476-10010-10134 JFK Assassination System Date: 5/5/2016 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: NARA RECORD NUMBER:  176-10010-10134 RECORD SERIES: NSF AGENCY FILE NUMBER : Document Information ORIGINATOR: WH FROM: TO: ‘TITLE: -- MESSAGE DATE: 69/10/1961 PAGES: 7 SUBJECTS : CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL — DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: Confidential RESTRICTIONS:  1C CURRENT STATUS: Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 05/08/1998 _ OPENING CRITERIA: . UPON AGENCY REVIEW COMMENTS : NSF:CO:Cuba, Miro Cardona, Material Sent to Palm Beach:Box 45 vol
ON THURSDAY DICK GOODWIN ASKED ME TO COME TO HIS OFFICE TO HEAR MIR@’S ACCOUNT OF THE BERLE-SCHLESINGER, MISSI ON : TO NEW YORK BEFORE THE INVASION OF CUBA. US NEWS AND - WORLD REPORT HAD REPRINTED A STORY CLAIMING THAT THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO US MILITARY SUPPORT. IN A LETTER TO US NEWS, ° | STEWART ALSOP HAD DENIED THIS, SAYING THAT SCHLESINGER AND BERLE HAD’ INFORMED MIRO OF THIS AND HAD ASSUMED THAT: HE IN TURN HAD INFORMED: THE COUNCIL, MIRO NOV CLAIMED - TO GOODWIN AND ME THAT BERLE IN A DINNER AT HIS GEORGETOWN HOUSE HAD PROMISED THAT 15,600 US TROOPS WOULD BE! AVAILABLE TO HELP THE CUBANS, AND THAT HE HAD MADE CLEAR AT, THE _ CENTURY CLUB LUNCHEON THAT NOTHING WE WERE SAYING SUPERSEDED THAT PROMISE. MIRO ACCORDINGLY WENT AWAY FROM THAT LUNCHEON, HE Now SAYS,: CONVINCED THAT,, DESPITE WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID AT HIS PRESS. CONFERENCE AND DESPITE WHAT WE HAD SAID TO HIM THEN, THE. INVASION WOULD STILL GET DIRECT US MILITARY SUPPORT. THIS. ALL SEEMS FANTASY To ME, SINCE I CANNOT IMAGINE BERLE MAKING ANY SUCH ASSURANCES (UNLESS HE SUPPOSED “THAT, ONCE THE INVASION STARTED, THE MARINES WOULD BE - DRAGGED INy, REGARDLESS OF ALL INTENT ONS. TO THE CONTRARY. HOWEVER, ONE MEMORY SUGGESTS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A GENUINE MISUNDERSTANDING. I CAN RECALL THAT TRACY BERNES eo | CALLED. ME THE NEXT. DAY AND ASKED WHETHER BERLE HAD SAID antec e THING ABOUT 15,000 TROOPS=-THAT MIRO HAD CONE AWAY. = aye FROM | THE LUNCH WITH SOME IMPRESSION THAT US” “TROOPS NIGHT ENTER THE PICTURE. AS I TOLD BARNES AT THE TIME, MY ONLY The Deparment of Stats has no objector release or declassification of this documer Under the provisions of the JFK Assassi RECOLLECTION OF SUCH A. FIGURE WAS IN CONNECT! ON WITH Colcn At of 800 Loan _ SUPPLIES=-=THAT; ONCE THE BEACHHEAD WERE ESTABLISHED, Reviewed on BERLE HAD SAID THAT ARMS FOR 155 000 MEN WOULD BE
mova 2 wee ge pans = 2 8 eo OY on aw 66485 g am thw Cant A ee a ee | 6 bm WAR 8 WES | PET EXPLICIT us COMNITHENT TO A NEW INVASION. “I CANNOT ASK | MY PEOPLE,” HE SAID, “TO ENGAGE IN UNDERGROUND WORK AND IN SABOTAGE UNLESS 1. KNOW DEFINITELY THAT THESE ACTIONS. ARE LEADING TO/CLEARLY DEFINED AND AGREED-ON CLIMAX. I CANNOT GO AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL. UNLESS THERE, 1S A CLEAR COMMI THENT THAT THE US WILL PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENTUAL INVASION OF CUBA. I HAVE BEEN DELUGED WITH PLEAS FROM WIDOWS AND FAMILIES OF THOSE: wHO TOOK PART IN THE | APRIL TRAGEDY. MY ‘OWN SON IS IN CASTRO'S PRISONS. THE. PROGRAM “YoU.” ‘ARE PRESENTING ‘TOME IS A PROLOGUE AND — NOTHING MORE. THERE IS NO POINT IN A PROLOGUE