ta0-t0t42-t00t6] Classification: CIA HAS NO O OBJECTION TO N ANDIOR from ClA—controlled documents.) SELEEOF pOCUM MENT (This form is to be used for material extracted Alvarado On November 16, 1977 the Select Committee interviewed of President Kennedy's assassination. *» (HSCA Interview, T. Mann, JFK Doc. 003966) The Mann interview was prompted by the Committee's two-fold interest in Oswald's pre-assassination . ‘ . Fy ——— an trip to Mexico City and the subsequent post-assassinatiorw Cina@ ED investigation of Oswald's activities in Mexico City bythe The Sef at Coa ee BEER hae S$ phe ear wh fore FE Gh--and-FBI. Of more specific intexestwto.the.Commiktee-was Thomas C. Mann, the U.S: Ambassador to Mexico at the time ( learning from Ambasador Mann the extent of his efforts to . investigate Oswald's Mexico City activities; especially whether Oswald had conspired with Castro Cubans to assassinate President Kennedy. CEbia 7 During the course of the Mann interview, the Ambassador indicated that he had received instructions from the State Department to cease his efforts to confirm or! ‘refute, rumors a Ot EE IF Tieige Pris of Cuban’ “complicity in the assassination. .-Tt was Mann's be- instructions from their respective directors. 1 Tobi dh | ‘S : ‘ te pa ht SOLE CE Come diet TES Std, Sort Mndlal Opis ete anr Che reine! ar The Ghurch-Committee touched upon Mann's belief that ee eg) lief that CIA and FBI representatives had received similar U.S. authorities had foreclosed investigative efforts to determine whether Castr Cubans were connected to the C, Bente , pp ve = 4B 8 assassination. XS an FBI supervisor who had traveled to Mexico Classification: . , os Classified by derivation:
7 Classification: _ (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) ~ 2 — City on “November 27 to assist in that aspect of the FBI CA aC investigation testifying before the Senate Committee noted § that: Og he "knows of no investigation in dy Mexico to determine if there was a a: Cuban involvement in the assassina- ane tion of President Kennedy" other than disproving the "D" allegation. \i (SSC, Book V, p. 42.) Ambassador Mann was questioned about "D" during his interview with this Committee. “D"y whose true name is Gilberto oes seugninre een Re Alvarado Ugarte, had¢on “November 25, 1963 alleged’ “that Oswald ae OEY HE does teed eee etegtmanenaenimenanentine mane alll PLeriwe Cite, naa received $6500 from Cuban officials® ko assassinate Presi- eo anrtis § dent Kennedy.’ U.S. and Mexican authorities later determined t+ we CEbikp RPA 30 Alvarado's allegation to-have~been -a fabrication. Mann asserted to the Committee that Alvarado's retraction of his Oswald allegation had been tainted by the interrogation ‘methods CHRAT pO vem? @ utilized by the Mexican authorities. Mann stated that Mexi- ek &.. ie. bP ranak. af can police procedures were ceereive~aerd would’ have caused Alvarado to adjust his statements in order to conform to the position which the Mexicans wanted him to adopt. fisea” 4 4 so Speeneegnmn cen smpercgenmnncicgnmammarctinint Interviews DrsManny—prrdyoJE Kort 003966 ) — Because the Alvarado allegation stands as the only specific substantive investigation by U.S. authorities in Mexico City of possible Cuban complicity in President Ken- Classification: | Classified by derivation: TM Ann, ses re » ee “Ee. “EE. “Ee “EAA J : SO g f
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted | from ClA—controlled documents.) ey eae fii sie os oe a } nedy's acsastinstion® thés Setect—Committee has endeavored to make two critical determinations. These are: 1) Whether the conduct of the FBI and CIA investi- gation of Alvarado’ s allegation reflected Ambassa~ dor Mann's belief that efforts to investigate possible involvement of the Castro Cubans in the assassination “ss prematutely terminated; and 2) Whether the investigation by FBI and CIA of Alvarado's allegations was subject to objective scrutiny and investigative diligence. | In order to make these two determinations the Committee has reviewed the Alvarado files maintained by the FBI, CIA, f Porte and State Department. In addition to Mann's initial inter- view, a second follow-up interview pertaining to Mexico City af Mann aspects of the assassination was conducted’ by the Committee on . a ~ C HSC Be ornkty vj we OF TiMéaan, Se Dac November | 7 1978. Moreover, depositions and hearings involving former CIA personnel concerned with the investi- gation of Alvarado have been conducted to complete the record of review by this Committee. COGLES: Classification: Classified by derivation: pres yan oe pe
