JFK Assassination System Date: 7/7/2015 Identification Form 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 : v9.1 HW 54653 Docld: 32423622 Agency Information SSCIA 157-10014-10234 MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE 07-M-139 . Released under the John Document Inf. Kennedy WSssassination Records Ollection Act of 1992 SSCIA (44 USC 2107 Nate). ase#: NW 54653 Date: nO-23-2017 00/00/1976 34 ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES . OSWALD, LEE, POST RUSSIAN PERIOD, TRAVEL, TRIP TO MEXICO FPCC REPORT Unclassified 1B; 1C Redact 03/17/2000 Page 1
~ - Date : 08/08/95 Page : 1 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY RECORD NUMBER RECORDS SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER ORIGINATOR FROM TO TITLE DATE PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW OPENING CRITERIA COMMENTS AGENCY INFORMATION SSCIA 157-10014-10234 MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE 07-M-139 00/00/76 34 ; OSWALD, LEE, POST RUSSIAN PERIOD, TRAVEL, TRIP TO MEXICO FPCC ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES REPORT UNCLASSIFIED REFERRED POSTPONED IN FULL 01/21/99 - ITEM IS RESTRICTED HW 54653 Docld:32423622 Page ?
Book V, p. 12-13 HW 54653 Docld: 324273622 Page 3 The cast of characters surrounding the seizure of anti-Castro hardware as outlined on these pages is particularly interesting. The raw material cited in the footnote is attached. Note reference to Briniuer and Oswald. Below that McLaney brothers and Victor Espinosa and Frank Sturgis. Not attached is a critical New Orleans field office memo to FBI headquarters linking Briniuer to the McClaney/Sturgis operation.
New Orleans tion a photo- Orleans, La., 4 given to a record, given ‘lo the same, “idel_ Castro, cht to invade ‘utes will do right. uy friend to ed this after that eonver- “no my friend here and he ie Fair Play - horities, be-— nowledge of ‘root of Ed 1 Council of friend and itler all the hat Oswald Oswald had Ve gave all nN, somebody febate.” day of the ihe time of sill Stuckey indicate to take hands wit Stuckey velleve that : to Oswald to him as ‘t+ one Com- vmMmunism, nat I don't sic way. I “ommunist, ‘hat if any : something ame to me, :ve nothing answered the wrong 't moment. Jebook for vill happen ‘Y bim per- HW 54653 sonally as a traitor if he doing something wrong in the debate. When he saw the guidebook for Marines, he smiled to me, and he told me, “Well, listen, Carlos, don’t try to do un invasion with that guidebook for Marines, because that is an old one and that will be a failure.” That was his joke in that moment. After that we went to the debate, and I think that you have the whole history of the debate, you have the transcription and everything, [so] that I don’t have to go inside that, because that is subjective, not objective. You have the ob- jective, and that is the debate. Mr. Liepeter. That is.rigbt. We do havea transcript and we listened to it on the tape last night over at the television station too. Mr. Brinculer. And there is something that I want to show you too. I told to you about the training camp that were across the Lake Pontchartrain. Mr, Liepeter. Yes. ‘ Mr. Brrncurer. [Producing newspaper.] At the beginning of August in the Diario Las Americas from Miami for September 4 — Mr. LiebeLer. For September 4, 1063? . Mr. Brincurer. That is right. [Indicating photograph.} This is the spy who was inside the training camp. ‘The Christian Democratic Movement turned him over to the FBI, and the FBI was questioning him in Miami, The Christian Democratic Movement found a letter, according to this information, from this guy directed to Carlos Lechuga, former Cuban Ambassador to Mexico and now Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. In that letter the spy, Fernando Fernandez, was warning. Lechuga that they have to be alert from that date to August 8, and the day that Oswald came trying to infiltrate my orga- nization was on August 5. This sounds for me strange in all this matter. {Indicating.] Here is another interview from Fernandez here 3 days later. Mr. LIegELER, You are referring to a copy of the same newspaper but for the date of September 6, 1963, on the front page of which Mr. Burinouter. (Indicating.] Here. “Fernundo Fernandez ts in favor of coexistence with the Communist regime of Castro.” That is the title in Spanish. . Mr. LIEBELER. Let me see if I can understand, what you are saying. You say that Fernandez wrote a letter to Lechuga? . Mr, BRINGUIER. Fernandez wrote a letter to Lechuga in Mexico. Mr, LieneLer. Lechuga is a member of the Castro government? Mr. BRINGUIER. Right. Mr. LIkBELER. He is now Ambassador to the United Nations? Mr. Brineuier. In New York; right. . Mr. Liesever. Fernandez is the person who was the Castro spy who had in- filtrated the training camp in Louisiana? Mr. Brincuier. For the Christian Democratic Movement here in Louisiana. Mr, LieBeLer. Now the Christian Democratic Movement is—what? Pro- Castro? - Mr. Brinaurer. Anti-Castro. : Mr. Lieseter. It is an anti-Castro organization? ; Mr. Brrnovier. Yes; they were training Cubans over here to make a com- mando action against Castro, but they find out that there was a Castro spy inside the training camp, and they went back to Miami with the people and with him, and they turn him over to the FBI. I think that after that the leader for the Christian Democratic Movement—or that the FBI didn’t found nothing, because