UNLESS ONE © 1s SURE WHAT THE CONCLUSION WILL BE.” ' | @OODWIN: “WE UNDERSTAND AND SYMPATHIZE WITH DR MIRO'S - POSITION, WE SHARE HIS DESIRE FOR AN OVERTHROW OF THE CASTRO REGIME. WE WAVE PREPARED A PROGRAM OF ACTION TO | THAT END. BUT WE CANNOT COMMIT THE US GOVERNMENT TO SOMETHING — “$0 FAR-REACHING AS AN INVASION OF CUBA IN THE INDEFINITE FUTURE. MILITARY ACTION IN THE FUTURE MAY OR MAY NOT “BE POSSIBLE OR NECESSARY. BUT, IF WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER==~AND I HOPE WE CAN-=-IT MUST BE ON THE BASIS OF _ THE SAME GOALS AND THE SAME HOPES. WE MUST DO ALL WE. CAN. ‘IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CAUSE FOR WHICH WE FIGHT. A COMMITMENT FOR THE INDEFINITE FUTURE UNDER CONDITIONS WHICH’ NO ONE: 7 CAN ‘BE, WISE ENOUGH TO FORESEE CANNOT BE MADE AT THIS TIME)” - irre: "1 UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEW---YOU MUST UNDERSTAND rds ‘WINE, IF THERE CAN BE NO COMMITMENT. I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE, =. - BUT TO PREPARE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAYING THAT | I CANNOT CONTINUE AS HEAD OF THE COUNCIL. THE PROGRAM IS INADEQUATE BOTH BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ULTIMATE “DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IS TO TAKE PLACE AND ALSO BECAUSE OF Tae AC PANTO A NAVD PD ARDAMG ne PRPAPAQANRA ANT
PAUP AGANUA TRYON AIO" UNLE LUEAD PUM VADGUQOLUN WLIN INE Une IF THERE IS ANYTHING UNSATISFACTORY IN THE MEMORANDUM, | WE CAN DISCUSS IT. THIS MEMORANDUM REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT | IN. GOOD FAITH TO MEET THE POINTS YOU HAVE PREVI OUSLY ‘MADE TO US." | : | os MIRO: ” I STILL FEEL THAT THE ARRANGEMENT FOR ‘PROPAGANDA IS UNSATISF ACTORY---THAT EVEN IF I COULD INFLUENCE. TTS BROAD ORIENTATION, IT WOULD STILL NOT BE WELL PREPARED. ALSO I WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL OVER A PORTION OF THE. CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES. ONCE OTHER GROUPS LEARN THEY CAN BYPASS’ THE COUNCIL AND GET DIRECT ASSISTANCE FROM THE “US GOVERNMENT, THE RESULT WILL BE A PROLIF ERATI ON ‘OF GROUPS WHICH WILL BE DAMAGING. BOTH TO PRESENT OPERATI ONS AND TO THE, POLITICAL FUTURE OF CUBA. THESE THINGS, ON | TOP OF A LACK OF FAITH IN THE ULTIMATE END, LEAD ME TO” FEEL NEGATIVE ABOUT PROCEEDING ON ‘THIS BASIS. I HAVE _ EXPRESSED MY VIEWS. NOW I WILL GO TO BALTIMORE TO MEDITATE MY FINAL DECISION. MY LETTER WILL BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL, BUT MY PRESENT CONVICTION IS THAT MY RESPONSE MUST BE A RESIGNATION. © GOODWIN: " THERE IS NO ‘QUESTION THAT THE FIGHT WILL GO ON. THE. ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER WE CAN ‘conpuct IT WITH DR MIRO’S INDISPENSABLE COOPERATI ON.” | ‘MIRO: * IF I RESIGN FROM THE CRC, I.DO NOT WITHDRAW | | FROM. THE FIGHT." ne ow * GOODWIN: “IT IWILL, ALL BE VERY DIFFERENT wITHOUT | DR MIRO AS THE HEAD OF THE GROUP. YOUR LEADERSHIP 1S NECESSARY FOR BOTH THE CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE AND THE FACILITATION OF THE STRUGGLE. NO ONE ELSE.CAN STEP INTO — YOUR PLACE.” | | THE WEETING BROKE UP ON THIS NOTE, WITH MIRO TO LET ne KNAW ON MONNAY. ninw AND T BOTH FEEL THAT HE WILL
