© “+. -Res-- Foreign Political Matters - Cuba training of the military and guerilla tactics in the militia under the present set-up of the Cuban CP which is known as the PURS (United Party of the Socialist Revolution). AIP (Agencia de Informaciones Periodisticas - Agency of Newspaper Reporters) for March 16, 1964, noted that there oo, -- had been considerable discussion about the difficulties be- — .tween Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Minister of the National Insti- . tute of Agrarian Reform (INRA)..«and Ernesto "Che'!‘Guevara,,. Minister of Industries. AIP noted that on March 6, 1964, at _ {\-@ meeting in the Palace, Castro stated "Che" deserved the , UN ~wery high title of "Worker of the Vanguard"',-a statement in- | UY eaxwrated to meatr a pat on the back for the Argentine communist - - .criand an indication of which side Fidel Castro favors. AIP further noted that the creation of the Ministry of Industries, and the appointment of "Che" to direct it, took away some of the power of INRA, headed by Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. @ a . Possible Consequences of the Trial MM T-1 stated on March 27, 1964, that since Pidel Castro is not actually interested in justice or in who in- formed on whom in the matter of the Humboldt #7 affair, he . ‘believes a power struggle is in order in Cuba which may not -have any.great significance, or which may touch off a large- scale removal from power of cartain old line commmnist members. *- ; 23 o Sweet 26 es OH hea wh, weed witha womecaras, A October, 1963, 1 ‘Roa Nouri, Cuban Ambassador to . Brazil, and son of Cuba's Minister of Foreign Relations, tee * 4 - 4 - . rit aanre  RECE \ jv - HW 54653 Docld:32202130 Page 6
— © . Re: Foreign Political Matters - CUA Radl<RoaGarcia, had stated that a movement would. begin in Cuba in the not too distant future which would not be an ' actual purge in the sense of putting leading old line members — of the CP to death, but which would remove them from posts of responsibility and gradually reduce them to positions of less and less importance. MM T-2 stated on March 30, 1964, that Castro's action in demanding this retrial cannot be imagined hy any- one familiar with Castro or with Cuban politics, as being ~. evidence of an interest in justice, MM T-2 stated that Castro actually loaths and despises Faure Chomon. —~--itrmatitte recalled that Faure Chomon withheld from the new Castro government a large amount of ammunition and - guns immediately after January 1, 1959. It was his possession of these weapons which led to Castro's now famous slogen, - “Armas, para que?" (Arms, for what?) He made Chomon turn in . his arms and allegedly sent him to Moscow for two reasons. - °° One reason was that.he had promised Chomon, when fighting in r mo »the mountains, that if and when Cuba established relations ‘with Russia, -Chomon would be Cuba's first Ambassador to ‘Russia. The second reason allegedly was to get rid of Chomon. MM T-2 stated that Castro also has nothing but dis- dain and contempt for Major Rolando Cubela. It is, of course, .@ matter of common knowledge that Chomon and Cubela are .. “..wddely regarded, by Cubans in a position. to knowh/ them well, ¢ . @8 perverts apd as having no réal moral or polit cal scruples. MM T-2 stated Ordoqui has been naming some of his political cronies to important positions in the PURS, which - #ould-correspond to Commissars in the Soviet Union. While _he is only.an old man, MM T-2 stated that Ordoqui has been growing in stature, to the annoyance of Fidel Castro. / : oe mam 7‘\NOotr.: -S- mae a e- eka. - : ery) q7e HW 54653 Docld:32202130 Page 7? t
2. ©. * allegedly gave the information directly to Ventura . Re; Foreign Folitical Matters - Cuba oo MM T-2 concluded that Ordoqui may now be reduced . greatly in importance, Fidel Castro may use the trial as a springboard to show that other people guessed wrong and _ that the "old guard" of the CP, including Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, made some serious mistakes, since the informer, “Marcos Rodriguez, admittedly was a member of the Cuban . Communist Youth Movement for many years and even enjoyed a position of confidence among old Cuban Communist leaders. MM T-2 stated Carlos Rafael.Rodtiguez may again be reduced in importance, as well as Edith/suchaca, also a Communist Party Lu fy ‘ leader, former wife of Carlos RafaélRodriguez, who is presently married to communist leade Joaquin ‘Qrdoqui. an MM T-2 said that no American observer should be. iliuded that this indicates any kind of break between Fidel _ Castro and the CP. It is merely to show: (1) that Fidel er ‘Castro is still the “maximum leader" of the Cuban revolution and the Cuban people; and (2) that while those downgraded . are comminists, he will direct all of his energies and speeches to showing they are bad communists who have made - serious mistakes and errors in judgment. MM T-2-concluded that in all probability those downgraded for mistakes and errors in judgment, since they are in no position to defy Fidel Castro, can-expect no backing from their Russian ne 3 ‘ei a of Ses @lbs CHaASIG Leche ame RL LOC ey wee cated on Marct serge +8: eee _ Pee. ac cnown fect that Faure Chomon and to} i Auk Pipe Ae ey - BG, t Rolando Cubela, both fest friends and degenerate perverts, wete partetime. informers of the Cuban police. According to -his information, they each regeived part of the money which was paid to Marcoa Armando Rodriguez Alfonso, curate who ovo. * 6 @ TA prole my ee HW 54653 DocId:32202130 Page 6 |
i HW 54653 Re: Foreign Political Matters - cuba According to MM T-3, it is not even a secret, but is generally known, especially to Cuban revolutionary Leaders like Fidel Castro,that Chomon and Cubela were unscrupulous, conniving informers, who many times played both sides against the middle. He therefore agreed with the other Cuban sources above to the extent that Castro is not interested in the cause of justice, bur is interested in turning this case into a powerful political weapon for his personal aggrandizement, ‘and in order to weed out certain individuals he considers to ~. be a hindrance ta his progress and to his control over the many new members of the Cuban CP.. He does not expect, however, for repercussions to be far-reaching at this time, and does ‘Rot expect executions of old line CP members who “have erred in their judgment in the past’. oo. Fhis document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions .o£ the FBI. It is .the property of the FBI and.is loaned to your. agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed - outside your agency. . Bee sua 1976 Docld:32202130 Page 9
e . ,P O72) (Hew, °1639-00) . ( : , . a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE a FEDERAL BURSAS GO?-4NVESTIGATION @ In Reply, Please Refer to . Miami, Florida Ni Fue No. weg S65 Title FOREIGN POLITICAL MATTERS - CUBA \ Character . Reference memo dated and captioned as above. All sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable - information in the past. f : a ~ REC iter a” . wa 4 al * Thle document containa neither recommendations aor conclusions of the FBI, tt is the property of fhe FB! and te loaned to your agency; it and ite contents are not to be distr. ibuted cutside your ageacy. . . HW 54653 DoclId:32202130 Page 10