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) - 4 - The Alvarado Allegation and the Possibility of Cuban Complicity tee in& Assassination ‘On November 23, Ambassador Mann cabled the State De- partment declaring: a circumstances already developed here a Aare ‘point to possibility that Oswald may have ote _ been Castro's agent. Mexicans are also an & \ keenly aware of the possibility. (CIA Doc. U0" ™ “No MEXI 1180, 11/23/63) ae rs ether : i The Ambassador's suspicions werd fueled two days later, esNovember 25, when Gilberto Alvarado Ugarte, a twenty-three year old Nicaraguan national appeared at the American Embassy in Mexico City. Alvarado reported to Embassy officials that on September 18, 1963, he had witnessed a payment of $6500 to Lee Harvey Oswald by a Cuban official in Mexico —- City to assassinate President Kennedy. * “CIA Doc MEXI 7069, — 11/26/63) Alvarado contended that, at noon on September 18,: - while he was in the Cuban Consulate arranging . his travel * The CIA reported on November 26 that Alvarado: "is a well-known Nicaraguan underground member who is also a regular informant of the Nicaraguan security ser- f vice, an officer of which has provided this Agency with his reports for over a year. We consider his reliability to be questionable although he has not been wholly dis- credited." (CIA out Teletype No. 85089, 11/26/63). , 2 Uo, one 44en Classification: Classified by derivation:
Fi Nl nen Classification: _ yA 24 reef). (This form is to be used for material extracted ers ‘ from ClA—controlled documents.) cans sno Oe nen AN ogi ense OF to Cuba, he observed approximately eight persons enter the aa Eusebio Azcue, the Cuban Consul in Mexico BN hk cit fe ghar Lge Alvate 4 However, Azcue was not in his office but rather a Cuban map nok known to Alvarado was seated behind Azgcue's co PSs i, . a. desk! ‘Alvarado reported that after observing this man he ! ‘( needed a bathroom which he reached by walking through a CP ba passageway onto a patio. | At the patio, Alvarado, stated ; Paes ba iS he observed three men grouped together. ‘One man was a tall, thin, red-haired Negro, with prominent cheek- bones “rie ad displaying a scar on the lower right side of his chin’ “This eb A, man spoke with a Cuban accent 4 a he second: man was described by Alvarado as Caucasion, with green eyes and blond hair- ee fee ; cut ina pompadour style.’ Alvarado added that he had pre- viously observed this man dtspiayinae Canadian passport in ld . f the Consulate. waiting room ihe third man was dressed in a - black sportcoat, white pants and an. open collar shirt. He ane oa B eee (is i" oe te also wore clear eyeglasses. Alvarado contended, phayhe \ ford ‘recognized ‘this third. man: as Lee Harvey oswald(£o1 lowing the assassination and after publication of Oswald's photo- graph) Alvarado alleged that while situated on the patio, agen Classification: mer | Classified by derivation:
gy GS 2a , aaa Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) he observed the Cuban who had been seated at Azcue's desk, ot vy. approach the red-haired Negro and hand him a sum of money. Alvarado reported that the following exchange then transpired Negro: (in English) I want to kill the man. Oswald: Youre not man enough. I can do it. Negro: (in Spanish) I can't go with you. I have a lot to do. between Oswald and the red-haired Negro: : Oswald: The people are waiting for me back there. J (CIA Doc. MEXI 7069, 11/26/63) ath FF es bad pate red: alae Alvarado alleged that following the SSove exchangehe Wea; : observed the red- haired Nego hand oswa1d?6500 in U.S. cur- od rency-and 200 pesos. ‘Alvardo stated he then saw a femaie . employee of the cuban Consulate embrace Oswald and give him os get had her address. Eee according to Alvarado, while standing outside the Consulate, he saw Oswald and his two companions leave the Consulate and enter an automobile. (Ibid.) i” The CIA's Mexicg oy ee on reported Alvar G & allega- or RoranRasae- » AGE fala Pte “GPR ho 8 Soe, 1, 26/6 &, tion. It