65 6. Miscellaneous 1964 Schemes Involving Cuban Exile Community On June 10, 1964, Richard Helms, Deputy Director for Plans, sent to John McCone, DCI, a memorandum on the subject 'Plans of Cuban Exiles to Assassinate Selected Cuban Government Leaders. " The opening paragraph of the report declared: "The following report was compiled from information obtained by Agency officers from persons who were parties to the actions described. Agency officers made clear to each of the sources that the United States Government would not, under any circumstances, condone the planned actions. Presumably the sources of the report, in submitting this information, were motivated in part by the belief that by disclosing the information they would obtain immunity against legal action should they succeed in implementing the plan. '! The report then detailed several different reports pertaining to the development of ''... a plan, that was still in the embryonic stage, to assassinate Fidel Castro’. Some of the plans involved advances of funds with the major payment to be made upon the consummation of an assassination. The funds were to come from either wealthy Cubans or ''Cosa Nostra!!! elements. The May 30, 1975 letter from the National Security Council to the Executive Director had several documents attached which HW 53244 DocId:32105829 Page 69 AqWdaIT Guod “WY GTwuso AHL Woud AdOOO.LOHd
HW 53244 66 pertained to the possibility of assassination of Castro by Cuban exiles or the Mafia. These papers included the following: a. A June 18, 1964 memorandum prepared for McGeorge Bundy under the subject '303 Committee Cuban. Review." The portion of the memorandum delivered opened with the following sentence: "It seems to me that this meeting might serve to give us a clearer picture of what forces are at work today which might serve to embarrass the USA in the next 120 days." The memorandum referred to other groups of adventurers and freebooters who have an unknown capability for trouble.... "We also have these reports of MAFIA plans to perform coup de main operations for cash. Who is keeping track of this? Does the Y GIWYIS AHL WOUT AdODOLOHA grapevine among the emigres keep us well advised of all impending adventures? '!'! Attached was the June 10, 1964 copy of the Helms memorandum AMVdaIT duod to the Director of Central Intelligence. b. A‘'Memorandum for the Record" dated June 22, 1964 under the subject Preliminary Meeting with Attorney General, 19 June 1964" with the "Reference: Minutes of Meeting of 303 Committee of 18 June 1964 on Overall Subject of Cuba" was signed by Peter Jessup. The portion of the memorandum disclosed to the Executive Director included the following final paragraph: DocId:32105829 Page 70
HW 53244 67 'In regard to the memorandum to the DCI concerning alleged underworld connections with Cuban exile groups for the purpose of assassinating key figures in the Castro regime, it was pointed out that these reports, in effect, put the United States Government on notice that such plotting was afoot, and failure to take preventive action could be construed as condonation. The Committee's belief that this was essentially a law enforcement problem was cited. The Attorney General indicated that the Department of Justice would look into the matter." c. <A portion of a memorandum for the record, also dated June 22, 1964 and signed by Peter Jessup, under the subject ''Minutes of the Meeting of the 303 Committee, 18 June 1964" showed as present McGeorge Bundy, John McCone, together with''Mr. Vance, Mr. Johnson. Mr. Mann and Mr. FitzGerald were also present," The opening portion of the memorandum contained the following: BA general discussion was held on problems arising from increased activities on the part of organized Cuban emigre groups, independent adventurers, purported plots to assassinate Castro and the general edginess and instability on the island. "None of these present appeared to feel that it was either realistic or practical to sever connections with or to withdraw support from the two principal emigre organizations, those of Artime and Ray." DocId:32105829 Page 7Tf1 a GIWYIS FHL WOT AdODOLOHA AMWdaIT quod
68 The remaining portion of the memorandum was whited out, except for the final paragraph: 'A paper was discussed on alleged plans which involve the underworld to assassinate certain Cuban leaders. Mr. McCone was somewhat skeptical of the reported plots and stated that he would like to go into the matter further. Others, including Mr. Bundy, felt that the United States was being put on notice and should do everything in its power to ascertain promptly the veracity of the reports and then undertake prevention. It was decided that Mr. Bundy would call the matter to the Attorney General's attention as a matter of law enforce- ment," d. The Executive Director also received a ''Memorandum for the Record" dated July 31, 1964 under the subject ''Minut es of the Meeting of the 303 Committee, 30 July 1964" showing Bundy, Vance, McCone and Thomas L. Hughes present as well as Desmond FitzGerald of the CIA. Only two paragraphs of the memorandum were disclosed to the Executive Director, as follows: "The proposed infiltration/exfiltration operations into Cuba for August 1964 were approved. Mr. FitzGerald then addressed him- self once more to the ever present problem of operations by auto- nomous groups. While under our cognizance, they are not controlled, he said, HW 53244 Docld:3271056279 Page T2 AUWdGIT quod *y QIwWadaS AHL WONT AdODOLOHA
69 "It was agreed that Mr. FitzGerald would contact Mr. Sam Papich of the FBI in regard to the earlier report of an alleged plot with Mafia overtones to assassinate Castro and which the Attorney General agreed to handle as a matter of law enforcement,'! | An August 19, 1964 memorandum from John A. McCone to McGeorge Bundy on the subject of ''Status of FBI Investigations re Plans by Cuban Exiles to Assassinate Cuban Government Leaders'! was also included in the material delivered to the Executive Director . on May 30. The memorandum summarized the FBI investigation to date and FBI reports were summarized. 7. Summary The foregoing facts show that the CIA was directly involved in plans to assassinate Fidel Castro of Cuba. There is conflicting evidence concerning whether or not the CIA was directed or encouraged by higher authority to make an actual attempt on the life of Premier Castro or whether this was a matter developed from with the Agency or whether it was a combination of both. HW 53244 DocId:32105829 Page 73 AUWddIiT duOd *-Y AIWwaaS FHL WoUT AdODOLOHA