is ( ‘aan 4 i s “ “ \ SECHKET (continued) \ Ray also advised that Rogelio Cisneros, who was the chief of clandestine activity of the MRP in Cuba and who was currently in Miami, would be able to furnish additional information concerning Murillo. i. 105-95804-7 p. 2 (11) On 5/2/61, Dr. Ruben De Leon Garcia, Miami, Coordinator of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba in Exile (2-1707) furnished a report in Spanish which set forth four separate groups of exiled Cuban military personnel. Comprising one group were officers who : wished to keep the rank as leaders but who considered themselves as separate from the other groups. Among those listed in this group was Colonel Ramon Barquin Lopez and Lieutenant Colonels Manuel Varela Castro and Jose E. Monteagudo Fleitas. All were involved politically with Manuel Ray, head of the MRP, which was considered a left-wing anti- Castro organization by Dr. De Leon./:,, Translation of report set out 2-1707-3 p. 12 al On 5/4/61, Emilio Guede Fernandez (105- 94082), 1220 W. 60th Terrace, Hialeah, Fla., advised that he departed from Havana, Cuba, on 8/31/60 for Madrid, Spain, where he remained until 12/18/60. He indicated that prior to leaving Cuba, he had become increasingly sympathetic with the anti-Castro underground movement headed by Manuel Ray. He continued that while in Madrid he communicated with Ray in Miami and expressed a desire to do something to assist the MRP. He Subsequently was invited by Ray to come to Miami as he feit he could use him in connection with anti-Castro propaganda. Guede went to Miami on 12/18/60. ; On 5/9/61, Rigoberto. Castellanos, PSI (protect identity), a Cuban exile who was closely acquainted with Ray and who had knowledge of the activities of persons associated with him, advised that Guede joined the MRP after turning against Fidel CASTEO «| _, According to source, Guede lived a short distance from Ray in Hialeah. Add. info. according to the "Miami News," 3/23/60. 105-94082-5 p. 1,3-5,7 a (8)% moe -22- - SECRET HW 45937 DocId:32307127 Page 9
SECRET: ~ The State Department advised that on 8/22/61, Dr. Carlos Prio Socorras (109-430), former President of Cuba currently living in the US, met with a group of exiles, members of the Association of Cuban Industrialists and Businessmen, in Mexico. During the course of the meeting, Dr. Prio spoke harshly about Dr. Miro Cardona but highly praised Manuel "Tony" Varona and Manolo Ray. He stated that the US was keeping Cardona as head of the CRC because he, unlike the other |. . two, had refrained from criticizing the US over the invasion csasce (0(t) a lass Ek 109-430-2409 PEt ahs DOS pik (28))7 thea led DD }-G-Gy OSE - | | 5-13-49 “) A Newark report dated 8/22/61 revealed that cesrde &. (Jz (105-63729) had told numerous individuals on Long Beach Isiand the ‘following: Damon was a close friend of Manuel Rey, whom he described as the leader of the anti-Castro forces in the US. Rey had made Damon a colonel in- the army that was attempting the overthrow of Castro. Rey was currently in Miami and had commissioned Damon to purchase motors for PT boats. Damon found motors he could obtain for $400. He intended to charge Rey $750 plus $150 transportation charges. Damon stated that he made frequent trips to Cuba from Miami, presumably in PT boats. He would smuggle people out of Cuba for a fee but would not allow them to take anything on board for fear of their concealing a bomb. Damon further stated that he could obtain any type of weapon inthe Miami area presumably from an arms cache belonging to Rey. (Source not clear) 105-63729-14 ps 1,5 (46) 7 , On 8/29/61, Carlos Francisco Arazoza Forcade (134-10688) advised that many people had broken with Fidel Castro who were originally allied with him not because Castro failed them but because they failed Castro. One such individual was Manolo Ray, who was currently Coordinator of the MRP in the US. Arazozo stated that Ray was Minister of Public Works under Castro for a time and that Ray's brother also had a good position in the Castro regime but was caught mishandling funds and was either shot or committed suicide. Ray believed in many things that Castro did, including state ownership of principal industries. Arazoza continued that he, Ray, was organizing a movement in the US against Castro and that Dr. Ricardo la Flor and Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez Fraga, physicians at the Thomason General Hospital in El Paso, were Ray's adherents although they were anti- Castro... 134-10688-1 p. 7 (19429) HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 10 s