noted in its cable to CIA headquarters that Alvarado Claimed he had, at the end of September 1963, telephoned * Alvarado stated that he did not see the Cuban man again after Sept. 18. Classification: | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) -~ §& - | cM the U.S. Embassy several times to report the conversation ne 3 a mtd ao pie alleged he overheard while at the Cuban Consulate. “Rivarado ©. told the American authorities that he had used afi alias, Jorge Kynaut when he placed these calls to the Embassy. Alvarado alleged that after his repeated_ phone calls to) ks the Embassy with no positive response frotr phe Embassy per~ ” : el eee 7 Sonne} he was finally toitto "quit wasting our time. We CT b. As are working here, not. playing." (CIA out teletype no. 85099, 11/29/63) — WiLd As cited above, Alvarado contended that he recognized Astin wan he had Ede ANE at bees Ba Eee a , we Hh Cha Bric, Gop ng iked lk, Oswald* from press photographs generally available after the Pele eer ted Coke rb Ch ecto Wes assassination. As a result; Aluandde* recontacted the Ameri- can Embassy on November 25. (CIA Doc. MEXI 7069, 11/26/63) vA On the morning of November 26 Alvarado was questioned at the American Bmpassy by, a CIA representative and an Embassy Pee oGF, 4 /%e foF% + security officer.’ iS a follow-up to Alvarado's initial \ ve ‘f interrogation, CIA's Mexico City Station requested MWW6E we EEE headquarter'"s traces on Gilberto Alvarado Ugarte .©f STAD te AR crt Ambassador Manm* reacted with great concern to Alvarado's ¢ allegation. He requested that an FBI officer thoroughly gation be sent to Mexico City to brief him and help direct knowledgeable about all aspects of the assassination investi-_. f . { the investigation. (MEXI 1182, 11/25/63)” An FBI memorandum Ce ee Classification: so , | Classified by derivation:
yg Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) recorded that: -of payoff, he requested FBI representatives be sent from FBI headquarters to take charge of 4 investigation in Mexico. Request referred to eh Bureau by Legat, Mexico City and State Depart- TS ox ment. On 11/26/63 it was decided that FBI super- sx %~_ visor Laurence P. Keenan should promptly depart joke for Mexico City to assist in this investigation. Ot Mann was tactfully told that while FBI was dis- when Mann heard of Alvarado's detailed account ( In addition, on November 26 the CIA Mexico City Sta- tion had intercepted, taped and transcribed a*conversation between the Cuban President Dorticos, in Havana, and the Hernand ee Cuban Ambassador Armas, in Mexico City. During the course of the Dorticos-Armas conversation, Dorticos twice inquired whether Silvia Duran, during her interrogation by Mexican authorities, had been asked whether the Cubans had offered y . no such question. (CIA Doc. MEXI 7068, 11/26/63) This informa- * In response to Ambassador Mann's request, the State Depart- ment informed Mann that J. Edgar Hoover believed the FBI Legat in Mexico City, Clarke Anderson, was fully aware of all information then available pertaining to the assassina~ tion. However, if Anderson believed he required additional assistance, Anderson should so inform FBI headquarters. (State Dept. Cable 958, 11/26/63)\/° . Oswald money. Armas twice replied that the Mexicans had asked ¢ Classification: ; Classified by derivation:
Classification: : (This form is to be used for material extracted CIAHASE ia" egietel an at) from ClA—controlled documents.) _ Ot cee OF Wits poce - @ - tion, Mann felt, added credibility to Alvarado's allegation. Mann therefore suggested that Alvarado should be put at thes ngs REI enw einem aioe ta A aeaiet Fer peed MB ona MAE ee ESET shale wane pees] ak SLE FE ef 7 Mexican President Mateos '{ disposal \ ‘with the condition ‘that Duran be rearrested and confronted with Alvarado. (CIA Doc MEXI 7072, 11/26/63) On November 27, the CIA's Mexico City Station cabled Re eet Ered CIA headquarters | “Mann's request that an FBI repre- sentative be dispatched to Mexico City. “(Cra Doe MEXI 7084, 11/27/63) The Mexico City Station reported in a second cable Yle Thiet. Rubinstein case. {CIA Doc MEXI 7092)" As a result, the CIA's Mexico City Chief of Station recommended that FBI dispatch a representative to Mexico City unless the State Department could convince Mann that he was being briefed cully cnail, infermation developed. (Ibid. )i/ As the record reflects, both the FBI and the CIA actir® ine ol SE pie St were seriously concerned with Ambassador Mann' s imterjectton ofhimseif ingé the Mexico City investigation. On November 27th, the FBI liaison officer to the CIA, Sam Papich, spoke with of the CIA's Counter-intelligence staff. ol , { (CIA Doc, LHO Add'l Info File,| _|Memorandum, 11/27/63) ~N.b- During the course of their conversation Papich and] | eG01TS? Classification: on the 27th that "Mann feels not fully briefed on Oswald/ ; Classified by derivation:
sas Classification: . (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) -~ 9 — ~ discussed Alvarado's allegations. It was Papich's opinion that "the Ambassador down there wants nuts" in his efforts to determine if the Cubans had conspired to assassinate President Kennedy. Papich commented further that, "It would be premature to move so quickly on that angle." | responded, "It might have been alright if we knew we would ava find other confirming stuff." (Ibid.) ~N).L-. ? Thus, by November 27th signs of conflict with respect to U.S. investigative policies in Mexico City had surfaced. U.S. responsibility for Alvarado, investigation of his alle- gation and Ambassador Mann's role in the matter were all at. issue. The record #so reflects that by November 27th, Alvardo's allegation was being thoroughly scrutinized by American authorities in Mexico City. Alvarado was undergoing a detailed reinterrogation conducted by CIA representatives at a CIA satenoule Vera noe MEXI 7093, 11/27/63) During the course of the reinterrogation Alvarado was shown photo- graphs of Cuban Consulate personnel from which he identified Luisa Calderon as che “Yon Ghoshe claimed had embraced Oswald (Cc inside the Cuban Consulate on September 18. (CIA Doc. MEXI™ i 7098, 11/27/63) Alvarado also was able to identify Oscar oha116) Classification: bee bS Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) - 10 - Concepcion Hernandez as the Cuban who had been seated at Azcue's desk and subsequently handed a large amount of cur- rency to the red-haired Negro prior to its alleged passage to Oswald. (Ibid.)~ 200 ee ee A second conversation between Dorticos and Armas was intercepted by the CIA on November 27th. “(CIA Doc. MEXI 7097, 11/27/63) Armas reaffirmed to Dorticos that Duran had made no mention of a money offer to Oswald during the course of the interrogation by Mexican police. (Ibid.) Mann cabled this information to the State Department and also noted 4 that Alvarado was being reinterrogated by CIA representatives in Mexico City. He commented: It will not have escaped your attention that the wealth of detail Alvarado gives y about events and personalities involved with Oswald in Cuban Embassy is striking. ced —e(CIA Doc MEXI 7104, 11/27/63, see also A ee CIA Doc DIR 85573, 11/27/63) —fv.L.. Mann further reported’ that Mexican authorities sec1452 Classification: | Classified by derivation:
LD £9 £3 7 ~ LF LF IF Classification: “a (This form is to be used for material extracted from CiA—controlled documents.) -ll- J * had rearrested Silvia Duran to avoid her possible ee to Cuba and consequent unavailability as a witness. (Ibia. Finally, Mann requested that: Washington should urgently consider fea- sibility of requesting Mexican authorities to arrest for interrogation Eusebio Azcue, Luisa Calderon, and Alfredo Mirabal [a Cuban Intelligence Service officer at_the Cuban Embassy compound in Mexico City]--- f They may all quickly be returned to Havana in order to eliminate any possibility that Mexican government could use them as wit- nesses... While I realize enormous difficulty in giv- ing us instructions, I nevertheless feel obliged to point out again that time is ej ue of the essence here. (Ibid.) ee fis That day CIA representatives in Washington met with Alexis Johnson of the State Department to discuss Mann's request for arrests. In a cable to Mexico City Station discussing this meeting, CIA headquarters noted: There is a feeling in three agencies (FBI, CIA, StateJ Mann is pushing case too hard. Will “cause flap with Cubans. Johnson sent ODACID (FBI) channels to \ Mann to give better perspective. (CIA para Doc DIR 85469, 11/27/63) ee Classification: | Classified by derivation: