li. The whole plot against Fidel CASTRO could be discovered by the Cuban security serv.ce because of the many individuais who are aware of it and because some of them are irresponsible - Particular ly.disconcerting to Carlos is a report which he received on 23 June that-"E1 Loco" BLANCO now is being questioned by the Cuban security service. Carlos learned this through a telephone call made by DE LEON. DE LEON said that the mother of “El Loco",. who resides in Miami, had just received a letter. from her sister in Havaria with the foregoing news. The letter said that "El Loco" is not in jail and has been able to visit relatives but that he must.appear for questioning ‘throughout the day and is not allowed to sleep at home. (Carlos suggests that the Agency endeavor through its contacts in Miami to get a copy of the letter and to warn the mother of "E] Loco” that she should not talk to anyone about it.) E. Miscellaneous comments of Carlos concerning people involved in the CUB plot a PLO 12. (In addition to the comments which already have been reflected in previous paragraphs, Carlos made others which are reflected here.) “El Mago” ROBREXO is a thoroughly irresponsible man whom Ramiro VALDEZ, Minister of Interior, forced to leave Cuba because ROBRENO had caused so much trouble for the Cuban authorities. ROBRENO is a drunkard and woman chaser who wants to live an easy life but who is not willing to work and never has worked throughout his life. Despite these admitted defects, ROBRENO admires and is loyal to Rolando CUBELAS. CUBELAS con- siders that ROBRENO, insofar as their own relations are concerned, will do anything which he is told. Rolando told Carlos that he could trust ROBRENO insofar as the plot is concerned but that Carlos should not give any mGney to ROBRENO because money would merely facilitate ROBRENO's getting into more trouble. Last week, about 17 June so far as Carlos can recall], ROBRENO te lcphoned collect from Madrid and asked Carlos for funds. The conversation was brief and 1t was difficult for Carlos to understand because of noise and interruptions during the call. . It appeared that the primary reason for the call was Simply to ask for money. ROBREXO said that he was penniless. He: alse said that everything appeared to be fine and asked if Carlos had any news. Carlos Said that he had nothing to report and that he himself did not have any cash available but that he would probably make a trip to Spain in about a week and would talk to ROBRENO then. In fact, Carlos has no intention of g0ing to Spain in the near future and told ROBRENO the foregoing merely to get rid of him.
SUCRET -6- “awe 13. “El Loco” BLANCO is a Strange person who well deserves the nickname. He secured his release from military service in the U.S. by pretending to be crazier than he really is. Aithough he is unreliable and unpredictable, he is absolutely loyal to Rolando CUBELAS and is trusted completely by Rolando insofar as the plot is concerned. “El Loco" was trained by Cuban intelligence in Cuba before he left for Spain. The trainer, whose name Carlos does not recall, gave the training in El Vedado. There is no. question about the connection of "El Loce" with Cuban intelligence and it is considered strange that _. the Agency did not display more interest in making use of this ' connéction. Among other things, "El Loco" knew the identity of a:Cuban intelligence agent who was working in a camp run by Manuel ARTIME. "El Loco” has said that he told ARTIME and also people from the Agency about this individual but that nothing was done. 14. Jose VENEGAS Valdespino, who has been Vice-President of the International Students Union, had been stationed in Prague but returned to Cuba last year. While VENEGAS was en route to C_ba-he passed through Barcelona, Madrid and Paris at all of which pdaces he talked to Carlos. As indicated previously in this memorandum, Carlos has known VENEGAS since about 1952 or 1953.- Although they never had been friends, VENEGAS was cordial and Carlos can approach him at any time. VENEGAS and CUBELAS know each other.well and Carlos suspects that CUBELAS might have told VENEGAS about the anti-Castro plot. 15. Rolando, like Fidel CASTRO and Camilo CIENFUEGOS, has the capacity to attract people ~ even though his manners leave much to be desired. He can be described aptly as brusque. 16. Rolando does not have either lik’ ng for or trust in Manuel ARTIME and met him only because of the A,encyS insistence and at the recommendation of "El Mago" and "El Loco”. Rolando criticized Carlos for getting ARTINE into the act but Carlos disclaimed any responsibility. Rolando believes ARTIME is a mercenary - out for what he can cet - and a cheap politician. 17. Rolando does respect Manolo RAY and insisted on meeting him. Rolando and Carlos consider that RAY is an idealist willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. This is the opinion of the man in the street in Cuba even after the failure of RAY to keep his glowing promise about Betting to and staying in Cuba to promote a revolution. cony
att -— SECREY 18. Rolando told Carlos that he has an apartment on the Plaza Civica in Habana where the 26th of July celebration will take place. Rolando said that people loyal to him will be in the reviewing stands at the celebration. Carlos believes that Rolando may make an assassination attempt on 26 July 1965. ig. Rolando is disenchanted with the Agency. He told Carlos that the Agency has had abundant opportunity to deal with him and’ to fuirnish-help but,-chose not to do so except through ARTIME - whom Rolando does not- trust and who told Rolando that the Agency was offering its ‘help through him, ARTIME, : . 20. Rolando considered that the injection of ARTIME was a completely useless and risky maneuver on the part of the Agency which, if it wishes to disclaim moral responsibility for the plot, could have used and still Should use Carlos as the intermediary. . 21. If Rolando can get through the risks, inherent in having so many people know about his plot, during the next couple of months, he certainly will carry through with his Plans ~- this before the end of the. year. 22. Although Carlos recognizes the defects of both "Ei Mago" and "El Loco", he shares their opinion that the Agency has not treated either them or Rolando fairly. Carlos believes that both these individuals, in addition to being useful in connection with the plot, could have been useful in many other ways because of their access to Cuban government representatives including intelligence people in Europe and elsewhere. "El Mago", whe still is in Burope, is extremely clever and does have entry to all Cuban cireles as a result of which Carlos believes "El Mago"still should be used by the Agency. . F. Miscellaneous comments of Carlos concerning additional names which have cropped up in connection with CUBELAS ie Connection with CUBELAS 23. , Luciano NIEVES Mestre, who lives in Madrid, is said to be irresponsible (a “nut” like "El Locce"), but Carlos does not know him personally. 24. Jose Luis LLOVIO who lives in Paris is believed to . work for Cuban intelligence. 23. Carlos once saw “Cayo Confites" - Luis GARCIA Cerdeira with either BERNAL or "El Mago" ROBRENO. CARRILLO believes that “Cayo Confites" is an agent for thé U.S. Government.
. SECRET 26. Felipe LLAUDY is not known to belong to the Cuban intelligence service and Carlos has heard nothing to make it appear that LLAUDY could be recruited. 27. Nilo MESSER Pujol who is connected with ARTIME is not a friend of CUBEIAS . : 28. Carlos knows nothing of interest about Hernan HERNANDEZ, America CISERNOS, Mario FISSOLO, Gustavo ARCOS, Luis CRESPO, ‘Luis ALONSO, Luis TRASANCOS, Emilia.OTERO, Carlos THEYE, Antonio SANZ or Victor . ESPINOSA. (At the time when the foregoing names were reviewéd with Caflos (about midnight) he appeared to be ee aed weary and to have difficulty in continuing the inter- view. G. Ambassador CARRILLO 29. Carlos first met CARRILLO about 1957 when CARRILLO went to Carlos' store to price an engagement ring for Pepin NARANJO. At that time CARRILLO was the treasurer for the DRE - which was Rolando CUBELAS' group. Carlos bought some bonds and also contributed money apart from bond purchases. CARRILLO was once in Miami but the timé is not known. About 1958 CARRILLO was exiled from Cuba and lived in Spain where he represented the DRE. “After the collapse of BATISTA, CARRILLO returned to Cuba. In early 1960 he was a functionary in the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At that time CARRILLO's wife ‘became a customer of Carlos’ store, buying quite a bit of inexpensive jewelry. 30. To the best of Carlos’ knowledge, CARRILLO does not suspect that Carlos is connected with the Agency; CARRILLO knows that Carlos is a friend of Rolando but does not know anything about Rolando's plot against Fidel. The dealings between CARRILLO and Carlos in connection with the latter's purchases of Cuban government jewelry arese because Carlos once had priced jewelry in Havana. CARRILLO remembered this and offered to sell jewelry to Carlos. When Carlos bought jewelry (on our behalf), Carlos proposed to CARRILLO that the latter tell the Cuban government that the jewelry was being sold at a lesser price than that which Carlos was paying. Carlos offered to arrange the bill of sale to show the lesser price so that CARRILLO could keep the difference. CARRILLO refused indignantly. Hence, Carlos believes that CARRILLO is playing square with the Cuban government. Carlos believes that CARRILLO, although not a communist, is happy with his status and priveleges as Ambassador and that CARRILLO is not likely to defect or to accept recruit- ment. :