\ o™, SECRET (continued) Source continued that reports from Cuba indicated that the people continued to have faith even though they might have withdrawn all their support in the national cadres in exile, including Ray ¢ | 105-104188-6 p. 3,4 (12)/Y Francisco Javier Soler, Cuban political refugee in New Orleans, La., who was until June, 1961, Director of the Quality Standards Section of the Ministry of Commerce in Cuba (protect identity), advised that, to his knowledge, activity among underground groups in Cuba had ceased considerably. He stated that he had no direct information but understood that there was spme strength in either the group headed by Manolo Ray or Tony Varona., ° ,; ; The above information was submitted in a New Orleans airtel dated 1/11/62. (24) CSNY 2822-S advised on 1/15/62, that Jose M. Franco who was in charge of the Sales Department of Azucarera Haina C. por A of the Dominican Republic (DR), had been in NYC since 1/1/62 contacting humerous sugar brokers concerning future sales of Dominican sugar to the US. On 1/15/62, according to source, Franco met with Ode Lamborn, President of Lamborn and Company, 99 Wall St., NYC. Franco stated at that time that the US needed to know the true situation in the DR, that after thirty years of dictatorship, the DR would need a very liberal and left of center government. He indicated that the troubles of the DR were due to "Yankee imperialism." He continued that at present the US had a government which thought along very liberal and leftist lines. Franco then stated that Manuel Ray Rivero had, been sent by the US to assist the reconstruction in the DR. Gf’ U 109-13-211<1263 (16436) HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 11
GQ | C ‘ScCRET! On 7/25/62, Piero Fedeli, who had recently left Cuba, reported that Manuel Ray,. despite his leftist thinking, and Jose Miro Cardona were the most highly respected Cuban exile leaders according to the rebel organizations in Cuba. / 105-95461-115 p. B,4 (11) : , On 8/3/62, Gerardo Gabriel Antonio Hernandez Perez (105-113456), Miami, advised that he and many other Cubans had a very poor opinion of several Cuban exile leaders, including Manuel Ray Rivero, because they were once with the Castro regime and probably would have stayed if there had been sufficient opportunity for them to advance politically and financially. Hernandez classified Ray as probably the most ambitious of any and as anti-American as any of the exiled leaders. ::\ 105-113456-1 p. 7 (34))~ Noel Gonzalez Mantici (105-116815), a Cuban alien in Miami, considered himself a close friend of Manuel Ray, who was formerly a member of the anti-Castro CRC in Miami. (Source not clear, probably MM 776-S, $121 EY ) (14)/% A CIA report dated 8/22/62 indicated that Manuel Ray, former - MRP leader, was seeking a combined command of all five resistance groups in Cuba and a pooling of funds ,fygm the CRC to give greater strength to the resistance movement. u) tim ite Gp) ReMrans | CLASS: HOR . 105-95. 61-125 i2}3 Te. - (11)“ epee o(#2u 326) zlelay On 8/27/62,. Fred W. Stewart, President, International Harvester Company, San Juan, advised that Jose Miguel Alonso Mendez (105-111831) was in San Juan working in the anti-Castro movement of Manolo Ray.» 105-111831-8 p. 3 Gos 111831-5 (25) 47 HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 12
rt . © SECRET On 10/10/62, Jorge Estiva was interviewed at 1878 W. Flagler St., Miami, which address had been the hdqrs. of the Movimiento Recuperacion Revolucionaria Cubano (Cuban Revolutionary Recovery Movement) (MRRC) (105-108646). Estiva advised that the MRRC had been dissolved in mid-September, 1962, and that most of the members had been absorbed by the recently formed JURE, which took over the above hdqrs. Source stated that JURE was organized in Puerto Rico by the well-known anti-Castro Cuban, Manuel Ray, and included members from five different anti-Castro groups,:,. 