was not against the law to spy inside an anti-Castro orgunization. It was against the law to spy inside the U.S. Government but not inside the anti- ’ Castro organization. And my feeling—and. this is the question that I am asking myself—in New Orleans we are about 900 miles from Miami. In Miami is where the headquarters of all the anti-Castro groups. I could not find any reason for Oswald to come to me and offer me his service to train Cubans in guerrilla warfare at the same moment when there was 2 secret anti-Castro training camp in New Orleans and a Castro spy was inside that training camp. That for me is—because, if he was willing to infiltrate one active organization, he will go directly to.Miami and he will offer his service over there in Miami, but not in New Orleans where it is not publicly known tha. :here was soinething going on at that moment. I[ believe that that was the ouly ‘ime here In New Orleans that Docld: 32423622 Page 4 43
WW 54653 DoclId: 32423622 there was something like that, and it was.a coincidence. And there is another coincidence too for me, and that is that when Oswald left the city he went to Mexico, and the letter from Fernandez that was intercepted here was to. Mexico too, and Oswald visit the Cuban consulate in Mexico, and the Fernandéz letter was to the Cuban Ambassador to Mexico. For me, that is a big doubt. Mr. LIesELer. Go ahead. Mr. Brinaurer. You see, after the debate, the same night of the debate, I went to the radio station here in New Orleans and the local papers and the United Press International office, and I gave a press release. If you want a copy, I could give youa copy. I gavea copy to the Secret Service. The most interesting thing is the four things that I asked to the Secret Service of New Orleans. I think that this is the second one where I said, “Write to your Congressman asking for a full investigation of Mr. Lee H. Oswald, a confessed Marxist” [producing document). And that was 3 months before the assassination. , Mr. LrEBELER. Do you have another copy of this? . Mr. Brrncurer. I have the original of that. You can have that. ’ Mr. Lieserer. I have marked a copy of the press release distributed to the ‘ various communications media here in New Orleans, on August 16, 1963—— Mr. Brrnauier. No, August 21. Mr. LiepELer. August 21, 1963? Mr. Brinauier. August 21, the night of the debate. Mr. Lieperer. I mark it as “Exhibit No. 3” to your deposition, and I have {initialed it. Would you initial it? (The witness complied. ] ‘ Mr. LIEBELER. Let me go over some of this testimony that you have just given to see if I understand. Mr. Fernandez wrote to Mr. Lechuga a letter in which Fernandez said that we—meaning the Castro people? - 7 Mr. Brincuier. Yes. : . Mr. LIEBELER. Must be on guard up until August 8? - Mr, BRINGUIER. August 8, that is right. . Mr. Lregeter. Of 1963? . Mr. Brincuter. That {g right. . Mr. LIEBELER. You indicated that Oswald had come to your store or offices on August 5, 1963? Mr. BRINeuUIER. That is right. Mr. LIEsELER. Oswald came to you offering to assist in the military training of Cubans? _ Mr. Brrneurer. That is right. . Mr. Ligperer. At that time, there was, in fact, a training camp near New Orleans Mr. Brinevier. That is right. , Mr. LIEBELER. For the training of people for military action against Castro? Mr. Brincuier. Right. Mr. Lresecer. And that was not public knowledge at that time? Mr. Brineurer. That is right. ; Mr, LIEBELER. So you are tying this up in your mind by considering the pos- sibility that Oswald was, in fact, a Castro agent? Mr. Brinouier. That is right. Mr. Liesecer. And did know about the existence of this training camp, be- cause Mr. Fernandez had already himself infiltrated that training camp? Mr. Brinaurer. That is right. ; Mr. Liesecer. And that Fernandez had told Oswald about the existence of this camp and had asked Oswald himself to try to infiltrate that camp for your organization? Mr. BRINGUIER. Excuse me. Mr. Liewerer. Is that correct? . Mr. BrInculer. Well, the only thing that I don’t believe {Is that Fernandez had told directly to Oswald. What I believe is that Fernandez had informed some people outside the United States, and these people had informed Oswald and had gave to Oswald the order to try to infiltrate the Cuban group here in New Orleans. ‘ 44 Page 5 > Mr. Lreneter. And Mr. Fernand -aware of approximately the time fore, Indicated to Lechuga that t discovered as an attempted Infiltre Mr. Brinourer. I beg pardon? | Mr, Lresecer, As I understand, lates to the fact that Fernandez : will be In danger,”—up until abo: anything to do with Oswald? Mr. Bruinauier. Well, what I thh: on August 5 Oswald came to me o same period of time. Somethin, Orleans, that there was a secret . of the Fair Play for Cuba Comn: New Orleans. Those are the fact not sure about. I just want to s! connection. : Mr. LIEsELER. Now it doesn’t see: handing out literature in the stro to infiltrate the anti-Castro moven: Mr. Brinauies. Remember that after I told him that I don’t hav. that here there is nothing, and th: went openly to do that before t! he went openly to do that after he w Mr. LIEBELER. Do you know of : {n the pro-Castro movement and ¢ Information to Oswald—conducted Mr. Brinauiek. No. Mr. LIEBELER. Would you have a as a result of your anti-Castro ac: person as this, do you think you - Mr. Brinculer. Beg your pardan Mr. LIEBELER. If there were suv: Castro movement who had been