405 WULIV FVe YING FAVUDLSN WAS 2A SUYUUEN LWUREAOLY IMPORTANCE OF THE MAGISTRATES’ GROUP. ONE SECTION OF THIS GROUP. SPLIT OFF AND BACKED PRIO'S CANDIDATE FOR EXILE GOVERNMENT. THIS FACTION HAS STIMULATED A COSTLY PRESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CRC. IN THE TRADE UNION GROUP, A ‘DIVISION OCCURRED TWO DAYS. AGO WITH LEADERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PAST (PRESUMABLY WITH MUJAL) REPLACING DECENT LEADERS. AS FOR THE STUDENT. GROUP, rT WAITED UNTIL OCTOBER 19 TO AGREE TO JOIN THE RCs AND THEN DID SO (WITH STIPULATIONS, A. _ REASONABLE OBS ERV ATI ON COULD BE THAT IT IS “A : SUSPICIOUS COINCIDENCE THAT, THESE GROUPS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO ENTER THE CRC HAVE RESISTED DOING SO AND IN SOME CASES HAVE ORGANIZED CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE CRC. NEVERTHELESS ALL THE MAIN ‘GROUPS, EXCEPT MRP AND UD, HAVE NOW JOINED UP. THESE TwO GROUPS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DIRECT CIA SUBSIDY. - | . . "AS FOR THE NEW CIA-LIAISON OFFICER, I HAVE HAD TWO LONG TALKS WITH HI’ AND HAVE SUBMITTED OPERATIONAL PLANS | . ‘TO HIM.-IN A THIRD TALK, HELD TWELVE DAYS: LATER, THIS MAN SHOWED HIMSELF EVASIVE AND DID NOT EXPLAIN SATISFACTORILY ~ WHAT HAD HAPPENED ‘TO THE PLANS. CACC ORDING TO CIA, THE . PLANS REVERTED TO INVASION THINKING ‘AND COLONEL JOHNSON ACCEPTED: THEM ONLY IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH RAPPORT WITH HIRO. 2. fe AM KEPT. IN COMPLETE IGNORANCE ABOUT WHAT IS TO HAPPEN INSIDE CUBAs BUT I KNOW THAT RECRUITING 1S. GOING ON AMONG STUDENT AND-LABOR GROUPS FOR TRAINING. AND OY INFILITRATION--WE KNOW THIS FROM OUR OWN CONTACTS AND NOT 50 ay FROM CIA. IN ADDITION, ‘CIA.SENT A GROUP TO BRAZIL WITHOUT 955.  GHECKING WITH THE CRC OR, SEEKING THE. COUNCIL’S oe i-7) ADVICE OR INSTRUCTIONS. ALSO A CIA AGENT “ACCOMPANTED: cminneciinn vata en ceen 9 MONMICEICATTEAL
NOR ANYTHING WITH WHICH TO CONDUCT THE FIGHT FOR THE -~ ‘LIBERATION OF OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE REALLY NO MORE THAN A FRONT FOR THE CIA, AND WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE THE SACRIF ICI AL ; VICTIM FOR THEIR ERRORS. RADIO SWAN CONTINUES AS A CIA OPERATION. SANJENIS IS RECRUITING PEOPLE, FREELY OFFERING ARMS AND MONEY. NATURALLY PEOPLE’ GO WHERE THEY ARE OFFERED ARMS. IN’SUM, THE PAST OF SEPTEMBER 8, WHICH I WAS RELUCTANT TO AGREE TO AT THE TIME, HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED. ' STILL, I CAME TO WASHINGTON ON SUNDAY FOR A DINNER AT WHICH. 1 WAS ASSURED THE CIA REPRESENTATIVE IN MIAMI WOULD BE PRESENT. “HE WAS NOT THERE. CIA CONTINUES ‘TO DO WHAT IT WANTS WITHOUT © REGARD FOR THE CRC. 1 DONT THINK THAT CIA” HAS ANYTHING PERSONAL AGAINST ME. IT IS JUST THAT THEY WISH TO RUN THINGS ‘AS THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE: THEY ARE DESTROYING THE CRC BY THIS. ATTITUDE, HENCE MY. DECISION-- NOW IRREVOCABLE -- TO RESIGN. "1 CAN FIGHT AGAINST CASTRO -- AGAINST THE CORRUPTIONS OF ' THE PAST -= AGAINST PRIO =~ AGAINST BATISTA - BUT, IF I “HAVE TO FIGHT THE CIA ON’ TOP OF ALL THIS, I DECLARE MYSELF VANQUISHED. EVEN IF THE PRESEN? SITUATION Is STRAIGHTENED OUT, “AT-WILL ALL BEGIN AGAIN TOMORROW. THE CIA WILL SIMPLY TRY TO CREATE A ST TUATION TO JUSTIFY ITS PAST ATTITUDES. © GOODWIN: I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOT ANNOUNCE YOUR RESIGNATION UNTIL THE OAS MEETING (DISCUSSING PERUS* RESOLUTION ON CUBA) ON. THURSDAY. MEROS YES, | nm. GOODWINE YOUR RESIGNATION WOULD BE A TRAGEDY. BUT, AFTER | so. MANY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE, I WILL NOT: OFFER You ANY MORE PROMISES. BUT GIVE ME 24 HOURS TO SEE. - WHETHER DEFINITE AND POSITIVE ARRANGEMENTS CANNOT BE MADE TO-IMPROVE THIS SITUATION. IF NECESSARY, I MEAN TO GO TO THE - SECRETARY: oR TO “THE PRESIDENT. FER a
