v9.1 ; AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE : DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE: CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW: OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Docld:32277221 Page 1 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information HSCA 180-1013 1-10336 SECURITY CLASSIFIED TESTIMONY 014734 Document Information HSCA [Restricted] 08/10/1978 46 BAY OF PIGS BISHOP, MAURICE [Restricted] DURAN, SYLVIA MEXICO CITY CIA, METHODOLOGY TRANSCRIPT Top Secret 3 Redact 02/18/1997 Box 8 Date: 10/19/20
4 2S ooe f e SEL ee eo exacsnces | “TESTIMONY OF BALMES NIVES HIDALGO, JR August 10, 1978 Ot le Regorting Company lt “Alderson : Reponter ~ yi a Docld: 32277271 Page 2
SHORT - 1 in ao <a) Docld: 322772271 os A Ss A ee Se a ee nS ee ee) ee ee 2 notre mane Page 4 TOP SECRET ai whew d TESTIMONY OF BALMES NIEVES HIDALGO, JR, THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1978 House of Representatives, Subcommittee on the Assassinatio ef President John F., Kennedy P of the Select Committee on Assassinations, i Washington, D. C, { The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:46 p.m., in} room 340, Cannon House Office Building, the Hon, Richardson Preyer (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. | ; { . i Present: Representatives Preyer, Burke, Dodd and Fithian.| i Staff members present: E. Berning, M, Goldsmith, C., Berk, | W. A. Cross, O, Wagner, D. Hardway, J. Conzelman and C. Fenton. | Mrs. Burke (presiding), The subcommittee will please come: to order, t The Chair recognizes Elizabeth Berning to name those offi- cially designated to be on the subcommittee pursuant to the Committee Rule 12.6, : Miss Berning. Mrs, Burke, you, Mr, Preyer, Mr. Dedd and Mr, Thone are regular members of the Kennedy Subcommittee. Mr, Fithian will be substituting for Mr, Dodd, Mrs, Burke, Let. the record show that there were three.
UP? SLvuAzi 2 members present, There are two members who are present who . bd are still remaining and the Chair will swear the witness. Will the witness state his name, please. Mr. Hidalgo, Balmes Nieves Hidalgo, Jr. tn da | | | | Mrs, Burke. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you | | | | | 7 give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the 7 | truth, so help you God? 7 Mr, Hidalgo. I do. 7 Mrs. Burke, The hearing is in closed session pursuant to | io. the vote that was taken before the recess and that vote still nh remains and the hearing is in closed session. If there is . } - anyone in the. room who is not a member of the staff or an | a attorney for the witness, they will leave, ! @ id . Let the record show that the committee is in closed | | is session, | 7 I would like to read a brief statement concerning the : | subject of the investigation, This committee is operating : 7 under the mandate of House Resolution 222 to conduct a full andl 9 | complete investigation and study into the circumstances surrounk- ~ | ing the assassination and death of President John F, Kennedy, 2 including determining whether the existing laws of the United | 7 a | States concerning the protection of the President and investi- @ ~3 | gatory jurisdiction and capability of agencies and departments | ~ 7 are adequate in their provisions and enforcement and whether | ae ; there was full disclosure of evidence and information among | en * Docld: 32277221 ‘bage 5 THD Qrrnort
Vi wWLYURLd - 3 agencies and departments of the United States Government and nN whether any evidence or information not in the possession of an agency or department would have been of assistance in investigating the assassination and why such information was da not provided or collected by that agency or department and to make recommendations to the House if the committee deems it appropriate for the amendment of existing legislation or the anactment of new legislation, This is the mandate of the committee. You may be seated, Mr. Hidalgo. Would your counsel state his name. Mr, Gaines, Stanley H. Gaines, 150 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, Virginia. Mrs, Burke, The staff will proceed to interrogate. Mr. Goldsmith. Thank you. Mrs. Burke, prior to the beginning of this hearing Mr. Gaines asked me if he might make a brief statement and I indicated to him I had no problem with that, Mrs. Burke. Certainly. Mr. Gaines. I would like to assure this distinguished committee that Mr. Hidalgo has been apprised of the charter of the committee, of the seriousness of the committee's charter and the scope of it which is considerably broad and intends to answer all relevant questions to the best of his recollection. 24 nN —~ — oO ve) oo = ae aw I would simply like to impress on the committee, although |
