(404-10179-10153 RETURN iO CIA Background Use Only — _. ~ Do Not Reproduca eran td wed a 12 February 1964 MEMORANDUM FOR'THE RECORD SUBJECT: Meeting with AMBANG/I 1. I saw AMBANG/1] on 1 and 2 February 1964 and later called him by telephone in San Juan, Puerto Rico on § February. The main items of interest from this meeting follow: A. Loss of Cache - AMBANG/1 voluntarily raised the subject’ of the Toss of the cache of material on the island of Caja de los Muertes. The loss arose from a failure to cache these mat@rials on an island south of Cuba in the area of Camaguey Province. - The JURE controlled ship, the M/V VENUS, sailed from Puerto Limon during the month of January with the intent of caching these materials, including some 200 lbs. of the C-4 which had been made available to A/l. On reaching the cache area. the ship was survellled by @ small, commercial- type aircraft, resulting in a decision on the part of , the VENUS Captain to proceed to Puerto-Rico rather than risk the Joss of the matorials to the Cubans. A/1 stated that he interviewed each member of the crew separately and each told essentially the same story. Upon arriving in the area of Ponce, Puerto Rico, a cache was made on the island previously mentioned with the intent of retrieving the materials in about three days after tho ship was refueled and certain repair work done. The location of the cache on Caja de los Muertos, which is normally inhabited only by turtles, but unfortunately, a Puerto Rican searching for turtle eggs epotted the disturbed sand covering the cache, and eventually the cache, which he reported to Puerto Rican authorities. According to A/l the materials recovored are believed to be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, now in the hands of the Puerto Rican police. A/i has talked to Governor Munoz Marin‘s bright, young, right-hand man, Polanco ABREU, Speaker of the House, who will do what he ~ can to return the materials to A/l. It is A/l's opinion that he stands a 50/30 chance of retrieving the materials, It ia A/i'‘s. opinion that the JURE had not been implicated in the cache and that the crow of the VENUS have kept | appropriately silent. oo - 1, «es
14-00000 informed me a ae ad purchased a — Cres Pa “4 ‘° . 8 - 8 oe Que B. JURE Purchase of One Ton of Pentolite = Afi ? j on of Pentolite, a high explosive, which ig not as desirable for use as C-3 or Ce4: but nevertheless, a good material for them. My first reaction was to ask where A/1 had this material. I reconsidered this request, stating that I hoped it was well hidden. A/1 assured me thet it was. I gathered from my conversation with A/l that this material was not in place in Costa Rica, ' in view of WAVE's report via AUTAUP/2, specifically in WAVE 1463 (IN 11718), Para, 4, "Alanis said large - Sum money has been spent in Purchase modern C~3 explosives and some C-4 which was in CISNEROS' home there subsequent from Costa Rica," I discussed this matter of explosives with ©OS, WAVE. This discussion was predicated actually on my telephonic discussions on this same subject with C/SAS. On the basis of this background, on 5 February 1964, I called A/1 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Based on a.carefully prepared iine which Shackley and I had agreed on, I told A/] that he had better move all such material immediately out of the United States, including Puerto Rico. In speaking of Puerto Rico, I advised A/1 that despite. . his influential friends, he was bound to get into trouble if he did not get out of that area and move his operations to Costa Rica without further delay. I also warned A/1 that the setting up of communications, that is, a radio station in Miami, would almost. certainly get him into trouble with United States authorities and result in the confiscation of his ‘ equipment, A/1 wag obviously unsettlod by my atatements and asked me if I could not intervene with appropriate authorities for time to move the materials, I told him that I could not so Antervene as each arm of the Government had its role to play and ite duties to fulfill and these could not. be. influenced. A/1l stated that he would move ag fast as humanly possible to take the materials out, , C. JURE Plans ~ According to AMBANG/1, ho plans the infiltration of two teams into Cuba within the next gix weeks. The first team, of from two to four individuals, was projected within the next two weeks as of this date, This team is to infiltrate in Las Villas Province and will head for the area of the city of. Santa Clara. The second team, approximately four weeks lator, will be infiltrated into Oriente Province. Each team will carry ® supply of weapons and high explosives and communications re H 1 4 \s a mm 8 « coe
