= _ Cea, . - SECRET Betsy Palmer File review, Manuel Ray Volume fi of xviii Page 2 , ‘ whom he says is gaining strength in Cuba. Says students eager to join active group and will go to Ray if DRE can't get help soon. 7. Provisional Operational Approval granted to Ray on 10/26/60. 8. 10/26/60 Cable to Director from Havana reports Ray held MRP meeting on 10/23/60 and made following statements: &e MAJOR WILLIAM MORGAN had been very helpfull to MRP - responsible for obtaining most of their weapons. be In four months, MRP will have 20,000 militants throughout Cuba. Organized now in all provinces except Pinar del Rio. ‘Invasion could not take place for 4 months but FRD still in-favor of earlier date. Ce CARRILLO and ANGEL del CERRO have left FRD and now with MRP MRP urging Ray to escape Cuba and they feel it is only a matter of time until he is picked up and executed. MRP manifesto will be released this weekend. 9. 10/28/60 Monthly payments of $400 approved for Ray's wife in behalf of Bender group. oo 10. 10/28/60 ‘Memo for Record * “Subject: Conversation of CARRILLO and PAUL J. MANSON, Chief, MASH Economic philosophy: When FRD first formed it was attacked by RUBIO PADILLA as "Fidelismo without Fidel." Now FRD saying same thing about MRP. yl. 11/5/60 Cable to Director from MASH Verona tells HUNT that he received information that Ray wanted to leave Cuba and was to be exfiltrated clandestinely by Bender group. 12. 11/8/60 Memo for Record - Subject: Contact report on meeting with ROGELIO GONZALES Gonzales considers Ray highly dangerous because of his ambition to play prominent role in Cuban government after overthrow of Castro. Thinks he poises threat to Varona's authority inside Cuba. Ray appears to have support of middle class, politicians and professtonals. Should Ray join FRD, Gonzales thinks he will still operate on a:unilateral basis while seeking to supercede FRD with MRP. 13. 11/11/60 Cable to Director from JMASH Ray arrived Tampa morning of 11/10/60. Mash officer staying with him until surfacing date which depends on safe arrival from Cuba of two other individuals. They are the last of the HUBER MATOS escapee group known by Ray to still be hiding in Cuba. SECRET We
Po era f ‘ . SECRET Betsy Palmer Review Of Mamiel Ray Volume ii of xviii Page 3 Us. 11/14/60 cable to Director from MASH. Ray to surface at press conference scheduled for 11/16/60 in Miami. % 15 11/17/60cable to Director from MASH he On 11/15/60, alias Bender met with Ray in complete privacy. "Unquestionably, the youthful, softspoken, unassuming, almost humbe Ray is a natural leader of highest intellect, deepest sincerity and convistion." Ray's political posture doubtful as far as U.S. government acceptance is concerned. ; Explained to Ray the U.S. government's desire to have all Cuban exiles unified in their efforts. Ray says MRP does not wish to reinstate 1950 constitution. Provisional governmant of 30 honorable Cubans would be established and elections held 18 months thereafter. Castro laws passed at beginning of his regime to be promigated. State would regulate private investment and utilities would be nationalized. Ray wants to keep MRP "lean and hungry" -- each member to have specific responsibilities and feel important to revolution. Ray asked for permission to start a fund drive in Cuba and U.S. Also asked for $10,000 by next Wednesday -- Bender made commitment. believes net result of meeting was establishment of private MRP-~ U.S. link and door remains open for some kind of relationship with FRD. Ray agrees to discuss this with Miro Cardona. Of all the groups being supported, FRD, MRP and MRR are most significant. All Cuban groups seem to be looking to Bender group to show a preference before joining one of the above three. How long current flexibility can be maintained is problematical. ecteReN ERR RON R AEA OT AER | Gate eae or 16. 11/21/60 Memo for Record Subject: Meeting with King and Esterline on subject of handling MRP, 11/18/60 Consensus was that Ray did not politically represent anything to cheer about. Writer felt MRP opposed to joining FRD and recognized need to control MRP and wean it away to the extent possible from its leaders. Could be done by controlling financial and military support. It was agreed in meeting with Mr. Barnes that financial and military support for MRP be channelled through FRD. 17. 11/23/60 Contact Report: Meeting with Ray and Chibas in wyc, 11/22/60 Ray says MRP has contacts at Isle of Pines with two garrisons and can expect about 750 men to desert Castro at proper time. CAPTAIN CAPOTA is contact with Ray's group. Ray's people also in contact with commander of prison where Huber Matos . is incarcerated. Matos believes PADILLA, the prison commander, would assist ad Bs | QCrrorr
Pe em Ne eae eaten el en RU sar wee RT Nay eM RDN Matias tneertntne stn ©: File review of Marnel Ray Volume ii of xvili Page } him in an escape. Ray interested in single operation to get military defectors and free Matos. Wants to effect plan on 11/27/60. Ray wants assistance from U.S. -- military information and supplies. 18. 11/24/60 cable to Director from JMASH Meeting with AMCHIRP-1 on 11/23, revealed he had information that MRP in Hevana had capabilities to blow up power plant and TV stations in Hav: “om a diversionary tactic planned to coordinate with Isle of Pines operation. Ray expects Isle of Pines operation support about 12/15/60. * Notation about Cable: “Operation Unity" is to create dramatic show which will demonstrate that Manolo Ray is wrong when telling contacts in U.S. that his group is the only one capable of action." - 19. 11/24/60 Cable to Director from Havana. Operation Unity involves MRR, MDI, OA, 30th of November Group and MAR (not MAR of PEPIN RIVERO). MAR and OA groups to blow electric cables in Regla area, MDC group, at same time, to make assassination attempt on CARLOS RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ at University of. Havana. 20. 11/30/60 Cable to Director from Havana JULIO ANGEL METRE edvised planning to travel to Miami 12/1/60 escorted by Brazilian amhassador to Panama. Accompanied by ambassador's wife. MESTRE will be_introduced to Ray and will offer services of MDC to Ray at that time. Mestre says plan is approved by "DR. WCAS" (JOSE FERNANDEZ BADUE) MDC coordinator in Cuba. SECRET
