JFK Assassination System Date: 6/12/201 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10287-10053 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER: —-105-86025-43 Document Information ORIGINATOR: — FBI FROM: DIRECTOR, FBI TO: TITLE : DATE: 06/01/1972 PAGES: 34 SUBJECTS : LCA, ASSOC, COMMUNIST ACT, CUBAN EXILE, ACA, BKG, ANTI-COMMUNIST MEETING DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : — Secret RESTRICTIONS: 1B; 1C;4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: — 07/01/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : a v9.1 : 30 Docld: 323049253 Page 1
TDP mA, VA ok oO, Luis Ernesto Conte Oo, Conte Mntes Luis. Oat Aguero! ILhewlS-Conte wi. Ons- ne \ Aguersd, ‘Louis Conte PCompin,) Luis \ lo-Keueros| Corte, One 7 RL | oO ; Ante \\eConte, Lewis . 4 | eresTLuis C. WConte, Louis Bex rw liis Compto jpConte, wis | 2, ATuis-Conte WConte, this Ernesto AY uis Conte we ‘huis Conte Luis Conte F J-rtiis Conte 8 Lewis Conte Figuere ,\ Louis Conte ORjuerof Lewis Conte Meuere, Luis Conte af ab ’ | wreuero, Luis Conte [5 t KKEKE "ABBREVIATIONS AGA. ANfO... cee ce eee ee eee eee ee eee Additional information appearing in this reference which pertains to' Luis Ernesto Conte Aguero can be , found in the main file or elsewhere in this summary. This information may have been received from a different source. | CACF. eee e ccc e ec eceeceeceeescoese eas Christian Anti-Communist Front \ ag pe, ec. . Radio commentator Luis Conte Aguero defended Guatemala in his broadcast on 6/21/54, and accused the US or the United Fruit Company of the invasion of that country. (CI HAV-2) Cw) SO ep.5 QQ . Docld: 3230492753 Page 3 ee
c f ~~ a td Orlando Eleno Piedra Negueruela (105-75483) who headed the Cuban Bureau of Investigations under Batista, made available records which contained general background, arrest, descriptive data, and photographs on approximately 2,000 Cubans who were considered Sis 55s risks by the Batista government. Included in the records dated 4/15 was the following information regarding Luis Ernesto Conte Aguero: (u) sex: Child of: Civil Status: Profession or Occupation: Height: Weight: Eyes: Other Identifying Marks: Address: Observations: Male ‘Luciano and Isidra married journalist-PH.D. 5'31" . ‘ 200 lbs. black race :mixed Estrada Palma 156, Santiago-or 505 "D" Street, Vedado, Havana , Orthodox Party member, subversive activities, bitter enemy of Batista Government; 4/54, arrested and sentenced to Isle of Pines for 6 months - for contempt. 105-75483-40 ep.736 ( a) (Photo.) According to SAs and Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (109-539), Luis Conte Aguero spoke at an event at the Flagler Theater, Miami, on 11/20/55. CS MM-492-S furnished a number of photographs taken of individuals on the speakers' rostrum during the 11/20/55 event. / This event was identified as the "Club 26 de Julio de Miami" (July 26 Club of Miami). (y) Aguero was identified as one of these individuals. (4) Sa) p.8,11,14 The following references pertain to information which appeared in a hearing before SISS on 3/30/62. This information concerned Luis Conte Aguero's association during April, 1959, in NYC, with Viola June Cobb (97-4057) and Fidel Castro, Prime Minister of Cuba, regarding a prologue Aguero wrote to a Castro speech which Cobb published. several months later Aguero's prologue was deleted from the publication because Aguero was in disgrace. (uv) (continued) -3- Docld: 3230492753 Page 4 a as
