(404-10174-10038 on . DRAFT e 2 February 196% ooo MEMGRANBUM FOR THE REC@RB: . . SUBJECT: Bebriefing ef Edward G. Tichbern(P) 1. Edward G.Tichborn(P) arrived in Washington from his. trip to Cuba: during the night of 31 January 1960/. “e was debr&efed at the Fotel Statler from about 1000 to 1530 hours on 1 February. Those present at the debriefing were Messrs. | and Charles Penney from W Division, Mr’ PP/EAD, and ie Undersigned, This debriefing was very Interesting and resulte a good deal of pertinent information. The three and a half reels of tape derived fren therefrom are now being transcribed bg this effice. Some of the more salient points are noted below. p24 . 2. Some of the operational information and suggestions cffered by Tichborn are the following: a. There appears to be little chance of a coalition of the opposition groups at this time or in the near future since they are not well organized and each group mas would want toe be the leader of such an effort. Also, according to the mmabers of the orposition to whom Tichborn talked, it is the general consensus cf opinion that Fidel Castro is in no danger of loosing his grip or the devotion of his followarsx for some time to come. b. Fidel Castro seems to become most zk upset and almost paniced by . : defections. Possessing a "Hessiah-type complex" he cannot bear the thought : _. Of someone leaving the fold. Rather than to let such defections pass on ‘ ; unnoticed, he feels sompélled to give rsasons and make excuses. This then . ‘blows hhe matter up perhaps out of proportion and quickly becomes a matter of public knowledge. Tichborn feels that the inducement of de@ections could perhaps have more effect on Castro than any other single, rational action ve might undertake. c. There appears to be a relatively long-standing schism between the brothers Fidel and Raoul Castro. Raoul is the moze cold individual. As an example, Fidel once ordered some ‘400 prisoners to be returned safely to their hopes, but Racul had a number of them killed. The general feeling in Cuba is Shet Fidel is not a Communist, but that Raoul is undoubtedly at least a fellow-traveller. Developing or exploiting this schism could therefore, be operationally advantageous. (The fact that they are brothers would probably have little effect on Fidel who Rag already reduced wham the land holdings of his mother and another brother in conformity with the agrarian refora program and who jailed his sister, and fired a Minister, ever 2 shake-doun on an insurance deal.) 3. Of special operatioral interest ware several individuals Tichborn mentioned who might have some influence on Fidel Castro and hence might be of 5 (pV .
14-00000 - seco tees 2 stan eee BORD ERAN Edel SVR SAARI A RRR RD tine Be Mn ah Die LI ols ischemia amon SMim e+ \ ley 0 wt ; operational interest. They ars: - @. Pather (Padre) Alberto de Castros he is a Jesuit priest presently located in Caracas, Venezuela, who had been a teacher of Fidel Castro during hia youth. Castro was in Venezuela and saw Father de Castro there during . ' which time the latter criticized Fidel for some of his actions. In spite of — _thoe fagt that this -remonstration occured in front of some of Fidel‘s men, - 2 and they laterthe latter treated him with great respect. It was felt by Tichbern's source : , Chatted.alone of this information, end by Tighborn, that Father de Castro undoubted for an hour. has sone influence over Castro. Tichborn suggested that it would be of value to determine whether or not Fidel ha’ eny regular contact with Father de Caatre and. if so,what oferational potential he might have. b.. Herb Mathews: he is a journalist with the B.V.Tjmes and waa the only American newspaperman covering the Castro story prior to his final succe3s. While Tichborn was in Vuba, a front pege article pe appeared in Revolucion (the ragime's press-spokesman) on Mathews. It was a sort of editorial and praised Mathews as e@ "real man" and one whe understood the revolution and its eins, Tichborn feels that it might be to our advantage to get into contact with Mathews since he appears to have the confidence of the adninistration. . 52. : Ge Professors foscot Subject is on the faculty of the Universidad de Villameva and is a contemporary of Fidel Castro. They were claesmates and both were debators although according to Rosco, Castro did not make the Debating. Society of which he(Rosco) was the presidentCnce efter the ‘ revolution, Rosco attended a sppech Castro made and after the oration, the ° 2g latter asked Rosco whit he thought cf it. Upon hearing some criticiam, hé wanted to kmow how it could: have been improved. Since Castro was leaving for re ae | ¥ Venezuela ‘and the United States he asked Rosso te accompany him in order that ‘— A ,) they could discuss the matter further. Tichborn feels that Rosco (a member of . i? we the opposition) iora probably has more influence on Castro than Rosco realizes w and that this possibility would be worth looking into. AP d. Edward R.Murrow: he produced a-TV program on Castro and Tichborn feels : that he might have established a rapport with Castro during this period. : 4. One of the contacts Tichborn made in Cuba (the Director of Tourism) asked him if he knew of anyone who would be interested in coming to Cuba on an all—dxpenses- paid visit in order to write articles (or other similar propaganda) on present day Cuba. Tichborn mentioned Clete Roberts, a popular radic and TV commentator in Los Angéles as a possible candidate. (Tichborn also discussed this matter with Horace W. Davis.) Tichborn will mention this possibllity to Roberts upon hia return to Californi«. . 5. While in Cuba, Tichborn accidently met a young lady who later revealed te him that she war "an agent for the #State Dapartrent". He felt that this was a security matter and that it should be brought to our attenticn for thet purpose. Mrs aid not recognize the name; it is being further checked cut with WH Div 7 the incident and the detaila will be made the subject of a separate memorandum for GI Staff.
are ale Tee ee Ne cae 8 oe arg atom oom Ah Oke ee ne ee IE Fatih, ential TR ait ress Ste Same af FR a a ae a bak Sei Te eae act Bat dee yn date 12 Wn Stns La ant at 6. Cn the adutnistrative side, 4% Tebheer will forvard be mat) his financial accounting, one copy to the cover company and the other to Henry —¥. Darkin(P). The cover letter which was provided him ibw the event thet he came te the attention of the Cyban autherities was returned to us end is now in his fila. (There was no necessity for its use.) Tichborn inquired as to the possibility of receiving reimbursement for medical expanses which will . undoubtedly be incurred upon his return to California due to a possible hernia i ‘ which developed in New York on his return trip én route to Washington. This is ~ . ‘ “being checked out by this office. Tichborn departed fgr, Los Angeles (having -been ‘ taken to Freindship International Airport by Senry-teDerkin) at about 1600. hours on ] February 1960. , Evalena $. Vidal