JFK Assassination System Date: 6/5/2015 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124+10291-10267 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER: —97-4546-23 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: DIRECTOR, FBI TO: - TITLE: DATE: 03/27/1964 PAGES: 68 SUBJECTS : MR, CORRELATION SUMMARY, SEE REFERENCES, AKA, BKG, EMP, ASSOC, AFFIL, CUBAN EXILE GROUPS, ACA, TESUR DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: ‘Secret RESTRICTIONS: — 1B; 1C; 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: — 06/11/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : v9.1 33 HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 1
On 5/26/59,/WF 1133-S* \learned that Cuban Economic Attache Cs J Gonzalo de la Pezuela-and Roberto Acosta, Vice President in charge of the Cuban National Commission for Development, had received instructions from Cuba to immediately make arrangements at the Export Import Bank, Washington, D. C., for a loan of "several million doliars" for Cuba. . The money was to be used for the purchase of unidentified equipment for Cuba. According to the source, the request for this loan had the approval of several Cuban officials, - including Manuel Ray. /xX . bassy of Cuba, Washington, D. C., is the subject of \ Em 62-60269.()(L4 : | OU Lig-s0rs0-1951@0° On 7/15/60, Angel Sebastian Ros Escala advised that he came to the US on 5/19/60, He stated that he had worked for the July 26 Movement in the underground in Havana until November or December, 1958, when he went into the Sierra Maestra Mountains of Cuba. He remained there until Batista collapsed. While in Havana, he worked with Manolo Ray, an action group leader. -/} Ros continued that around March, 1959, he and several others organized the Movimiento De Recuperacion Revolucionario (MRR) (97-4133) as an underground anti-Castro organization. He indicated that he became general coordinator of the MRR and that his work consisted of organizing, recruiting and planning to fight against Castro. He related that he also worked for three or four months (dates not given) for Manolo Ray, the anticommunist head of the public works, When Ray was arrested around November, 1959, Ros resigned his position in the same department. ‘Ray was succeeded by Osmani ‘Cienfuegos. .;. 97-4133-20 (21) An ONI, Havana, report dated 11/2/59 revealed that Huber Matos (105-820863 had decided to remain in Camaguey rather than. flee to the States inasmuch as he might be able to do more in ridding the Revolutionary Group of communism. Source stated that Matos' awareness of the communistic influence in the Government was alerted by Manol Ray, Minister of Public Works. Source further stated that Ray eu) REVIEWED BY SRYVJFK TASK FORCE (continued on next page) ON 6-13-97 Dn38 fee’ 1 RELEASE IN PART SECRET 1 TOTAL DENIAL Sage er HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 2 . a ees
SECRET! (continued) It was noted in this telegram that "Diego", as a leader in the Havana underground during the Batista period, might have been close to Ray and might actually be working for him at present. Further, OA reports to the Embassy on "Diego" could be a move to ostracize him. KD (jj) DEClass pee famy [7 DID. [p- GA Fi 97] ; 6d | ltsiZ “Be 4) n 10/17/60, WF 1161s advized that lange Fred ’ orner LY 4) in Cuban Minister, of Public Works, was a member of the underground Cuba. On 12/20/60, this informant advised that Ray was head of the underground in Cuba.]| State Department files failed to indicate whether Manolo Ray Was identical to Manuel Ray. 5 @ 105-92195-6 p. B,1,3 (6) SI par 3 105-92195-5 p. 11 (23) t either joined or exhi est in joining the anti-Castro organization called the Resistencia Civica (97-4481). Among these was Raul Chibas, former head of the Cuban Railroads who was believed by the informant to be currently residing in NYC. On 10/17/60fur firsits amed several individuals who had (%) (u) ! itet inte \ i This informant advised that Chibas was in contact with the Rebel underground in Cuba, particularly with Manuel Ray. Informant continued that through the association of Chibas and Ray, the Resistencia Civica in the US was apprised of the current political and economic Situation in Cuba and of the continuing unrest of the Cuban peoplec xy 97-4481-1 p. 2 | OY | On 10/18/60, CSNY 2822-S advised that troops being trained by the FRD (105-879123 had nearly completed their training and would be ready to invade Cuba My 11/1/60. No action would be taken until after US elections on 11/8/60 to avoid the matter becoming an election ~ issue; however, it would be launched before the new President took 2 office.in order that there would be no criticism against the new eresteen KY) | J (continued on next page) << CRET t -8-~"~ HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 3
