses fluent Jmowledge of Spanish after having resided in Cube for ten years. Her husband bas lived in Cuba for thirty years. While at the motel, DAVIS cbserved that she had notes of the — conversation which she referred to éuring the interview. It should be noted that these notes were not confideated by DAVIS. DAVIS stated that Mrs. ROBINSON, who 1s also a resident of the motel, was present during the meeting for a very short period (exact tines unknown). Mrs. ROBINSON ig the wife of an American businesaman in Cuba. Mr. Lawrence BREWER of the Esso Company of -6 - a Tt { t. o * arcerntesirnnttstnanatne Atta Eh ee te
1490000 « © " f219000 | oo 2 August 1960 Giba is also knowledgeable of the incident since she called hin for ejvice. BREWER advised her to call the FBI. fhe telephoned the FBI from the home of Mrs. MORRIS or MORRISON (not further identified). Mra. VALENTINER, according to DAVIS, aia « & Littie investigating . on her om. After the meeting of the group was over, Frask BENDER called National Airlines to confirm his reservations for 19 July 1960. Shorthy thereafter, Mrs. VALENTINER called National Airlines and determined that BENDER was destined for Washington, D.C, She also. comucted discreet inquiries at the motel and ascertained that the occupants of Room 209 were a group of businessmen using ——......__.. the rocm for the day. Mrs. VALASNTINER was careful te note the ‘ license plates of two cars that were used by the conferees:. She — conducted no further investigation. '.  Speeiel Agent DAVIS deseribed Mra. VALENTINER as discreet, cooperative, intelligent, .amti-CASTRO, and anti-Commumist. DAVIS feels that this particular incident will “diesa natural death” and that the people who have beceme mowledgeable to same extent of our activity are discreet encugh to not discuss it further. | During his discussion with Mra. VALETTINER, DAVIS at no time divulged any United States Government sponsorship of this matter. “Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard BAKER concluded that . . 88 far as the local FBI Office was concerned, this was a closed “etter. He aided that any other participation by his office would have to be approved by FSI Headquarters. At Coral al, Gables, Florida At 1100 hours, 2% July 1960, the Reparting Agent, uner alias, moved inte room 206 at the University Court Resort Motel. A physical survey at the motel was msde on this day. Attention is invited to Exhibit #6. Building "C" where the meetings were con~ ducted have completely equipped comnecting dinette Hitchens. hrs. Clark VALENTINES currently occuples roon 210 at this motel where, . hed she elected to do so,would be able to overhear the entire : conversation in room 209 from her kitchenette. As will be noted on the page 7 diegram of Exhibit #6, her kitchen extends three to four feet (actual measurement) into roa 209. ‘the Eltchen door is of plywoed construction. In building C there is a 3/4 to 1 inch gap between the floor and the base of the xitchen doors to apparently alloy for tall to wall carpeting. Petween rooms 203 and 209 there ia a steel reinforced plastered wall. It is the writer's opinion that 45 is impossible to monitor conversation taking place in 209 fron 208 without the use of proper listening devices. According & rrp (ro
74-00000 -Aery bb be td BAe F #29000 7 oo 2 August 1960 to ltr. BROWN, previously identified in thia report, the windows were closed and the air coniitioning was on when the mestings were conducted. "Te wold be aiftiontt for anyone te neaitar the conversation dn roon 209 from either the back or frant doars as they are of snoked glass construction tee tof ie or ne room to note anyoue standing in front of them. — At Washington, D. C- Attached as Exhibit. #7 1s a cosy of 8 IX sumary sent fron. . Special Agent in Charge, Miami, Tier ite keener bp Erecial Agen 23 July as this Ageney by Special Agent Beware PROLIER Stet? employee, alias Frank BENDER, was - swel/on 25 July 1960 by the Reporting Agent and Mr. Joseph = ty Officer, Project JMARC, in his Office at Barton aa cooperative. Me. DROLLER prefaced his remarks by indicating that he had comleted a memorandum for the record, requested by Mr. LAGAN, and mede a copy available (see Exhibit 78). Mr. DROLLER indicated that the gist of his cover story for the infiigencous personnel fs that he is a private American citizen and & member of & group-of American citizens (business, education, etc.) who sometimes in the past find thenselves in minor eee oe ne rereien pekiey dw Latin Auction (aover=- ing TRUJILLO and the like). That this group has noticed a mich more “forwari, look“ by the United States Government and that the group ip therefore directed to do anything which can be of assistance to patriotic citizens who will bring about a change of the CASTRO Government. DROLLZR further declared that cperating with this cover story, he has never mentioned that he was en employee of the United States Goverment. Mr. LANGAN, at thia point, queried Mr. DROLLER whether any mention of the United - States Goverment hsd been mage by the indigenous personnel who participated in the meetings. DROLUER could not recall. He further pointed out that United States Government come up in meetings when discussing United States foreigm policy, but never in connection with exployment by the United States Govermnent. Hr. DROLLER displayed the alias travel doomentaticn which he has been using on his excursions to Miemi Reach, Florida, srea. It was noted that the address Us West S6th Street, Hew York City, was listed on this documentation, but according to Mr. DAOLIER is ie aN sry rey Cr? rn) m2 Pere pee
74-90000 . . > 37 Ome feageco | ne 2 August 1960 hir. DROLLER declared that he had conducted meetings on 24 Hay, and 7 and 19 June 1960. ‘The meetings were held in different rooas in the same building, on the same floor on two occasions and once on the ground floovy. During these meetings, which were Mr. DROLLER pointed out that on these previows occasions in vhich the Carrs Resord Motel vas used, Mr. RETCHHARDT made the reserva- tions. . tie. DROIZR stated that at no time did the agents know be~ <n ar &