_ SPRawaues » RELATI ONS WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL cat 1. THE UNITED STATES REGARDS THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL AS THE CENTRAL. POINT OF CONTACT IN ITS DEALING WITH THE CUBAN EXILE AND UNDERGROUND ACTIVITY... DR. MIRO CARDONA ~~ AS CHAIRMAN OF THAT COUNCIL. -- HAS THE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE FOLLOWING Is A COMPLETE OUTLINE OF THE STRUCTURE OF OUR-FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNCIL: ‘fe BUDGETARY - A BASIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET WILL BE ALLOCATED. — ‘THIS WILL BE. SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’ OF ONE: MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF THIS MONEY ALLOWED 10 THE COUNCIL. DETAILED ADVANCE JUSTIFICATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED, BUT COMPLETE. ACCOUNTING FOR MONIES SPENT WILL BE ESSENTIAL. ALL OTHER ALLOCATIONS OF MONEY WILL BE ON THE BASIS OF. SPECIFIC PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES... IN. THIS (CATEGORY WILL FALL MOST OF THE PROPAGANDA - ACTIVITIES AND ALL CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES WITHIN CUBA. a comrostria OF COUNCIL - THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO BROADEN ITS. BASE, ALLOWING ENTRY TO ALL SUBSTANTIAL EXILE: GROUPS WHICH ARE NOT. IDENTIFIED WITH BATISTS OR WITH couitunr sm. LS ~~ oy Ce, UNDERGROUND ACTIVITIES - “ie ALL GROUPS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR UNDERGROUND ACTIVITIES WILL BE DEALT WITH THROUGH “DRe MIRO. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPERATING U.S. AGENCY WILL
NOTE: THIS MEMORANDUM: WAS READ TO DR. MIRO CARDONA AS THE BASIS OF US- CRC RELATIONS ano RAH 9/9/61 i Se IN ALL CONTACTS WITH UNDERGROUND GROUPS IT IS UNDERSTOOD “THAT THE NATURE OF THESE CONTACTS AND THE MATTERS DISCUSSED WILL BE. HELD IN THE STRICTEST SECRECY. BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, DRe MIRO AND THE GROUP CONCERNED, IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT _ “INFORMATION OF THIS SORT BE DISSEMINATED TO OTHER MEMBERS. OF © THE COUNCIL. WHERE DR. MIRO IS INFORMED OF CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES IT IS FOR HIS INFORMATION ONLY, OR THAT OF A SPECIALLY ° APPOINTED ASSISTANT FOR THESE MATTERS. IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD THAT IF HIS ARRANGEMENT PROVES INSECURE, I.E., IF INFORMATION IS NOT KEPT COMPLETELY SECRETY, IT WILL BE TERMINATED. As A CIA AGENT WILL DIIP IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH DR. MIRO. Da COUNCIL RELATIONSHIPS © : : ™~ 1. ALL PROBLEMS ARISING OUT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE DISCUSSED BETWEN THE COUNCIL AND THE BUREAU OF ARA.OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, ‘DR. MIRO WILL STILL RETAIN HIS CONTACT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE IN SUCH CASES WHERE HE. CONSIDERS SUCH CONTACT TO BE URGENTLY NECESSARY. re SOREL SEPTEMBER 9, 1961