105-108646-15 (12) ~ OTHER 4 On 10/11/62, pst[ __| (protect identity) advised that he had known Gonzalo Dean Suarez (105-114953) personally for a number of years, both in Cuba and since his arrival in Puerto Rico. He, according to source, favored Fidel Castro at one time but was currently regarded as being very anti-Castro and pro-American. At one time, he was considered to be a follower of Manolo Ray, a Cuban exile residing in Puerto Rico and presently employed by the Puerto Rican Planning Board, but was not known to currently favor Ray /¥/ 105-114953-2 p. 2 (27)L~ » On 10/16/62, Alberto Gutierrez De La Solana, NY, advised that he was associated with a new anti-Castro organization known as "Alpha 66" (105-112098). He related that there had been many rumors that Engineer Manuel Ray was one of the leaders of that group but that he had thoroughly checked this rumor and found it to be untrue. ; He indicated that if Ray had been connected with the organization in | any way, he would have immediately severed his relationship..§;,, i Lo, gare Carmen T. Torres, personnel officer, Corporacion de Renovacion Urbana y Vivienda (CRUV), 405 Ponce de Leon Ave., Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, advised that Gonzalo Julio Dean Suarez (105-114953) began working there on 11/1/62. At that time he listed as an employment reference Manolo Ray, Puerto Rican Planning Board, Santurce, Puerto Rico. 105-114953-5 p: 1 (29) HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 13
/ SECRET «UY A CIA report dated 1/23/63 revealed that Angel Miolan, chairman of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD - Dominican Revolutionary Party) had been approached by JURE, headed by Manuel Ray Rivero, to obtain permission from the PRD to establish JURE representation in the Dominican Republic. % u 109-12-21341705 (16 36)“ . By letter dated 2/15/63 at Miami, Robert H. Hoadley (134-9231) offered to assist the Bureau on the Cuban and Latin American situation. He praised the Bureau but mentioned several things he could not under- stand such as, "How can you believe that Mr. Miro Cardona is a real anti-communist? - I can mention others' names as Manuel Ray, Justo Carrillo, Felipe Pazos, etc." He also set out references who could verify his good mental condition. »; ' It was noted that he was formerly contacted as a PSI in Miami but was dropped when his army record, which showed a discharge for psychoneurosis, became known. It was further noted that Hoadley . Should be contacted but that he should not be utilized as a source.c 134-9231-8 | (19) A CIA report dated 2/27/63 concerning Jose Julian Perez Vidal (105-63791), who arrived/in Miami from Cuba on 1/18/63 aboard the Red Cross flight, named Manuel Ray Rivero,current head of JURE and a very active leader of the revolution against Castro, among the | With the greater possibilities for overthrowing the Castro regine.Q¢ ) u) GIA WFO S CLASSIFIED WS, Halas Le. 105763791-25 | Scezapeen JDO) Aah, (3433). CIA reported that Manuel Artime (105-85440) had a scheduled appointment on 3/9/63 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with Governor Luis Munoz Marin. He intended to discuss the Cuban situation, the Dominican situation, and Manuel Ray, head of JURE, and hoped to receive some type of anti-Castro support. Artime indicated that it was his under- standing that at present there was a personal rift between Munoz and Ray and that this was an opportune time to make the trip to (y U : LY) 105-85440-10 | )&® HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 14
~~ rT (\ , rc 4 : Ky On 5/31/63, PSI Rafael Valdes (protect identity) stated that there had been a strong rumor among Cuban exiles that Gutierrez Menoyo, the military leader of the Second National Front of Escambray (SNFE) (Operation Alpha 66). (105-112098), was attempting to work out some kind of an agreement with JURE which was headed by Manuel Ray, who was Minister of Public Works in the first cabinet of Prime Minister Fidel Castro in 1959. 7 ) ; PSI Rafael Vaid (protect identity) reported that on 6/4/63 he met with Gutierrez Menoyo in NY at which time he learned | that Gutierrez had been spending much time with JURE members in an effort to reach some type of agreement but that as of 6/4/63, no agreement had been made. According to source, Gutierrez had not personally spoken with "Manolo" Ray when the latter was in NY during the weekend of 6/1/63 but Ray would return to NY on t weekend of 6/8/63 and he, Gutierrez, might meet with him then./; iG ? . 105-1%2098-297 p. 3 (13y36)7 P ; Rafael Valdes, PSI under development (protect identity) advised that on 6/14/63 he conversed with Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo during which time he learned that there had been no union of the Second ~ National Front of Escambray (SNFE) - Alpha 66 (105-112098) with JURE. Gutierrez stated that there were many difficulties to overcome before any union could be made with JURE, which was headed by Manuel "Manolo" Ray. Informant related that Gutierrez spoke very.bitterly concerning Ray and stated that Ray wantedsonly to get all anti-Castro organizations under the control of AC It was noted that Gut rrez was the Military Chief of SNFE. y 105-3112098-315 p. 1a,3,4 (1372617 on On 6/14/63, Manuel Artime Buesa, 6151 Southwest 16th Terrace, Miami, Fla., advised that he was formerly a doctor and Rebel Army officer in Cuba and was currently head of the Movimiento Recuperacion Revolucionario (MRR) (97-4133). He related that recently he had been conferring with several anti-Castro organizations in regard to forming a coordination of military efforts against Cuba. He stated that he refused to meet with such left-wing organizations as those of Manuel Ray and Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo whom he considered extremists and demagogues.;/° 97-4133-63 p. -2 (2)7 ° Cn HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 15 44-0 SECRET /
' SECRET” | | (continued) (105-117222) INFORMATION SERIAL AND SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER - Ray presided over MRP meeting at home of 2713 p. 11,12 Felipe Pazos, Cuban nationa, in Rio (16) Piedras, Puerto Rico; explained MRP's purpose. (Juan Agiular, protect identity, 1/4/61) “2. ; Ray reportedly slipped in and out of Cuba directing underground there. MRP respected by Cuban exiles in US. Rufo Lopez Fresquet, former Minister of Finance, and Ricardo Lorie, former Cuban Ambassador, closely associated with MRP. , leadership. (MM 639-S, January, 1961) GX) Ray was member of Castro's organization in anoerg: oune in Havana, Cuba, during 1957-1958; well experienced in sabotage and underground activities. (Hugo Gonzalez Lajonchere, working with FRD underground, 1/6/61) U) Third in series of artic entitled, Sub A, "NY Daily News" "Countdown for Castro," by Joseph Martin (18) 1/10/61 and Phil Santora discussed anti-Castro \ movements and dedicated cold-blooded opportunists thirsting for power. Article set out brief biographical sketch of Ray; his desire for "Fidelism without Fidel;" the names of his allies; his possible leftist leanings; his acceptance ' by the US Government; and his dispassionate reference to his brother. ~ Ray was head of MRP. (Investigator Document enclosed Mitchell Solomon, INS, .Philadeiphia, 2693 encl. p. 3 furnished document entitied "Cuban (16) Counter-Revolutionary Organizations." (Date of mail 1/23/61) [» Fe INS ast, Se/e Majority of most important front groups 2748 such as MRP headed by Ray led either by (45) known communists or purely political . . opportunists. Ray, known communist, . | openly declared that only thing wrong ae (continued on next page), -46- SECRET - HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 16
(continued) (105-117222) INFORMATION the thoughtthat Ray was a communist or wanted to retain communist order of government in Cuba but while Ray was leftist other MRP Executive Committee members were rightists; Ray leading Executive Committee member. (Armando Lora, Miami, Fla. 3/14/61)°°:' Former Minister of Public Works in Cuba; currently MRP leader; set forth his policies for the next Cuban Government. | (Interview of Manuel Ray Rivero, 3/28/61) In early April, 1961. invasion of Cuba expected; Miro Cardona, Provisional President of Cuba, visited anti-Castro camp in Guatemala with CIA officials; Ray ordered underground in Cuba to assist which might land in Cuba. (WF (1161}s ~ mr \ \ od SERIAL AND SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 2773 (28). and cooperate with any invasion force OR(y) received information from Ernes Betancourt, MRP member, who reportedly received information from Ray) (%) Ernesto Betancourt of MRP in Washington, IC, in. almost nightly telephonic contact with Ray prior_to April, 1961 Cuban invasion. (WF 118058) (®) U) All Cuban exiles for unity against Castro but unity being prevented by leaders-of various factions, including Ray. [G@eniro Loys, confidential source (prot identity}. Cir not given) ) | Since failure of invastdén on 4/17/61, - Ray planned to leave FRD as MRP blamed FRD for the failure. (Armando Lora, Miami, Fla., member of MRP Executive Board, 5/31/61) +, Ray addressed student group at Harvard University on 5/3/61 recommending continuance of revolution against Castro and was well received. (Gustavo De Aragon, former Cuban Consul at Boston, Mass., | Cuban Consulate) —— 2960 (28) 2885 (17) 2847 Y (17)V” \/ (continued on next page) ‘SECRET HW 45937 DocIdad:32307127 Page 17