Prneneeot \ ; . SEC RET netsy palmer \ Review of Manuel Ray y Rivero Files, Volumes I ~ VIII April 24, 1978 Volume VET _ July 1962 ~ August 1962_ 1. Cable dated July 2, 1962 to Director from San Juan Glear that Manolo Ray wooked upon with great favor by Puerto Rican government. No evidence, however, that Puerto Rican government is supporting the MRP. - Believe record will show that while our past contact with Ray has not always been happy one, it always revealing of Ray's intentions. 2. Memo for Chief, Task Force W from Alfonso Rodriguez 12 July 1962 Subject: Manolo Ray Rivero “Ray has indicated to WAVE sources that whereas he is not persona grata with the Agency, he has important political connections in Washington and is thus kept informed of mich of the Agency's activities. Ray's new organization is not to be military or engage in military thrusts against Cuba because military activity is presently controlled by the Agency and cannot be wrested from it at this time. Ray's new organization will cooperate with the Consejo and attempt to move in on it with the ultimate aim of taking over and dominating it." 3- Memorandum for Chief, Task Force W from Alfonson Rodriguez 25 July 1962 Subject: -Manolo Ray Meeting in New York Ray sorry he joined FRD prior to April invation. Let tide of time suck him in and take him along. Obvious to him that show run in good faith but bad judgment. Ray discusses hope that JURE will be long-lasting organization in Cuba. Ray's political views ase assessed as democratically oriented, and if he became ruler of Cuba, his greatest preoccupation would be with economic progress. Rodriguez says Ray is not to be under- estimated. Commands respect because he is well educated and has something to contribute. 4, Ray begins to give information about possible defectors from Castro. Cable dated 25 July 1962 reports that Ray told Willard R. Neuman that Armando Hart Davalos is a feasible target. former mgr., Kings Ranch, Cube *h. Additional information to a July 1952 memorandum from Jack Melond (named on interoffice route slip). Information obtained from difference sources from persons close to Ray and their views are complete reliable. Rey did not leave Castro's cabinet because of ideological or policy discrepancies with Castro but because of a heated discussion with the Minister of Labor. Martinez Sanchez, who almost shot Ray after a Cabinet meeting. ‘The sources of information agree that Ray is not any different than Castro. Some of them believe he may not have completely severed his relations with Castro and think Be may still be in contact with him. Diplomatic relations were suspended but recognition was not withdrawn. No Memo from Jack Maloney dated July 15, 1962 Cover letter addressed sto C. Mechen, Says Ray’ gs ethics are poor and he is capable of sacrifycing “his ow kin and friends if euch sacrifice turns out in favor of his personal plans. Claims Ray is irresponsible and ignorant of present international conditions and particularly of the Cuban social and economic reality. SFCRET
SECRET petey vatner Manolo Ray Volume VII continued Quotes Ray as having said, "When I was Minister of Public Works, we, the inner circle of the Department, took a course in Marxist economics, and if what we were taught is communism, I must say that communism is not as bad as it is claimed to be." 8. Report on visit with Ray in Puerto Rico during first week of June, 1962, submitted by Winterrowd through Walt Raymond. Winterrowd states his general impression of Ray was a good one <-~ seems of be a moderate, intelligent man, a little given to hysteria and slogan-mongering. Best quality is in his skill as an organizer : 9. Cable to Director from JMWave, dated Aug 15, 1962 DIR Cite WAVE 7052 Ray had meeting in Miami area 11 or 12 August in which an informant says Ray stated that he has arsenals in Venezuela and fominican Republic, has a B-26 plane, territory available for training in Costa Rica and, has the support through indirect means of U.S. Has invited journalists from New York Times and Time Magazine to cover his announcement of the formation of JURE. 2 7o 10. Cable to Mexico City from Director, dated 6 August 65 says Ray plans to travel to Central America late August or September and needs visitors visa for Mexico. Says he has close acquaintance and wants to make personal effort to recruit him or talk him into defecting. CIA makes inquiries in an effort to obtain visa for Ray. q ll. Cable to Director from San Juan, dated August 20, 1962. Ray believes Llanusa will defect but needs financial support. . Jose Gelabert to make pitch to Llanusa. Later cable says CIA willing to offer Llanusa $5, 000, 12. Cable to Mexico City from Director, 23 August 1962 with directions to proceed to procure visa permit but make every effort to conceal U.S. connection. Ray had agreed in N.Y. meeting to make recruitment or defection effort towards Cuban Ambassador in Mexico. 13. Memo to Chief, Task Force from Alfonso Rodriguez dated 2 sug 1962 Subject: Operational Use of Ray Expenditure of Funds Rodriguez feels beginning collaboration with Ray can be based on three _ specific proposals: 1. creation of an intelligence network inside Cuba 2. creation of recruitment or defection capability to assist our efforts in MEXI, RIO, S4aGO, and MONT 3. immediate effort to recruit in place Carlos ILEGHUGA and Raul PRIMBLIES. Recommends paying Ray 334,700 over a six month period to begin this initial operation. f2 “7 oF IO 7 ~~