[tos-totro-toozz)° foe Bh RETURN TO CHA. AE OS seensy ‘15 November 1962 WEWORANDUM FOR THE RECORD: ‘SUBJECT: Mr. Helms? Conversation with Lute Fernandes Rocha. aod Jose Maria Lasa of the DRE Regarding their Organization's Relationship with the Agency “IMS AND PLACE: 1500 hours, 13 Kovember 1962, Mr . Reins’ . Office. PERSONS PRESENT: ur. Helas, Luis Fernandez Rocha, Jose tor Sanchez (alias OF 1. &r. Rocha stated he wanted to uention two- things before atarting the conversation with Br. Helas: a, He was very sorry about the difficulties “ which may have been caused by the ayfort-aiens Herald Sewapaper incidont. b. He desired to thank Hr. Helus for his “deference” and expressed his greatest epprecistion for being given the opportunity to discuss their ‘problem with Mr, Helms. Mr. Helus replied that he fully understood and accepted the explanation about the newspaper article and he was happy to have the opportunity to discuss the Agency's rélationship with Mr. Roche’s group. bounty} DO. NGT REPRODUCE ‘RETURN TO CEA:
2. fir. Helms stated he waa familiar with the DRE gituation and desired to work: out a slightly different wag of doing buginess. He realized there have been ups - and downs in the relationship and that the Agency vas pot lily white in abiding by many of its consitmenta, but that many. of the changes were due to factors beyond the Agency*s coutrol. He continued there were no decisioas as yet made by the U.8. Government regarding the future handling of-the Castro probles. The primary itens being considered at the present tise both in New York and Washington were the renoval of the missiles and bonbers from Cuba and on-site inspection. tr, Holms fully re- alized that the decisions which may come. about at the con=. elusion of these negotiations will not be decisions ac~- coptable to the DRE. If a tize come when the DRS feels their couree of action ig no jonger compatible with U.8. policy, ur. Eelas wanted tc make thla polat clear, “the DRE should be frank and honest and se state at. He did not want to be devioue about our relationship, and he wanted to develop the relationship “ag a reasonable coliaboration™. 3. Mr. Helws inforned tocha he waa changing the Agence? contact for the DAB in Miami. He also stated the new cou- tact would he able to come to Mx. Helus for any clarificatios 0 rt . : Sotosy pi See. ;
14-00000 ‘their present level of activity. SECRET mo ; ; 3 needed regarding the relationship. As for a: future operational progres for the DRE, Wr. Be lus ateted he pren seatly did not. know what this would be. Mr. Rocha tated that in all honesty he could not. guarantee that under all. ‘eircumstances the DRE woild be able to continue’ the re- ‘ lationship, for a change in U.8. policy toward coexistence would differ from what the DRE believes is a duty to their country and he aa the Secretayy General to his wen this would mean & break in our relationahip ag they felt they Bust continue fighting Castro in any form possible. He did give Hr. Helas his word of honor he would inform his contact or Hr, He las whea the DRE felt thoy could zo longer cooperate With the Agency because of the difference in what they bolleved in and U.S. policy. Rocha claimed they were | anxious to cooperate with the Agency, and it was fooliah . to think that without Agency gupport they could continue He in fact stated that 60 to 90 per cent of their activity would cance if Agency funds were discontinued. This would be suicide, and according te Rocha thi he did not want provided a satisfactory arrange- ment could be reached. 4. Mr. Lasa asked what they could expect regarding their future orientation and plang. “Rocha chimed in and etated that this was one of the difficulties under which ; nn, SLU nae wee eo co
14-00000 aia they had been operating; 1.¢., mot knowing wheat the plang . were or what was expected of them. He added that in | order to direct bis owns organization, he gust be aware of the direction in which wervere moving before he could sake . the proper decisions in his organization. Mr. Helas answered “We will tell you the truth and what the score fa when we know it ourselves". He also warned thes that when this inforsation is divulged, 4¢ would be is atrict- est confidence on ef "¥YI baaia and sot for the press or the rest of the exile coumunity. Mr. Belms added that on this question he would be ‘very honeat with them and eitker tell them: a. I don’t know; b. Lwon't tell you: «. 1°21 tell you, and give them the information thoy required for . proper orlentetion. er, Holms reiterated that regarding this type of inforgatioa thay muat keep “sipped up. Accerd= ; att . ing to Mr. Helmg thesthingsa get around ia the Cuban exile coumunity was, needless to any, B matter of some concern 6. Regarding the now contact Hr. Ze las atated Re wanted to select a man who would and eould eaintain the ‘eollaboration he aad outlined, ard would be helpful and of assistance to the DRE. Me alao stated that this contact would be responsible to hin for the relationship. Ur. Rocha stated he wanted to be the point ef contact in the er nry Quins