v. would have had access to that in find out about it? Mr. BRINGUIER. You see, that {s have a lot of persons. There ar who are anti-Castro. Even amui. agents here in the city and you «. But there is something else: Th. {s located in 117 Decatur Street, jr the owner of the Havana Bar is . over there, gave the information before—that Oswald went to the : lemonade. He was with one Mexi. drinking the lemonade, he start tu to be a Cuban capitalistic, and thu Ile was telling that that was too nm moment, Oswald feel bad at that - out to the sidewalk to vomit outsiad. >the Havana Bar told me that the +: the same one that one time the FBI immediately because that was a@ pre. August 15 and August 30 was th: because I start to find out all thes: before, because before I did not nothing of this before to me. Be: the owner of the Havana Bar cam. cause he already saw one automol- one of them the one who had be:
seem 2 corre - 27 se went ve) z doubt. of the debate, I . papers and the If you want a d to the Secret ce where I said, - of Mr. Lee H. it was 3 months istributed to the . ust 16, 1963—— tton, and I have. t you have just techuga a letter - “ vr store or offices ailitary training camp near New . against Castro? sidering. the pos- ‘alning camp, be- ‘ing camp? . existence of this t camp for your . . that Fernandez ‘ez had informed +med Oswald and voup here in New WW 54653 nocrak 32403602 Page 6 Mr. Lresecer. And Mr. Fernandez was, on this theory, aware of that and was aware of approximately the time Oswald would make this attempt, and, there- fore, indicated to Lechuga that there would be some danger of Oswald being discovered as an attempted infiltrator? Mr. Brrnaurer, I beg pardon? I don’t understand the words. Mr. LiesELER. As I understand, part of the hypothesis here, the theory, re- Intes to the fact that Fernandez said to Lechuga, “We must be careful, or we will be in danger,"—up until about August 8. Now does that statement have anything to do with Oswald? Mr. Brincurer. Well, what I think is this: He send that letter to Lechuga, and on August 5 Oswald came to me offering his service to train Cubans, all in the same period of time. Something that never was happening here in New Orleans, that there was a secret anti-Castro training camp, and the chairman of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee trying to join the Cuban group here in New Orleans. Those are the facts. I don’t want to tell something that I am not sure ubout. I just want to show you that tremendous coincidence or that connection. Mr. LIgBeLer. Now it doesn't seem likely, does it, that Oswald would go around handing out literature in the streets like he did if he was actually attempting to infiltrate the anti-Castro movement? Mr. Brinaurer. Remember that that was after I turned down his offer and after I told him that I don’t Have nothing to do with military activities and that here there is nothing, and that I turned down completely him. He didn’t went openly to do that before the attempt to infiltrate the training camp; he went openly to do that after he was turned down. Mr. LiEsELER. Do you know of any conceivable association between anybody in the pro-Castro movement .nd Oswald that could have acted as a source of information to Oswald—conducted the orders to him? Mr. Brinauier. No. Mr. LieseLter. Would you have any way of obtaining information ‘of that sort as a result of your anti-Castro activities and contacts? If there were such a person as this, do you think you would be likely to know about it? ; Mr. BRINGUIER. Beg your pardon? Mr. LIepeLer. If there were such a person, that is to say, some agent of the Castro movement who had been working with Oswald, do you think that you would have had access to that information or you would have been likely to find out about it? Mr. Brinculer. You see, that is a hard question, because here in the city you have a lot of persons. There are some who are pro-Castro, there are many who are anti-Castro. Even among the Cubans you could have some Castro agents here in the city and you could not have control of everybody. But there is something else: The owner of the Havana Bar—the Havana Bar is located in 117 Decatur Street, just two door or three door from my store—- the owner of the Havana Bar is a Cuban, and he and one of the employees over there, gave the information to me after Kennedy’s assassination—not before—that Oswald went to the Havana Bar one time. He asked for some lemonade. He was with one Mexican at that moment, and when Oswald was drinking the lemonade, he start to say that, sure, the owner of that place had to be a Cuban capitalistic, and that he argue about the price of the lemonade. He was telling that that was too much for a lemonade, and he feel bad at that moment, Oswald feel bad at that moment—he had some vomits and he went out to the sidewalk to vomit outside on the sidewalk. These persons here from the Havana Bar told me that the guy, the Mexican, who was with Oswald, was the same one tbat one time the FBI told them that if they will see him, call them immediately because that was a pro-Communist. I remember that was between August 15 and August 30 was that period of time. I could not locate that because I start to find out all these things after the Kennedy assassination, not ’ before, because before I did not found any connection. They did not told nothing of this before to me. Between the 15th and the 30th the brother of the owner of the Havana Bar came to my store asking me to call the FBI, be- cause he already saw one automobile passine by the street with two Mexicans, one of them the one who had been with :-swald in the bar, and be told me 45