“ SERRET. Ralph Gutierriz, Assistant Program Director, WHOM, NYC, made available information which reveahed that the July 26th Movement of New York (97-3243) was scheduled to have a "taped program" which had been made in Cuba, over Radio Station WHOM, NYC, on 8/13/60. This program was in answer to an address that would be made over that radio station on 8/12/60, by former "pro-Castro" officer Luis Conte Aguera. (y SSS -365 p.56 RON 05-95145-2 p.2 The 8/15/60 issue of "El Diario de Nueva York", a Spanish language newspaper published in NYC, contained an article which stated that a number of anti-Castro organizations conducted a demonstration at the UN building on 8/13/60. The demonstration was led by Dr. Luis Conte Aguero, president of the CACGF. Mw so pel Rudolph Fernandez, Atlanta, Georgia, Businessman, advised that Luis Conte Aguero, leading Cuban exile, was planning to organize an opposition meeting to the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (105-87912) on 8/13/60, in NYC. u re p.l;ep. 4. The 8/15/60 edition of the "Hudson Dispatch", published at Union City, New Jersey, contained an article captioned "Overthrow of Fidel's Cuban Rule Pledged". This article revealed that Luis Conte Aguero spoke at the newly formed Latin American Anti-Communist Organization (LAACO) (105- 91459) meeting on 8/14/60, at Kelly's Tavern, Union City. YW - The 8/16/60, edition of "El Diario de Nueva York", a Spanish language | newspaper published at NYC, contained an article entitled "Cuban Anti-Communist Multitude Hears Orators in Union City" This article indicated that Aguero participated in a meeting held “at Kelly. ‘Hal.’ in Union City, on Sunday. yw Of 8/17/60, Ysidro Alvarez, PSI, advised that a LAACO meeting was held on 8/14/60, at Kelly's Bar in Union City. Luis Conte Aguero spoke at this meeting. wu cept SR \ “S- Add. info. Docld: 323049253 Page 5
fon On 10/12/60, Victor Manuel Paneque Y Batista advised that he came to the US in September, 1960, on behalf of the Movimiento Insurrecional De Recuperacion Revolucionaria (MIRR) (97-4474). He said approximately three or four weeks previously he was at the Pentagon, WDC, and spoke to two individuals in the Navy Department to whom he presented a plan for aiding anti-Castro forces in Cuba. On this trip he utilized the services of Dr. Conte Aguero as an interpreter. w It appeared that the Dr. Conte Aguero referred to by Paneque was undoubtedly identical to Dr. Luis Ernesto Conte Aguero, who claimed to be one of the leaders of an anti-Castro organization known as the CACFLU On 11/19/60, Alex Rorke, NBC Correspondent, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NYC, advised that he had heard a rumor to the effect that Paneque was suspected of being a Castro agent. He discounted this rumor, explaining that Paneque had taken a trip (dates not given) to WDC and New York with Aguero, but had later split with Aguero after Aguero had attempted to deceive Paneque, whereupon Aguero started a rumor that Paneque was a Castro agent, as a means of retaliation against him. «& On 12/19/60, Orlando Bosch Avila, M.D., 4138 Southwest 18th Terrace, Miami, reported substantially the same information concernin the above. awe On 12/15/60, Alfredo Alex Hernandez Mere, 408 Monastery Place, Union City, New Jersey, advised that his father, Jose Felix Hernandez Garcia of Union City, was a member of and worked with an anti-communist organization known as the Frente Anti-Comunista Cristiano, which was under the leadership of Luis Conte Aguero. He. also stated that he had no reason to believe that Frank Fiorini's (2-1499) group was connected in any waywith Aguero's anti-Castro movement. ® 3 , MM 639-S advised that Fiorini, Alex Rorke, free-lance writer | and photographer, and Ilona Martita Lorenz, daughter of an American woman, Alice Lorenz, who resided in NYC, were to meet on 1/8/él, and attempt a unity meeting of anti-Castro Cubans. This meeting was sponsored by u Aguero. Ay” p.3,4,14 Docld: 323049253 Page 6