14-00000 . 5 DRE and in his absence etther Manuel Balvat or Jose Lasa would be the alternate pointe of. contact, 6. ur. He Las stated there were two elomenta. he would like ‘to clarify: a. The system of “kickbacks used by the Dae. Rocha wan not familiar with the term “Kickback” but after a short explanstion explained that the DRE ‘did nek their momberg to give a certain percestage of their salary depending on what they can efford for a geueral fund from which the organization pays for much items as the Agency does not finance. One of these itens te publication of “The Cuban Report”, certain work io latin America (not specified) for which the Agency will sot pay, and & very important tteay-tne support of sone o2. their people and families. coming out of Cubs. Rocha claimed this was voluntary. b.. Financea—-tr. Helms desired to know if they kept sceee system of books, includingjops expences and salaries for their Latin Aserican operations, and if so who kept their books. Rocha answered thay did keep books and added they had a full tine member of the DRk who was a trained accountant in charge of this departasnt of their organization, kr. Helas
a | - ‘ suggested that as finances are a technical and difficult matter: to: keep close tabs on, the Ageacy could, ig. Rocha 80 desired, help by providing a finance techaictanfoct up a set of booka for the DRE, Rocha fully agreed vith the merit of this suggestion. _ 7 Hr. Helus again aaaured Rocha and Laga that with . rogard to the future, he would let thea know as soon as he hinself knew what it would be. Rocha asked how long Mr. Holas thought this would be. ir. Tolma stated this was somewhat of a hypothotical question but estinated that the presont neatings, conversations, and negotiations would possibly take as long as & month. Hr. Helms atated he realized that eilitary operationa and possibly sose of their propaganda would depend on our future course, but he wanted them to understand that there will atmays be need for good, specifie, detailed information which the DRE can contribute. According to itr. He laa, ‘We need it; you can contribute it; we'll use it.” Hr, Helas added he realized there were riska ieavolved in collect ing fnforamation, but ho did not want Eocha to uigunderatand the value of it. . Mr. Helms also cautioned Rocha and Lasa not to get impatient over what may appear to be lack of use of their information, but to give the Agency a chance to chock if out.
8. Mr. Heluz added thore was ono other point ef utmost importance, and that waa,that if in the future the DRE desired or wanted to have a press conference or déstred: - to appear on TY, “Let us know about it". Mr. Helas stated ~—ee he didn't want to tle their hands, and he. intended to deal with them aa responsible won, but, "Give us @ fair warning”. itr. Helms did not want tha DRE to thisk we desired to tell thes what they can or can not do, but he felt it vas in their interest to get our reaction on euch matters. Mr. Helas added, "You, Hr. Rocba, are a responsible man. f am a rexponeitble aan, Let's do business in a mature manner. Hr. Rocha fully agreed, @. Hr, Rocha thon introduced the subject of "The Cuban Report”, the DAE weekly newsletter. He said the newsletter was sent to the presa, senators, congregsmea, the White House, and other people in the U.8. We wanted to know how Mr, Helms felt about this publication, ur. Holus wanted to know if the Agency received the intel] before it was printed in the newsletter. Hr. Rocha anwvered tint all political and eilitary information waa passed to the Agency before it was printed in the newsletter. Mr. Helms ad~ mitted he hed not read the newsletter and that in the noantine the DRE could continue it. Ouce the matter in studied in more detail, Hr. Helms added we may have some fe ate. . ee etree mt. : : ein, . Geen St Cr re OO
aie end . Rocha answered in the affirmative, scggestions we may wish to discuss, Rocha frackly admitted that the ORE feit: they ‘needed the newsletter for their . organization to be able to influence public opinion ia the U.S. To eattafy his own curiesity, ir. Helms: asked if . Senator. Keat ings figures wore based on "The Cuban Report”. eal 10. Rocha then asked what the D&E sould expect re- ®arnting execution of military operations. wr. Helas ine . formed Recha that. when. they Rad & ailitary plas to submit it. The Agency would study it and give them an answer. Mr. Helms added that if an answer was not fortheouing in & réasouablé length of tino, they should again ask for the ansver from their contact. “ur. Helng ansured Rocha of hig continuing Personal interest ia this relatiouship end | he wanted Rocha to deal with hig Agency contadt in Miart with this in wind, but ke. warned Bocks that although this fe tae caso, he did not want the Des running eed rung on their contact on sattera they can deal with in Miani. Rocha understood, le As he (Rocha) feared there may have bee2 certain Bisusserstandinge regarding & request by the “man is charge im Eiaai on-either the 23rd or 24th of October, he felt it heceasary to set forth his positiaa. The "pan fa charge”