me SS = Dey Ja — | { Fair Play for Cuba Committee materials on one uneventful oc- casion in Dallas sometime during the period April 6-24, 1963,31 Oswald’s first public identification with that cause was in New Or- ‘leans. There, in late May and early June of 1963, under the name Lee Osborne, he had printed a handbill headed in large letters “ITands Off Cuba,” an application form for, and a membership card in, the New Orleans branch of tlie Fair Play for Cuba Committee*!?. He first distributed his handbills and other material uneventfully in the vicinity of the U.S.S. Wasp, which was berthed at the Dumaine Street wharf in New Orleans, on June 16, 1963.48 He distributed literature in downtown New Orleans on August 9, 1963, and was arrested because pf a dispute with three anti-Castro Cuban exiles, and again on August 16, 1963.9 Following his arrest, he was interviewed by the police, ‘and at. ‘his own request, by: an agent of the FBI.%° On August 17, 1963, he appeared briefly on a radio program #7 and .on August 21, 1963, he debated over radio station WDSU, New Orleans, with Carlos Brin- quer, one of the Cuban exiles who had been arrested with him on ‘August 9.27? Bringuier claimed that on August 5, 1963, Oswald had attempted to infiltrate an anti- Castro organization with which he was sussociated 39 While Oswald publicly engaged in the activities described above, his “organization” was a product of his imagination. The imaginary president of the nonexistent chapter was named A. J. Hidell,3*5 the name that Oswald used when he purchased the assassination weapon.??4 Marina Oswald said she signed that name, apparently chosen because it rhymed with “IFidel,” #2? to her husband’s membership card in the New Orleans chapter. She testified that he threatened to beat her if she did not do so.#8 The chapter had never, been chartered by the national FPCC organization.2° It appears to have been a solitary operation on Oswald's part in spite of his misstatements to the New Orleans police that it had 35 members, 5 of which were usually present ~ at meetings which were held once a month.3” Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba activities may be viewed as a very shrewd political operation in which one man single handedly created publicity for his cause or for himself. It is also evidence of Oswald's reluctance to describe events accurately and of his-need to present himself to others as well as to himself in a light more favorable than was justified by reality. This is suggested by his misleading and some- time untruthful statements in his letters to Mr. V. T. Lee, then national director of FPCC. In one of those letters, dated August 1, 1963, Oswald wrote that an office which he had previously claimed to have rented for FPCC activities had been “promply closed 3 days later for some obsure reasons by the renters, they said something about remodeling ect., Tm sure you understand.” ! He wrote that “thousands of circulars were distrubed” *? and that he continued to receive inquiries through his post office box which he endeavored “to keep ansewering to the best of my ability.” ** In his letter to V. T. Lee, he stated that he was then alone in his efforts on behalf of FPCC, but he attributed his lack of support to an attack by Cuban 407° Hw sacks DoclId: 32423622 Page fT
exiles in a street demonstration and being “officialy cautioned” by the police, events which “robbed me of What support I had leaving me alone.” 34 In spite of those claims, the Commission has not been able to un- cover any evidence that anyone ever attacked any street demonstration in which Oswald was involved, except. for the Bringuier incident men- tioned above, which occurred 8 days after Oswald wrote the above letter to V. T. Tee. Bringuier, who seemed to be familiar with many anti-Castro activities in New Orleans, was not aware of any such incident. Police reports also fail to reflect any activity on Oswald’s part prior to August 9, 1963, except for the uneventful distribution of literature at the Dumaine Street wharf in June? Furthermore, the general ‘tenor of Oswald’s next letter to V. T. Lee, in which he sup- - ported his report on the Bringuier incident with a copy of the charges made against him and a newspaper clipping reporting the event, sug- gests that his previous story of an attack by Cuban exiles was at least greatly exaggerated.“8 While the legend “FPCC 544 Camp St. NEW ORLEANS, LA.” was stamped on some literature that Oswald had in liis possession at the time of his arrest in New Orleans, extensive investigation was not able to connect Oswald with that address, al- though it did develop the fact that an anti-Castro organization had maintained offices there for a period ending early in 1962.39 The Commission has not been able to find any other indication that Oswald had rented an office in New Orleans. In view of the limited amount of public activity on Oswald’s part before August 9, 1963, there also seems to be no basis for his claim that he had distributed “thousands” of circulars, especially since he had claimed to have printed only 2,000 -and actually had only 1,000 printed. In addition, there is no evidence that he received any substantial amount of materials from the na- tional headquarters.3#° _ In another letter to V. T. Lee, dated August 17, 1968, Oswald wrote that he had appeared on Mr. William Stuckey’s 15-minute television program over WDSU-TV called “Latin American Focus” as a result of which he was “flooded with callers and invitations to debate’s ect. as well-as people interested in joining the F.P.C.C. New Orleans branch.” #2 WDSU has no program of any kind called “Latin Ameri- can Focus.” *? Stuckey had a radio program called “Latin Listening Post,” on which Oswald was heard for less than 5 minutes on August 17, 1963.7 Tt appears that Oswald had only one caller in response to all of his FPCC activities, an agent of Bringuier’s attempting to learn: more about the true nature of the alleged FPCC “organization” in New Orleans.