(continued) . The above source and the contingent that he accompanied to the US planned to side with the MRP faction since they appeared to have received some sort of US aid and sanction in théir joint efforts. It was their plan to contact Ray personally upon their release from the detention facility at McAllen in an effort to consolidate all such opposition groups in a united front to combat Castro. 4 ry 105-94715-7 p. 8,14 peeclars po -94715-7 p. 8, : f . SOE", 4 -/ On 3/20/61, PSI Ana Rosa Guerra Santana, a Cuban national (jr) residing in Miami and having close contacts with anti-Castro organi zations, (protect identity) advised that Hector Garcia Soto had indicated around February, 1961, that he was secretly anti-Castro and was working for Manolo Ray in the MRP. Garcia stated that he still believed in the governmental reforms Castro put into effect and believed in Castro's system of government but did not agree with communism and the influence it had in the Cuban Government. 7%) vy) 105-80787-376 pr8,10 (23) -P On 2/2/61, Spencer Meredith, Apt. 17, Vanta Courts, S. W. 12th Ave. and 20th St., Miami, advised that Rufo Lopez Fresquet, who was the husband of Anita Whitney (105-97525) and who recently defected from the Castro regime, was closely associated with Manolo Rey and Raul Chibas of the MRP. ©» } 105-97525-1 (45) On 2/6/61, Rufo Lopez Fresquet (64-44765), 2118 12th Ave. .- West, Bradenton, Fla., former President-of the Cuban National Bank, advised that the MRP did not have an organization in the US but that there were several members of the organization in the US and Puerto Rico in exile. Among those he named was Manuel Ray (or Rey), Miami, Fla., phone TU 8-0978,. ;-, _ 64-44765~17 (2445)7 645 HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 4
t* SECRE ET By letter dated 3/16/61 at Miami, Howard Davis, 450 S. 4th St., Miami, MM 639-S, (134-6356) advised President John F. Kennedy | of the current Cuban situation. Concerning Manuel Ray, he stated that __.. | during meetings the previous week in_NY and Washington, Ray actively BE. participated in the future destiny of Cuba. He also stated tmt Ray was an avowed enemy of the US and that he had heard Ray discussing his program with other Cubans. Ray advocated that properties confiscated from American citizens and corporations were not to be returned to their rightful owners; that no independence be given to the judicial power; that special Revolutionary Tribunals be kept functioning; and that Cuba honor Castro's commercial, cultural and political treaties with Russia; Red China and fl satellites in order to block American influence in the’ Republic. At) ; : Informant called attention to the fact that while the youth of Cuba fought. against the brutal tyranny of international communism, Cuban "leaders" such as Ray and others in the US were egoistically campaigning for the Presidency, the several Ministries and bureaucratic positions, publicly claiming that they had the \ support of American officials and, by inference, of the US Government bove letter set outfit) (4) oe | 134-6356-42. (19) Roberto Vale Ares, 530 Southeast First St., Hialeah, Fla., advised that he arrived in the US from Cuba on 3/18/61. He indicated that during the period of his employment by the Banco Finaciero, Havana, Cuba, from 1959 to March, 1961, he began working in the underground against Castro with the MRP and became acquainted with the organization's leaders, Antonio Veciana and Manuel Rey. He related that upon his arrival in the US, he dropped out of the MRP but later became a member of Comandos L (105-117222) in Miami.” . 105-117222-71 p. 75 - | | (46)/% On 3/30/61, Roberto Fabian Armand Borrego, Miami, advised that he fled from Cuba recently because he was wanted by the Cuban Government for involvement in counterrevolutionary activities. He : stated that. the MRP formerly was the most significant counterrevolutionary ‘ organization in Cuba, but support of it and Manuel Ray had declined drastically since Ray fled to the US. ::: 105-95461-9 p. 2 (la ~ SECRET HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 5
SECRET ae On 3/30/61, Roberto Fabian Armand Borrego, Miami ,. Fla., advised that he was a member of the committee in exile of the 30th of November Movement (105-92196). He stated that this committee had been meeting frequently with Jose Miro Cardona, the president of the RC which had been formed recently through the union of the FRD of Manuel Antonio De Varona and the MRP headed by Manuel Ray... He continued that the committee was leaving momentarily for NYC for additional conferences with Cardona and members of the RC. %; } 105-92196-2 p. 5 (6) _ Evelio Duque Rodriquez, 627 9th Ave., NYC, advised that shortly after his arrival in NYC on 3/12/61 from Cuba, he joined the ‘MRP which was headed by Manuel Ray. He exhibited his membership ao card which had been issued in NY on 3/31/61. He indicated that he ef stopped attending MRP meetings in NY after about three or four function? because he had some misgivings about the political ideology of this organization, particularly of Manuel Ray.’.;; | f { | 105-117538-11 p. 1,2 . eral , | | { NY 2865-S furnished a statement forwarded to him by Dr. Guillermo Alonso Pujol, a Vice President of Cuba from 1948 to 1952. Informant stated that the background given by Dr. Pujol was an answer to Cuban exiles who were critical of his trip to Havana, Cuba, to visit his son and other prisoners captured during the ill-fated Cuban invasion of 4/17/61. Lx Y ) Under the caption. "Conference For Good Purpose," Dr. Pujol mentioned that upon Dr. Miro Cardona's return to NY from.the invasion, he and his entire Council , except Manuel Ray, met with a group of parents, including Pujol. @) 1 ) 105-99200-96 p. 4 (11) /% On 2/7/62, Angel Orlando Berisiartu y Palop, a Cuban exile in Miami, advised that he had been a member of the July 26 Revolutionary Movement under Fidel Castro. He claimed that he had been in frequent ; contact and association with Camilo Cienfuegos (105-54536), Chief of the Cuban Revolutionary Army, until the time of his disappearance... , (continued on next page) HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 6
hen {> N : Con 1. . . ° . ; “SECRET = (continued) Additional liaison contacts included Castellanos; Juan Adler De La FOC) Ray's MRP; and Dr. Maria Luisa Bonafonte, | friend of Ray's.) u) Among the intividuals listed by the Miami Office who were known to that office and who might return to Cuba and occupy positions of authority was Armando Lora, who, it was stated, might be at least an assistant to Ray -(%) uU) (ayaa , A CIA report dated 4/5/61 indicated that, its source had heard from one of his Cuban friends that the MRP was becoming less effective inside Cuba, particularly since Manuel Ray had been in the US. This. friend, who was familiar with MRP personalities and problems, stated that in his opinion the MRP was degenerating into a pressure group in the US and was becoming a head in the US without a body in Cuba. R24) 97-4524-5 (3) On 4/6/61, Eloy De Castroverde Y Covani (134-9281) was interviewed but it was determined that he had no recent information concerning Cuba or Cuban activities of any intelligence value. ~,. = It was noted that he was a former business partner of Manuel Ray Rivero when the Hotel Havana Hilton was being built (date not given) He regarded Ray as honest but, if not a communist, at least a very radical leftist. 11) . 134-9281-7" (19437) . Jose M. Cabézon, president of the delegation in Spain of the FRD, furnished a copy of a report dated 4/11/61 concerning Jose Pardo Llada (100420896). This report was made available to Cabezon by Agustin Parradas Sicilia who interviewed Pardo under pretext as a newspaperman. A translation from Spanish of the report indicated - that prior to his departure from Cuba, he informed friends within and outside of Cuba of his decision to abandon the country and break with Castro. When asked if he had relations with the political sectors in exile, Pardo.stated that personally he maintained cordial relations with Manuel Ray and other exile leaders but politically, none. 100-420896-12 p. 4 (317 [ SECRED. -19- HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 7? i
SECRET | | An ONI report dated 4/17/61 revealed that during an interview with Jerry DeBerly (134-10158) in Miami, he indicated that he was not favorably impressed with most of the members of the recently established Provisional Council. He declared that Manolo Ray was unquestionably a communist for he had been too close to Fidel, Raoul and Chex to be otherwise. He also suspected Miro Cardona. According to De Berly, those people who were backed by former Ambassador Bonsal were a "frustrated lot" who formerly aspired to power in Cuba and who currently comprised not a fifth column but a sixth column. n- (X) Lt) 134-10158-3 (29) *Fidel and Raoul Castro; Che Guevara - On 4/25/61, Dr. Pedro De Valerga, a Cuban businessman who traveled between Cuba and the US (protect identity), advised that Manuel Ray should not be included as part of a Cuban Government because he was a Socialist in his thinking and policy. He stated that Ray obviously had convinced someone in authority that he had a much larger following in the underground than he actually had... ° Rasy On 4/26/61, Horacio Aguirre, Vice President and Director of the "Diario Las Americas, "a Miami daily Spanish language newspaper, advised that he had recently received for publication in that newspaper an article from Aureliano Sanchez Arango, who was actively involved i counterrevolutionary matters against Fidel Castro. This article was highly critical of the RC of which Manuel Ray was a member. Aguirre refused to publish the article inasmuch as he felt it would serve no useful purpose as far as the US Government or counterrevolutionary efforts were concerned. -'? . 64-45716-225 p. 2 (2 P Zs ae D BY saeJEK TASK FORCE = adel ; ae NELEASE iN FULL J TOTAL DENIAL HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 8
(109-12-210) SECRET (continued) INFORMATION Herbert Matthews of "New York Times" stated that the "young crowd" considered Ray a moderate who did his best to apply orthodox theories, methods and practice o a dynamicall NY 2494-S#))(6 Raul Chibas and Ray allies in anti-Castro movement. Ray replaced by Osmani Cienfuegos as cabinet member under Castro. Ray had been attempting to leave Cuba clandestinely and ask asylum in US. Ray may have recently taken asylum in an embassy in Havana. Data concerning movement would possibly be available when Chibas and Ray arrived in US. (Orlando Alvarez Barquin, Vice President, Cubana Airlines, 7/23/60),;. ; . Same information as above. Same information as above according to State Department. (W) Ray's MRP gaining in strength and effectiveness. Because of prestige he enjoyed as revolutionary leader during Batista period and as competent administrator while in Ministry of Public Works, he could serve as rallying point for diffuse opposition forces in Cuba. As of 9/22/60, Victor Paneque Batista, Major in Rebel Army in Cuba,had joined Ray in Fla. (State Departnent) (U1) revolutionary situation.... SERIAL AND SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 1005 p. 2 (14)~ 2050 pe 1-3,6 (15) 2073 - (1s) 1022 p. 2 (14) 2311 p. 2 (27) (State Department, September, 1960 Vg) @) 2312 (37) (continued on next page) , NW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 56