Nn aa wo @ . 22 73 24 Docld: 322772271 > =: bage 7 TAD CrPocT I recognize it may be carrying coals to New Castle, that a man who has spent many years as an officer in the Central Intelligence Agency has a conditioned reluctance to disclose methods notwithstanding the acknowledged entitlement of this committee to receive such information if the committee deems | the information pertinent but I raise this point only by way | of appealing to the committee as we may from time to time, if | considered necessary, to carefully weigh the pertinence or | I relevance or indispensability of names of persons who may have | | risked life or limb or liberty or careers in the service of | | the United States. If that information is deemed relevant, there is no question that it will be provided if we are called but there may be cases where the committee feels that although it would be entitled to the information it can do without it and in such cases we would request that the committee forego the identification of persons, That includes the identity of the witness himself, It would be tragic or could be tragic if the fact were disclosed | | | | ) | to the press, for example, that he appeared before this com- | mittee in the capacity of a witness. ! Finally, only by way of underscoring what I have said and | notwithstanding Acting Director Carlucci's letter to the | committee, this officer, like others in his category, feels a | personal fiduciary responsibility toward persons whom he | induced to work in a clandestine capacity for the United States t | | | |
wm in @ INDEX @ . 7 Docld: 322772271 $ i ! | | i | | ac Sai WLW I 5 Government and whose efforts in that regard he directed which makes it additionally difficult, if not painful, for him to disclose who those persons were, particularly if some of them are still in hostile territory. Having said that, there are no reservations on Mr. Hidalgo's part to answer any questions, save of course his privilege of self-~incrimination if required, That is all, Mrs. Burke. Thank you very much, Counsel may proceed, TESTIMONY OF BALMES NIEVES HIDALGO, Jr. Mr. Goldsmith, For the record would you please state your name and address, Mr. Hidalgo. Balmes Nieves Hidalgo, Jr., 403 Silver Rock Road, Rockville, Maryland, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr, Hidalgo, do you also go by the name of Barney Balmes Hidalgo? Mr. Hidalgo, Barney is a childhood name and so much easier to pronounce rather than Balmes and nearly everyone, including relatives, calls me Barney, Mr. Goldsmith, I take it the answer to my question is yes, Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, Mr. Goldsmith, Thank you, Is it true that you have been employed by the CIA? Mr, Hidalgo. Yes, sir, ge TOP SECRET
fa oo 10 Docld: 322772271 Mr. Goldsmith with the CIA? Mr. Hidalgo, Mr. Goldsmith Mr. Hidalgo, Mr, Goldsmith Mr. Hidalgo. = s thst te ee = 1970, February of the CIA? Mr. Hidalgo. Mr. Hidalgo, Mr. Goldsmith, ‘issued by Acting Di Mr. Hidalgo, Mr. Goldsmith, exhibit? Mr, Hidalgo, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr, Hidalgo. =a. Page 9 understand there are going to be lapses here, 1952 through Mr. Goldsmith. Now as an intelligence agent for the CIA were you required to sign the secrecy oath? time to have an opportunity to read JFK Exhibit No, 94 ‘wi WRWiid J 6 - For how many years were you affiliated Eighteen, . What years were those, sir? 1952 through 1958, I am sorry, » Would you like to clarify that? Yes, that does not make sense, You must 1952 to February of 1970. Thank you. Mr. Goldsmith. In what general capacity did you work for” I was an intelligence agent. Yes, sir. In that regard I would like you at this For the record that is the release letter of 23 March 1978 rector Carlucci to Chairman Stokes, Yes, sir, I am aware of it, Have you had a chance to examine that Yes, sir. Do you understand it? Yes, sir. TOP SECRET |