*#4 , Oswald's statements suggest that he hoped to be flooded with callers and invitations to debate. . This would have made him a-real center of attention as he must have been when he first arrived in the Soviet. Union and as ‘he was to some extent when he returned to the United States. The limited notoriety that Oswald received as a result of the street fracas and in the subsequent radio debate was apparently not enough to satisfy him. He exaggerated in his letters to V. T. Lee in an appar- 408 HW 54653 DocId: 32423622 Page 3 OSWALD DISTRIBUTING FAIR ORLEANS, AUGUST 16, 1963 -. BILLS ON WHICH HE HAD ST, ‘ é A: MEMBER BRANCH 730-900 O-64—28 erature, Lectures
[(l] SiguATURE [TJ APPROVAL ‘ (7) sre ve (_) RECOMMENDATION (7) comMENT CC] PER CONVERSATION [_] NECESSARY action (JAS REQUESTED (Cl) NOTE ARO reTURN  [_}MOTE AND FILE oO CALL ME ANSWER OR ACKHOMLe CI: OGE ON OR: PEFORE _ PREPARE REPLY FOR a) THE SIG GHUATURE OF Oa —-—- REMARKS —_—— : FROM: NAME Az ) Ke Cae Ag — ’ . a beer: rc rs haw id UN 6 DOJ MAY 2] O75 D Jeo ase [clyour INPORHATION eens - MUILDING, ROOM, EXT. OATE —— AALS 32O Ft pan Ms yi
tee la lees SPRY TREN eee re was another plan to bomb Cuba, t ging, bomb casings and Ane, on MM 105-1742 — mo, a oe fine ampr deport” a information cone -exning the Commands Yambises or the spokesman, RAFANL MARTINEZ PUPO, who made a shateus Guatemala claiming credit for the Auguste 17, 1953 : iv at in attack.- . BOSCH atatred that the MIRR will promote other + attacks in the future, 2s opportunities an md availability of equipment permit, without compromising the Unite States. , on June 14, 1963, informa ation was received thst a group of Cuban exiles hada plan to bo mb the Shell neetuory in Cuba.. Ga June 15, 1965, United States Cuatons Agents seized a tain peecheraft airplane on tha outskirts of Miami, Florida, along with a quantity of explosiv jOS6 MIGUEL ALVAREZ, EVELTO ALPIZAR, RENE ESP: {HOSA , VICTOR Ba PT sok and CARLOS HERSARDEZ, along with Anerican SAM BENFOW, were involved and detaincd, but not arcested, by United States Customs Agents. It wes ascertained | | / Fe that MICHAEL MC LANEY | supplied, the money and explosives . a for this operation. MC IANEY is well known as a former Ss os gambling eoneession operator in Havana, Crba, and » ms ; ip) presently resides at Miaml Beach, Floridée: > 1. ry “0 -On July 19, 1963, ACELO PEDROSO advised there dynamite loeated on tue surekirts of New Orleans , Louisiana. NOISINNG ALLER L On July 31, 1963, the Federal Bureau of Jeo sstigation (EBL) at New Orleans, Louisiana, obtained 4 wit ind t ULV - or cee wr 7 1976 ed
MM 105-1742 search WALT AOS and seized 2,400 pounds of dynamite and 20 bomb cacings near Ta earsbs » Louisiana. This material Was louated On tha property of WILLIAM Jo MS LANEY, prother of MEICKAEL J Oo LANEY, 3 Hemi Beach gambler and former operater of a casino in the Nacional otal, WAvesas ; Cuba e , . . tnvestigstion determined that this dynamite Was urchased @ Collingville » Illinois, by RICH TAUESLI for VIGTOR ESPLNOSA, WHO 3.3 involved in rhe June 14, 1963 geleures viiemi. ESPINOSA transported ehe dynamic? to Rew Orleans ja a rented trailer. Also tavolved in chis bomb plot ware CARLOS HEREANDEZ , MIGUEL ALVAREZ and SAM BENTON, @ Hiamt , Florida private detective. WM T-3, “Ro is personally azquaiated with SAH BRENTON and RIGH LAUGELE, advised chat SSM BERTON has ‘been involved. in the past, with Cuban revo Lubsonery groups in plans to sink yachts to obtain LNSULATCE 9 arms deals and collection of funds for personal Use » oO wa T-3 adv i.sed on June 14, 1963, RICH ALBERT LAUCHLI of Collinsville, Jllinois recently arrived in Miami, Florida in a Ford station Wagon with 4 load of aems for sales American aiventurer® and Mercenaries y CERALD i ATRICK GEUMING » ‘ERe-s and FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS 5 took LAUCHLE around. tO meet the different Cuban exile leaders in. iaml. TAUCHLL eupsequently sold a .9/ iam LeeoLLless rifle to the CNEE, & Sapanese machine gua eo American mercenary BILL CARMAN,  Lwo auzomatie rifles and wiro French guns to RAMON FONT of Comandos Ly and miacellaneous other equipment eo other organizatzons- . oo, MM T-3 éxplained that when TAUCHLI arrived in Miami in June of 1963, his chation wagon contained .50 caliber MAY 7 3936
machine £UnS, wa 105-1742 automatic rifles € foreign-made weapons. IAUCHLI sold asonuble prices. nine sub-machine Buns » and a number o noarly all of these arms, and at re my T-3 explained that LAUCHLI is more interested in ams sales as a gun dealer, and has no eniovional feeling about the Gubsn exile cause of trying to overthcoy the ° present Govermaent in Cuba.