o™ Pedro Luis Diaz Lanz, 120 S.W. 71st Avenue, Miami, advised that in approximately November or December, 1962, he was contacted by Rafael Inclan (105-102128), who.had come to Miami from WDC. He stated that he had previously met Inclan sometime prior to the Cuban invasion of April, 1961, when he, Diaz, was introduced to Inclan at WDC, by Luis Conte Aguero. 05-102128-26 p.2 Gag) On 5/13/61 and 5/14/61, Doctora Carmelina Bonafonte, PSI, furnished information pertaining to a caravan composed of Cuban mothers, which was sponsored by the Revolutionary Junta of National Liberation (105-99236), an anti-Castro organization; that proceeded from Miami to Palm Beach, Florida, on S/l/ol, for an audience-press conference with Pierre Salinger, White House Press Secretary, and high officials of the US Armed Forces. The chief interpreter for the delegation of Cuban women was Luis Conte Aguero. wy ie 9236-1 ep.2,4 [Day letter dated 5/24/61, CIA advised that Luis Conte Aguero had indicated a desire to join the Cuban Armed Forces Association in Exile] (97-4599). cr 7<4599-1 p.l SQ On 11/29/61, INS furnished a reportcdated 11/16/61, which contained background data concerning the formation of a special [committee| of anti-Castro leaders to help screen security risks among Cuban refugees. At INS's request, 25 anti-Castro leaders, including Dr. Luis cot Aguero, met with Miami INS officials on 11/6/61, to discuss cases of 16 permanently detained Cubans. ta nl ep.l On 11/29/61, Arthur McDonnell, Director and Secretary of Radio Free Cuba, Incorporated (RFC) (105-108626), 487 Broadway, NYC, advised that Dr. Luis Conte Aguero was the President of RFC, a subsidiary of Frente Anti-Comunista, Incorporated (FAC), 1818 Q Street, wdc. DVS REVIEWED BY BBYJFK TASK FORCE fy 914 [97 Gok (continued) YA RELEASE IN FULL moyen TET Ai Tho ba be | c rf WY RELEASE IN PART SEGRE i TOTAL DENIAL Docld: 3230492753 Page ?F
SECRET This reference pertains to Luis Conte Aguero's alleged involvement in a Plot to Assassinate Premier Fidel Castro, October Holidays, 1965 (105-142517). Aguero, 4365 S.W. 2nd Street, Miami, was apparently not involved in this alleged plan. During an interview on 8/16/65, concerning this alleged plot, Aguero advised that he was in contact with several high officials of the US Government during June and August, 1965. k gag p.1,23;ep.1-3,5 \ The following references pertain to the investigations and/or hearings of the SISS. Information regarding Luis Conte Aguero's associations, contacts, and activities as a television and radio commentator from 1946 to October, 1965, in Florida and Cuba, was set out in testimonies of individuals and exhibits. /q,) REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 62-88217-2721 ep.618 -2884 ep.51-53 ° ‘ OQ -2951 ep.131 iQ MM 974-S advised that Vicente Rodriguez, treasurer of the Frente Nacional Revolucionario Cubano (105-129080) Executive Committee, was an assistant to Luis Conte Aguero. (No further details.) (Miami airtel, 7/22/66) (u) | 05-129080-11 ep.5 was On 8/10/66, fo (DI? on that. Domingo[ Cardoso and Gilberto Con?) both affiliated wi the Movimiento Revolucionario Del Pueblo (MRP) (105-92704), an anti-Castro organization, said on 8/6/66, that they had been in contact with Luis Conte Aguero. They said that Aguero had promised that if Cardoso and Seco could bring about a satisfactory reorganization and redevelopment of the MRP, he would be willing to offer considerable financial assistance as well as.a good contact with the US government. In connection with the reorganization of MRP, a meeting was held on 8/7/66, during which a committee of three, including Cardoso, Seco, and Lino Perez, formerly affiliated with MRP, was named to maintain contact with Aguero. OX 105 ep.l , Docld: 3230492753 Page &
“SECRET The Ejercito Rebelde En Exilio (ERE) (105-125545), headed by Raul Diaz/Torres and Jesus Gomez Calzadilla, called for a unity demonstration at Miami on 10/10/66, among several Cuban exile military organizations, including the ERE. Luis Conte Aguero, who heads the exile organization "Sentinels of Liberty", at Miami, was cooperating with the ERE in bringing Latin American figures to Miami to speak on the above occasion. Aguero reportedly had contact (date and piiace not given) with (FNU) Califono (ph), who was an assistant to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. (MM 1119-S) (w) 054125545-11 pel The