14-00000 ob equipmont. — ~3a They will also carry the first 20 of 60— radio receivers and one transaitter, It is intended thet the remaining 40 receivers and one additional transmitter will be infiltrated later. The equipment ‘is to be used in sabotage ops in Oriente, Las Villas, and eventually Havam Provinces. According to A/l, the ) first two teams infiltrated will not be met by JURE ‘personnel on the inside of Cuba; but will proceed on their own to establish their contacts once inside. D. JURE Strength Inside Cuba - J asked A/1 if it were true that Your menbers of the executive council of the JURE were actually inside Cuba. He stated that of the nine principal officers of the JURE, four are inside Cuba and five are outside. It should be noted here that ‘we have information to the cffect that the executive council of the JURE is.so divided and located. A/1 indicated to me that the JURE hes th who is prescnotl Oo . In addition A/1l e contact with his former stated that he has LEkewlie Ab an individual whom he id not identify; but who, according to him, still maintains an important position,in the Cuban government. A/1 advised me that had indicated his continuing sympathy and apparent willingness to participate in a program of resistance to Castro, A/l informed ne of these developments inside Cuba in a matter of fact way. KE, The ELC Joins the JURE ~ A/l gave me a copy of the ELC statement joining the JURE. The ELC, according to A/1l, is now dissolved and becomes a part of the JURE. This accord, reached on the 17th of January 1964, brings into the JURE the best former rebel army officers in exile and should give the JURE a military background and support second to none in the exile community. A/1 advised me that the ELC did not bring any great sum of money into the JURE, but it did bring a. certain number: of arme and equipment. F. A New Drive for Funds - A/l gave me a bond, number 3 >» wale S presently being used in a campaign to raiso additional funds by the JURE. For $92 the donor receives one of these bonds with the understanding that the JURE will perchase a rifle and ammunition to be used in the fight for the liberation of Cuba... A/1 stated that this campaign has been inordinately successful and that they are expecting to raise a sum between $40,000 and $70, 000.
14-00000 ATR AYR ohn G. Other Preparations Being Made by the JURE ~- A/1 showed me a chart hich was In essence a work schedule, wohich is & guide Lines ior the preparation of their communication facilities to be used between Latin America, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.A, This chart also included the development and preparation of all the electrical gear to be infiltrated into Cuba. The chart was an orderly presentation of the work to be done, the tine ‘in which to do it, the cost involved, the equipment needed, and man hours required to finish the job on time. The time span of the chart covered December 1963 through March 1964, causing me to believe that, 4f it were achered to, the JURE should be in reasonably good shape go far as its electrical explosive plans in geperal , are concerned, ‘+ #. AMBANG/1's Considering Acrial Re-Supply - A/1 had many questions at this Uime regarding the Feasibility of eventually using an aircraft to re-supply his efforts in Cuba. He wondered about radar effects and potential on low flying aircraft. I mentioned to hia that there - were various fine commercial type aircraft which had unusual potential for clandestine operatiors, but that I knew of mone that had the capacity for a round-trip from points as far away as Puorto Rica and Venezuela to Cuba. A/l advised me that he had the pilots necessary - to engage in such missions and that he was most interested in considering this capability; not only because of the purpose it could serve in re-supply, but also in the psychological effect that such operational independence would give their movement. I. A/1 Asks for Whatever Guidance is Possibje on nterest Cuban Radar Capability -"A/T indicated a great Intore: n receiving any Information we can make available regarding radar capability along the Cuban coasts. I. advised him that I would attempt to provide this information but that I could not be sure that we knew the location of every radar site available on the Cuban coasts. J. Documentation for A/l‘s Return to Cuba ~ I took with me to 6, meeting four documents prepared by TSD for A/1 in order that he might sign these before returning . them for TSD authentication and aging. A/1 was most Pleased with this material and agreed to furnish additional photographs in different poses and clothing in order that final documontation be made. K. Heply to Questions Raised Regarding High Explosives and Electrical Equipment ~ I reviewed with A/1l detailed . repliés by o questTons raised by A/l regarding the ___ erry fone ‘23 tev ei, ae, tp te BS. s