Book V, p. 10 HW 54653 DBocld:32423622 Page 13. FBI informant during missile crisis suggested that Castro could be assassinated through underworld channels inside Cuba and that the informant would fund this if U.S. government would assure such endeavor would not adversely effect the national’security. See attached Hoover memo. We need to identify and interview informant.
re eee * in Pas ; 54653 1 he At torney General” OF iy 7. Pe FICE OF —— } Ch ornon : Director, FBI Se cenyee an " sunyrcr: FIDEL CASTRO : : ih wa . ZNTERNAL SECURLTY - CUBA re We have an informant who furnis shes data concerning eriminal matters and who is close to hieh officials of the Teamsters Union. He has many contacts with hoodlum and gambling elements throughout the United States. He is most- concerned that his relat ionship with the TfI not be: revealud since he teel.s certain that, if nis prooperation becomes known, he will be killed immediate On October 22, 1962, the informant volunteered to our Los Angeles, California, Office that he believes he could arrange to have Fidel Castro assassinated. He explained that some of his underworld acquaintances, such as Meyer Lansky, im the past have had close connections’ in Cuba whoreby they were able to "buy! practically any Cuban official oz to accomplish almost anything they wanted to do in Cuba, He believes some of these underworld figures still have channels inside Cuba through which the assassination of Castro could be successfully arranged,’ ‘ . Teste et Catal cara Catia PCTs nen crepagi rn rie ara ka ode alae came, PTE am ati ttedl hoe : “eg oy New nee, tacly ext. ayes FS met Sy ee fer Ver New, . “es . . vn. a ree. ie pekaae Ad ded OIE Lae” SO et TR ak Gntteveimenn a haul ae + pies! aye ney etna, ee . re - : : Moai ural tsabe bed a give ete ate lie said that, in the event the United States Government is interested in having the: attempt made, he would raise the necessary money and would want nothing ‘from the Government except assurance that such an undertaking would in no way adversely affect the national security. He expressed confidence in his ability to accomplish this mission without any additional contact with Government representatives “and with | a minimum of contacts with private indre reco *N Revi pu) Wafer eee 109-539 OD a DEPARTMENT oF sustizg | MAY. +7 ] | " Kh ne tay eer . DOJ. fi a A _Ieecoras aaance 5 . . ytd beet eee Déckd: 32498622 Pagesta 9 wre ae ee em i cee
Book V, D. 13 HW 54653 DBocld:32423622 Page 15 Intelligence files in mid-1963 documenting series of meetings among major leaders of anti-Castro movement. Such a report is attached. Attention to the cast of characters: i.e., Artime, Maceo, Somoza, Carlos Prio.
as pe nen eeheptate napa Mt: 105-1742 presidents of the several Central. American Republi « 8 and the leading figuras among the Cuban exiles iy Wa: ew York and Washington, were known to bave the sanetion of the United Sxates Government. On july 16, 1963, somozh left Miami and returned to Nicaraguc. On July 15, 1963, the “Hlemi News" contained an article stating that there is growing gpeculation in Miemi that Attorncy Ceaneral ROBERT KEHEEDY Ls quiculy backing certain Cuban exiles, such as MANUEL ARTLINE SURG! and tre so-called sovozA Plan. It is noced that VA NUE ARTIME BUESA is the bead of the LRR, an ancti+CASIRO organization. Pa a On July 15, 1963, MM T-3, who has been active in Cuban revolugionary matters for the past. five Years » = 2 ps the wae fey pt oe af atest Pr, ta) L£ 7 BaAVLEeca Eira erat) nelodrsaobeu persons are geome OL the better ~kroyn Cuban exile leaders who met with. GOs10ZA during his recent yisic to the United States: SANTIAGO ALVAREZ RODRIGUEZ, Comandos L TAUREANO BATISTA TALLA, Movimiento Democrata Cristiano (iC) ANTONIO VECIAM, Alpha 66 SIXTO MESA, MRR JOSE MORELL ROMERO, Cuban Committee of Liberation CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS, former president of Cuba ~-RECEWVED FR0°! MAY. 7 1076 DOJ Ny
TM 105-1742 MANUEL ARTINE, MRR © EUSEBIO EUJAL, labor leader JOSE BOSCH, Cuban industrialist a On July 26, 1963, SCARTIAGO ALVAREZ RODRIGUEZ advised he kad talked with LUIS SOMOZA about four hours while SOHOZA was in wiami during the middle of July, 1953. ALVAREZ gaid chat it is his opinion SOMOZA Was aghing 23 -an intexrmadiary between the United States Covernmens aud the Cuban exiles. . . hat nothing t is now not clear wnat SOMOZA is offering, or what the United States Government's position or actitude ig in this matter. ALVAREZ said it is obvious sOMOZA cannot afford, either ag a private individual or a representative of the Nicaragezn Goverament , to back such a military program by Cuban exiles, and will “ have to have the packing and support of the United States Government to g0 on with his plan. On August 20, 1963, ALVAREZ advised nas yet developed eoneerning the SOMOZA plan; tae ot Sd oh On July 30, 1963, FERMIN FLEITES, member of the Executive Committee of the MDC, advised that about a week ago, a Nicaraguan Army officer visited the MOC Keadqu2rters , and in the name of SOMOZA, offercd camps, military equipment a and bases in Nicaragua. This individual also offered to ie: pay the expenses of moving the MDC operations to Hicarrt gua e See J . / - $LELTES explained that the MDC had taken no A positive action concerning this mattcr, and had adopted a wait and csee'' policy to oscertain what attitude the f ed {States Government would take concerning this matter. . oy de 7. Be = a Te ES of aR ans i ‘ 8, ab tts