following references pertain to the associations, contacts, and Anti-Fidel Castro Activities (109-584) of Luis Conte Aguero from July, 1960 to February, 1967, in Florida, New York, WDC, Brazil, and Cuba. Aguero was leader of FAC,- an anti-Castro organization which was disbanded in October, 1962; a member of Revolutionary Council (RC), the organ that coordinated the most important Cuban organizations in exile; and head of Sentinels of Liberty, an anti-Castro organization. He was also affiliated with the Movimiento Recuperacion Revolucionario. He attended, participated in and/or was scheduled to attend and/or participate in meetings, demonstrations and affairs. Aguero also made arrangements for a demonstration which he was sponsoring in commemoration of the Cuban War of Independence. Aguero wanted tolunite all exile organizations to fight against the tyranny imposed by Fidel Castro, Prime Minister of Cuba, and favored the assassination of Castro. The Alianza de Liberacion, a Cuban counterrevolutionary organization composed ~ of several small groups and dissident splinter elements, was formed under the leadership of Aguero. He wrote book entitled "Cuba, The OAS, And the. International Peace Force". (ie Was, alleged that CIA put Aguero into the *Consejo and then took him out ire was reported tnat(l) RC ! had the backing of President John F. Kenned#* In 1965, Aguero plaYfined to travel to several Latin American countries. In February 1967, he was scheduled to go to Argentina, where he woudd lobby to get thes Cuban question on the Organization of American States’ meeting agenda, scheduled for April, 1967,-in Uruguay. REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 109-584-1349 p.2 , -1532 ep.2 ~1539 p.l;sep.1 -1560 ep.l -2056 p.1,2;ep.5 -2340 p.10 * Consejo Revolucionario de Cuba Docld: 3230492753 Page 93
wee ~~ i * continued) | SECRET REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 109-584-2353 p.l ~2359 ep.2,3 IN -2586 ep.1,2 -2622 ep.5,6,17,18, 19, 27,32 -2693 ep.1,2,4 -2960 p.2 -2980 p.2 -3004 ep.1,2 ~3047 p.4 -3097 p.1,7 ~3310 ep.2 -3332 p -3537 p -4290 p -4313 p -4338 e -4H453 6 -4503 e On 3/15/67, Tania Ondina Menendez Y Morino, employee at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, advised that prior (date not given) to leaving Cuba, during the latter part of 1965, she was contacted by Gustavo Andujar who was engaged in anti-Castro activities. Andujar requested her to contact Luis Conte Aguero, a radio commentator in the Miami area who was broadcasting clandestinely to a group that Andujar was associated with, which was headed by (FNU) Santos, who was serving a jail term because of his anti-Government activities. Menendez did not. know whether or not Santos was the true name or a cover name for this individual. She contacted((date and place not given) Aguero as requested by Andujar, and Aguero stated that hé was not interested in re-establishing radio contact with the Santos group. It was the opinion of Aguero that the only solution to the Cuban problem was an invasion in force into Cuba. Menendez further advised that when Aguero wanted to contact the Santos group he would use the name "Gua l". 4 405-0-16206 ep.4,5 MM 492-S advised that several anti-Castro Cubans possibly planned to attend a Summit Meeting of Western Hemisphere | Heads of State, April 12-14, 1967, at Punta Del Este,. Uruguay (105-163325), in order to request a Cuban Government in Exile be recognized. Luis Conte (u) (continued) Docld: 3230492753 Page 10