nw aa Oo rd [on Docld: 32277221 t | | Mr. Hidalgo. May I say they are no longer the people I | i | Ur BLUAL i 7 Mr. Goldsmith. Mr. Hidalgo, on July 28, 1978, were you . | interviewed by two staff employees of the Select Committee on Assassinations? | Mr. Hidalgo. It was in July of 1978, yes. Mr. Berk who is sitting on my right. | Mr. Hidalgo. That is right. | Mr. Goldsmith. Subsequent to that interview did you have | | | | | Mr. Goldsmith. Mrs Hardway who is sitting on my left and : | | any discussion with any employee of the CIA concerning what you! | told Mr. Berk and Mr. Hardway? | Mr. Hidalgo. Concerning what I told Mr. Berk and Mr. Hardway, no, sir. Mr, Goldsmith. So no one from the CIA, I take it, dis- cussed the substance of your discussion with Mr. Berk and Mr. Herdway. Mr, Hidalgo. No, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, Is that correct? talked to because we are still friends and I see them occa- sionally. They are not now with the CIA, Mr, Goldsmith. I understand. Has anyone from the agency discussed with you the substance 1 of your testimony that you are about to give here today? Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, Now you indicated that you worked as an _— TOP SECRET
w aa aw “oo 22 73 24 as as Docld: 32277221 Page 11 TAD READCT iUr SLUALI! 9 intelligence agent for the CIA. Is there a difference between | a case officer and an intelligence agent? Mr. Hidalgo, Not in my meaning of the word, no, sir, Mr. Goldsmith. Could you give the committee some back- | ground in your particular areas of expertise as an intelligence agent? Mr. Hidalgo, Well, general collection of information, interrogation of suspected agents of foreign countries, method , | of acquiring information by many means, counterintelligence was the fourth really. Mr, Goldsmith, Were you generally involved in clandestine activities? Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, I would like to focus now on the period 1960 through 1964 and I ask you to give the committee a summary. of the assignments that you had during that period. Mr. Hidalgo. Well, from 1960 through 1964 I was assigned to the division having to do with Cuba in general and the things that were going on at that time between Cuba and the world in general. Mr. Goldsmith. Was that task force W that you were worki with? Mr, Hidalgo. I don't recall the name of it. pe ~§-— Mr, Goldsmith, Did you ever work for a program referred to as the Durable Assets Program?
tur SLVAL! 9 Mr, Hidalgo. I don't recall working for that, no. I may have, I don't know, Mr. Goldsmith. Did you ever work with the JM wave station in Miami? wy in Mr. Hidalgo, yes, sir. é | Mr. Goldsmith. Would you indicate to the committee where | | ‘specifically you were located during these assignments during | ¢ | the period from 1960 to 1964? | | 9 | Mr. Hidalgo. In Washington, Miami, New York City, . Io Philadelphia, New Orleans, Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador. I | 7 believe I have covered them. If I left anything out, I don't 12 | mean to, Puerto Rico. | 7 Excuse me, There is an island a few miles off from | _ i | : ® rf | Puerto Rico and actually my work was not in Puerto Rico, it | is | was on this island, _ : | Mr. Goldsmith, Fine, Now you indicated you spent some | al time in Washington, D.C: Do you recall what time period you : a spent in Washington, D. C.? | tg | Mr. Hidalgo, Well, Washington, D. C., was my official | station. ! 7 Mr. Goldsmith. During that entire period? L, 21 Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, sir, The others were TDYs, : e “4 | Mr. Goldsmith. What is a TDY? 44 Mr. Hidalgo. Temporary duty stations. | me 25 Mr. Goldsmith. Do you know whether the CIA had a domestic’ Docld: 32277221 Page 12 THhp QEPattT
iU? QLUNE! oO spent some time in Mexico during the period 1960 through 1964, Approximately how many times did you visit Mexico for the ae Renee SRS SO Sa a Tee TS a. eee ee a a eee agency? lo | lf exploitation section? | ” 2 Mr, Hidalgo. Domestic -- j . 