MM 105-1742 On August: 7, 1963, MARIO DEL CAHAL, Executive secretary of Rescate Democratico Revolucionario , advised that ger SOMOZA v2a3 in the United States during July of 1963, VAWOIEL AUTOULO DE VAROMA , head of the RE SH2ee Pemoer2bico Kkevolusionario (RGR), conferred wita SonoeaA in Hien and New York. At the suavitation of SOMDZA, a VAROKS left for Iiearagua on August 1, 1063, ©9 agenda confer with SOMOZA, and is expected to return co Miami ia above @ Perera’ week. On September 10, 1963, CABAL adviced thet nothing definite had been established as a vesult of VYAROI & vielt to Nicaragua, and that the future of the proposed soroz. Plan ie uncertain. hm 3 2 2 > On August 13, 1963, LAUREANO BATISTA FALLA, militercy leader oF the HUC, advice Pate returned from Nicaragua, where he had conferred wit SOMOZA , qho made no commitments of indicated 2n7 definite | 7 plan exigted.  SOMOZA showed great intere wate | problem, but offered no positive help or armg or training camps. 4 . . i] . BATISTA FALLA said that CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS , . ‘former President of Cuba, was in Miearagua at the same time, conferred with souozZA, but did not reeeive any ae offers of positive aid. BATISTA explained tnat PRLO had just previously returned from the Dominiesn Repuvlic (DR), and although PRIO and JUAN BOSCH, President of the DR, had been friends for many years, PRIO was unable to obtain any military bases in the DR. et aid in the way of 1963, RUBEN DE LEON, former Cuban wrens On August 22, -Ordinator of the anti-CAstho Minister of Defense and Co 8. Pir alel| Vp ae VeTiy Corse MUL GEL Figo! Pig . 3 MAY 7 Ig DOg
ayn tee MM 105-1742 organization Armed Forces of Cuba in Exile, stated that - about a month ago, LUIS SO}0zA told EMLLTO HUNRZ PORZJO:DO, former Cuban delegsce to the United Nations CIN) he (S0:0Z4) had talked to United States Attorney Genaral (AG) ROBERT KEGHEDY. | + ¢ ele woe 3 Oar ae le AG KENNEDY reportedly sal* it was nec SOMOZA to work ouc tne Cuban probicin and to unite exiles. SOOZA recommended that MAWUEL ARSENE BUESA b designated as the leader of the Cuban exiles. . DE LEON advised that there was later Miami at the home of Nicavaguan Army Captain JOSE 4 EgRETE _ between SosoZA and a number of Cuban exile leaders. A& cals meeting, eguozA said there was a possibility of Nicaraguan support for she Guban exile anti-CAStno movement, Bue the exiles would have to accept ARTIVME astheic leader. There was considerable opposition to this suggestion by the exile leaders attending the meeting. ' On September 12, 1963, PAULINO STERRA WARTIWEZ y former attorney and textile mill operator ia Suba, advized he had recently visited Nicaragua and conferred with LUZS SOMOZA concerning help to Cuban exiles. SIERRA said there are no training camps in Nicar2eg02 or Central America for Cuban exiles, and &LL the proposed aid end backing has progressed no further than the talking stage. SIERRA said it seems to him that everyone ig waiting for the United States Government to give the wit "green lignt”. 1 cp On Sopken ee 12, 1963, MM T-3 advised that nearly all ebyipsiiltcdd 1) Leaders among Cuban exiles have conferred with SOMOGK and now agree that the SOMOZA Plau is too big for MAY 7 1975 ee ee
| ‘Mid 105-1742 . | | | | epublics to put into and political f } re Central American R ° soviozA and th & United States military effect withou guppore. wa T-3 said thet the different Cuban military and political lenders now feel that SOMOZA kas noc yer obtained @ positive commitment from the United Suates Government » beesuse akter to and a half monks of are not any Cuban exile militery Breve ALe conferences » training e2mps in Ceneral America, and the SOMOZA Plan .ed beyond the talking stugee has not progresé LIT. ORGANZA LONS Comandos_L sed that Comandos L anti-CASTRO osganinations and action ro ° SANTIAGO ALVAREZ RODRIGUEZ , AWLONLO CUESTA and ATOR The organizetioa maintains no office @ m us © to use Post Office Box 66, Riverside Statiox to collect money donations. rae & « SANTIAGO ALVAREZ RODRIGUEZ had no milltary AGTLVLCY p is no puildics On July 29, 1963, advised th2 organization has . since Mare! of 1963. The Leadershi. Fy organizaticn eg Jnerease membership , est2zblish different i@t sections, such as 4 Women's Section, 3 publicity Sect and committees to raise funds. The orginization re put out thirty-page booklet, setting forth ea aims ‘4 purposes of tne organization, along with information jons of the orgea concerning previous military operat ization. ; ALVAREZ admitted his group has two boats in the Miami River, which will be used in the future for military ef YEP L RCT pay yaa 4 NCREWED TOM oo. MAY 7 4975 DOJ
Book V, p. 30 On December 1, 1963, CIA Headquarters cabled Mexico City that a sensitive source ( a ) has advised that a Cubana airlines flight to Havana was delayed in Mexico City on November 22 x to pick up a passenger who rode in the cockpit without going through customs. This cable was found in Mexico City file with no CIA headquarters record of follow-up being found. , HW 54653 Docld:32423622 Page 26 —
Book V, p. 35 HW 54653 Docld: 32423622 - Page 27 | In December, 1963, Sullivan prepared a memo for Hoover's aid in briefing the President that stated that no evidence had been developed which would indicate Oswald's assassination was inspired or directed by Pro Castro organizations or by any foreign country.