a —~ SECRET Aguero of the Sentinels, anti-Castro organization in Miami, was in South America attempting to gain support for a Cuban Government in Bette da 105=163325-28 ep.4 MM S47-S advised that on[ 10/25 767} Dr. Antonio De Varona, formerly a member of the Cuban Revolutionary Council which staged the unsuccessful invasion at Playo Giron in 1961 but which had been dissolved for several years, arrived in Miami from New York. Varona was met by Andres Nazario, Secretary General of the Second National Front of Escambray (SNFE) (105-112098), Apmando Fleites Diaz, Luis Conte Aguero and other Cuban exile leaders. (u) This serial indicated that Fleites was the military leader of ONFE. (uw) | alae ep.l On 11/9/67, Vicente Wilfredo Duarte Quinones (105-166095) advised that the Resistencia Agramonte, an organization in Havana, Cuba, and "Ana", a "war name" for a woman named Reina treet name unknown) who was the leader of an organization in Havana (not further identifted), were awaiting the order from Dr. Conte Aguero, a radio broadcaster from Miami. Aguero was supposed to signal through his broadcast when the actual attack against Castro had begun, and Quinones did not know the signal or word to be given other than that Aguero was to furnish the word on his broadcast which was also heard in Cuba. (u a pel3;ep.5 The 1/25/68 issue of the "Miami Herald". contained an article entitled 'Bost Office Officials threatened". The article revealed that a Cuban exile group called Cuban Power (105-176790) had threatened US postal authorities with a bomb unless they stop processing mail and medicine packages to Cuba. Three exile figures, including Luis Conte Aguero, who was active in anti-Castro matters, were warned that "they would get what they deserve at the right time". (No further details.) (U) 05~=176790-7 ep.10 OR (continued) a Co ee ee Docld: 3230492753 Page il
(continued) . RET INFORMATION, DATE AND SOURCE SEC REFERENCE & SEARCH ' SLIP PAGE NUMBER was held as a move to strengthen 7 | the Imbert group politically. ("The New York Times”, 8/30/65) (ur) trip from Miami on 8/28/65, to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and his return to Miami on 8/31/65. Included were his associations, contacts, and _ participation at a demonstration in connection with Dominican political crisis. (PSI Angel Yergo) (4) The campaign for the 3/5/67 election Spay p.2 3 This reference pertains to Aguero's Seay pe23sep.1,2,5 of a new El Salvador President and Vice-president officially ended on 3/1/67. A three-day respite before election day during which election= eering was prohibited was designed to cool slightly the passtons aroused by the heat of the campaign. During this period, Aguero made a speech which attacked communism in Cuba, (Department of State) & This reference concerns the 3/5/67 Se p.2- Presidential Election campaign in El Salvador. In connection with this campaign, Aguero was brought in to talk on themes of Cuban and Central American patriotism. | (Department of State) _“ Luis Raul Betances,Dominican citizen Q9-12-211-12798 p.2 who was formerly Administrative. (IQ, Director of the Organization of American States, was known to be a friend of many leading Cuban exiles, including Aguero. Through these friendships Betances had become champion of. Cuban exiie tacas. (H(t) [fom 12/5/67] (continued) Docld: 323049253 Page 12
Ny (continued) | SECRET whether they are identical with the subject of this summary.' ew EN be REFERENCE a SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 64-330-210-924 Ye eem « WY 64.-330-211-1569 Obs igs Ye -1858 (s) nee BQ) | 64-330-213-325 | - TQ) | 64-330-228-799 (28) The following reference on Luis Conte Aguero contains information of an administrative nature and has not been included. REFERENCE SS | SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 64-44.61-975 p.9 | SQ The following references on Luis Conte Aguero and Luis Conte were not available during the time this summary was being prepared. REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER, 64-200 -210-2450 ~~ 105-176105-5 | NO 109-584-3387 eN See the search slip filed behind file for other references on this subject which contain the same information (SI) that is set out in the main file. Although the information is the same it may have been received from different sources. -34- Ne ~ ~ _ wont _— a - _ _ ee ee — — a we eee Docld: 3230492753 Page 153