3 Mr. Goldsmith. Exploitation section during the period tha " ‘@ 4 you were working for it. | 5 Mr. Hidalgo. Not by that name, If you tell me what -- | 6 | Mr. Goldsmith. Specifically by that name, do you know | ? | whether the agency had such a unit? | 3 | Mr, Hidalgo. I am not quite aware of it, I may know it | | 3 | by some other name is what I am trying to say. ! Mr. Goldsmith. Now you indicated a moment ago that you | | | | | | i a Mr. Hidalgo, I am trying to recall this as best I can. Waen the staff interviewed me I made the remark that I had been ia there in 1964 and since then my wife corrected me on that. She said, "You were not there, we were on our honeymoon in 1964 so veu were not in Mexico." .So it must have been 1961 and/or 1962; now come to mind, Since then let me say I have been raking my mind, going over in my mind everything and everything that I | { | 13 | 9 I don't recall 1963 but 1961 and 1962 are the dates that really| | | did because I do want to cooperate with you. “3 Mr. Goldsmith, I understand, | 2 : Now what was the purpose of the trip to Mexico in 1961? i ne 4 Mr, Hidalgo, All the trips that I took to Mexico were in | Docld: 322772271 ‘page 13 TAD ernorr
iUr SCUALI , ll connection with an operation I had going against the Communist Party in Mexico. nN oJ - on a Mr. Goldsmith, Is it possible, sir, that you were also in Mexico in 1963? Mr, Hidalgo, I don't recall it now but like I say it has 6 been quite a few years ago. 7 Mr, Gaines, Counsel, may I simply point out to the 5 | committee members what I think. counsel knows, that Mr. Hidalgo 5 suffered a major stroke in 1958 and a minor one in 1964 and / that that may account for what would appear to be an unusual 7 lapse of memory . There are many things that he just cannot 2 | remember or cannot remember when asked but there is no inten- a tion to evade any of your questions. | - @ 7 . Mr, Preyer. Thank you. | sf Counsel, . | Mr, Goldsmith, Perhaps at this time I might ask, Mr, a Hidalgo, how old are you? ‘a Mr. Hidalgo. I am 59 years old, a] Mr. Goldsmith... Mr. Hidalgo, have you ever. examined your 0 office personnel file? | | Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir. nt Mr. Goldsmith, Now you have indicated you were involved a © ~3 | in an operation against the Communist Party in Mexico. 7 Mr, Hidalgo. Yes, Mr. Goldsmith. Were you also involved in any operations yen ’ t Docld: 322772271 Page 14 THD Qrroer
wr weluali l2 | against the Cuban government in Mexico? | Mr. Hidalgo. Not in Mexico, no, sir, Mr. Goldsmith. When you were in Mexico on these opera-— ticns against the Communist Party, was the local CIA station a aa in to your knowledge aware of your presence in Mexico? Mr, Hidalgo. YEs, sir. I had the contact. | 7 | Mr. Goldsmith, So someone at the Mexico City station knew 3 | you? 9 ! Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, knew that I was there, 0 : Mr. Goldsmith, Do you recall what: the cryptonym was of 7 | the operation against the Communist Party in Mexico? 2 Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir, I really don't, 7 3 Mr. Goldsmith, I believe you have indicated that to the “@ a best of your recollection you were in Mexico two times during 5 this period. ~ | 1 Mr. Hidalgo. Two, perhaps three, 7 Mr, Goldsmith, Was the purpose of your visit each time 13 with regard to this operation against the Communist Party? is Mr. Hidalgo, Yes, sir. 20 | Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Hidalgo, without going into sources 3 | or methods, I would like you to give just some general details 2 49 on this operation, . @ “3 | Mr. Hidalgo. The operation, as I say, took a couple of : 3 i ~ oA visits to set up and culminated with my gathering every bit of ! ne information from all of the files of the Mexican Communist | Party -- I mean all of the original files of the Mexican age 15 THE SECRET 7 Docld: 32277221 Lb
aa G 3 24 :) tn Docld: 322772271 nz | Ur SL£ude i 13 Communist Party and other properties, _ Mr. Goldsmith, Did you work with any other individuals on this project? Mr. Hidalgo. I had this contact who assisted me in setting up what we called a safehouse and put me in touch with certain members of the Mexican police that assisted me in my job. Mr. Goldsmith, So there was some involvement with the Mexican police in part, is that correct? Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, sir. — Mr. Goldsmith, Just assisting you in general terms? > Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, Mr. Goldsmith. And your local contact, was he from the Mexico City station? Mr, Hidalgo. He was in Mexico City, yes, Mr. Goldsmith, Well, the CIA officer is what I am asking you, Mr. Hidalgo. Yes, sir.: Let me add I was under unofficial cover, I was not there using my true name, so therefore this one contact knew I was there and arranged things for me. Mr, Goldsmith. Do you recall which name vou were using at that time? Mr. Hidalgo. You.mean to him or in my official capacity? Mr. Goldsmith, Whatever name you were using in your unofficial cover in Mexico, base a8 TNP CEeerr