Book V, p. 40-41 HW 54653 Docld:32423622 Page 23 FBI Legat in Mexico City cabled FBI Headquarters on November 24 that U.S. Ambassador felt Cubans participated in assassination effort. "Bureau may desire to give consideration to polling all Cuban sources in US in effort to confirm or refute this theory.'' FBI Headquarter's supervisor determined this was not desirable and would only promote rumors.
HW 54653 Book V; P. 58 Docld: 324273622 Page 29 The CIA investigation reflected a Soviet orientation, with exhaustive studies of Oswald's activities in re Soviet Union. There is no corres- ponding CIA analysis of Oswald's con- tacts with pro and anti Castro groups in U.S.
“HW 54653 Book V, p. 61- In December, 1963, the CIA learned that 63 Docld: 3274273622 Page 30 a Cuban American had crossed the border from Texas into Mexico, on November 23 and arrived in Mexico City on November 25. He stayed in a hotel until the evening of November 27, when he departed on a regularly scheduled Cubana airlines flight to Havana using a Cuban courtesy visa and an expired U.S. passport. He was the only passenger on the flight. In March, 1964 the Agency received a report from a source which alleged that the same Cuban American had received a permit to enter Mexico City on November 20 in Tampa, Florida. The same source said the Cuban American was somehow involved in the assassination. The Agency did not follow up on this ‘report other than to ask a Cuban defector about his knowledge of the Cuban American's activities. The FBI did investigate the reported unusual travel but did not fully report the results of their investigation to their Warren Commission. Their investigation showed that this individual had lived in Tampa and Key West and was pro-Castro. He had traveled to Cuba in May of 1962 and had a brother in the Cuban military who was studying in the Soviet Union. On November 17, 1963, the Cuban American was at a get-together at the home of a member of the Tampa chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. This was the same Fair Play for Cuba Committee that Oswald had possibly contacted in May of 1963.
HW 54653 Book V, p. 63-64 Docld: 3274273622 Page 31 In March of 1964, the Warren Commission requested from Director Hoover information on certain pro- Castro and anti-Castro organizations which were active in the U.S. including the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, and Alpha 66, among. others. The Bureau furnished less than .a full and satisfactory response and did not disclose the fact that the CIA had operational interests in certain of the entities inquired about.
Book V, p. 65 The FBI reports on Alpha 66 furnished the Warren Commission noted the attack on the Soviet vessel. in March of 1963 but did not detail that group's continued activity in planning and carrying out their military operations against Cuba. The FBI reports did not show that Alpha 66 had been involved ‘with the New Orleans anti-Castro train- ing camp. HW 54653 Docld:32423622 Page 32
HW 54653 Book V, p. 65 Docld:324273622 Page 33 It is known that the CIA took an interest in the Fair Play for Cuba Committee with which Oswald was associated. According to Bureau documents, the Agency advised the Bureau that they were considering the use of disinformation that might embarass the Committee in areas where the Committee had support.
Book V, p. 72 HW 54653 Docld:324293622 Page 34 In late July 1964, an FBI informant reported that the CIA was meeting with. AMLASH for the purpose of assassinating Castro. Informant also reported that AMLASH was unhappy with the CIA's efforts and that Attorney General Kennedy had refused to support the plan but that the plan had not been completely put to rest. This information was not disseminated outside the Bureau at the request of the informant.. But the Bureau notations indicate that the Bureau was looking into an underworld plot against Castro that might be coincidental with the AMLASH plan. The Bureau had first been informed of AMLASH-CIA meetings in October 1963. That information did not indicate assassination involvement.
Book V, p. 74-75 HW 54653 Docld:32423622 Page 35 . The AMLASH operation was insecure prior to the Fitzgerald meeting with AMLASH, a meeting that Fitzgerald was urged not to under- take by several in the Agency.
HW 54653. Book V, pp. 77-78 -Docld: 324235622 Page 36 wv? Ke pe a / Individuals outside tHe CIA had been brought into the| operation, -and the Agency learned that one of these individuals was in clandestine contact with Cuban intelligence (Cable from European station to CIA Head- quarters, 3/18/65).