da in Docld: 32277221 iUr vLunZ | 14 Mr. Hidalgo. It could have been Bernard. It could have been Benny. It could have been -- I used so many. I am sorry, I don't know. If someone called me and said, "What is your . | name?" and I said Bernard, I would say that was your first name, I would not -- oS ee en en ee eo ee ae © Re Mr. Goldsmith. Again in general terms was this operation a success? Mr, Hidalgo. Yes, sir. Mr, Goldsmith, Were the materials that you obtained given to anyone else at the CIA?. Mr, Hidalgo. Yes, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, Was the material given to an individual in Mexico City? Mr, Hidalgo. No, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, So was it an individual at the CIA head- quarters? Mr, Hidalgo, Yes, sir. | | : | | | | l | ! | { i | | a a en Se ee Mr, Goldsmith, Mr. Hidalgo, were you ever involved in any| operations in Mexico City aimed at the Cuban embassy or consulate? “Mr, Hidalgo. No, sir, Mr. Goldsmith, When you were in Mexico City were you aware of the photo and telephonic surveillance operations which) . . 1 | the Mexico City station had against the Cuban and Soviet embassy and consulate? Mr. Hidalgo. I knew there was one but I did not know = Page 17 ThP CFrarT
tur VLuNL! 15 where it was located, nN? name in the conversation but it had nothing to do with what I | | : | Mr. Goldsmith. Do you know a woman named Sylvia Duran? | 3 Mr. Hidalgo. Sylvia Duran. The name is familiar to me, | : “@ 4 | very familiar in hearing, but that is as far as I can go, I | ; s | mean truthfully. | 5 Mr. Goldsmith, Do you recall in your interview with Mr. "| Berk and Mr, Hardway when asked whether you used Sylvia Duran | 3 | your response was, "Sure do know her but I sure don't want to , discuss it"? ! 10 Mr, Hidalgo, Okay. I sure do know of her is what I | | should have said. Now I am discussing it as to where I heard | { / it and I will tell you how that name popped up if you wish, # , ' 7 13 _Mr. Goldsmith, Please do. | ! @ v4 | Mr. Hildago. Okay. In this operation that I did in | 7 1s ' Mexico City I believe it was the last visit that when it was | 18 finally accomplished I needed some information as to times and - places which would enable me to countervent the security of the 1a | Communist Party security system. In other words, I wanted to | | is | do my job and not get caught, The case officer there that I | 20 | had contact with said that he had someone, an agent, a Mexican | 21 | national, who could tell me these things and without giving me , 2 | her name, etc., we arranged or I arranged a method of meeting -@ “4 ! her using intelligence trade craft to more cover my tracks, | x4 | Cover her tracks so that we could meet and she mentioned this | : | | , | | it 4 Docld: 32277221 Page 136 | THE SECRET
in ao are was a ‘Docld: 32277271 a aes wr weuiid i 16 was there for so when the name came up, the name popped into my memory. Mr. Goldsmith. Did you ever meet with Sylvia Duran? Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir, not to my knowledge, I met one woman there and she was someone else. Mr. Goldsmith, To your knowledge did Sylvia Duran ever assist you directly or indirectly in any operation? Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir, Mr. Goldsmith. Do you know whether Sylvia Duran was affiliated in any way with the CIA? Mr. Hidalgo. No, sir. Mr. Goldsmith, Do you know whether she was affiliated in any way with Cuban intelligence? Mr, Hidalgo. At the time when this contact told me of it: I. tied the two together, yes, sir. Mr. Goldsmith. Why did you make that connection? Mr. Hidalgo. I don't know. Now at that time it was otvious to me as an intelligence agent that there was some connection there but it was of no interest whatsoever to me. I do remember that when I next saw this contact of mine I mentioned the fact to him and let him proceed to do whatever he wanted to, Mr. Goldsmith. So for purposes of clarification, during this period you felt that Sylvai Duran may have been connected ‘in some way with. Cuban intelligence, is that correct? Page 19 TOP SFEARET