Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 UscC 2107 Hote}. DATE: 11-14-2017 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE : DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE: CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW: COMMENTS : v9.1 Doclda: 32301775 Page 1 OPENING CRITERIA : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-10279-10113 HQ CR 105-91841-39 Document Information SEE TITLE [Restricted] [Restricted] 00/00/0000 20 [Restricted] PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Secret 1B; 1C; 4 Redact 11/14/1997 INDEFINITE Date: 4/22/201
nxt 16th May, 1967. oP Hey lf | James HAWTHORNE 7 | f) MD. Cla sila d bye RS 50 , Weber 3 Declassify on: Please refer to my memoranda reference SF.52/5 of 9th February and 7th March 1967, and to your memoranda in reply at” dated 17th February and 2nd March 1967. w p al a “ a : \ Be 2. In view of the serious security implications of the As, nh eee allegations relating to plans to smuggle arms into the Bahamas} *-” ha) from Europe, and the need to elicit the truth of these allegations," Ne contact with HAWIHORNE was maintained both in the Bahamas and in wy Le. Europe, which he visited again in March allegedly to make contact , 3 with those concerned with arms smuggling. He did in fact leave “i for Europe via the U.K. (where he was refused permission to land ve being already the subject of an exclusion order) on 21st March, ~ some two days before (so I understead) your Miami Office notified the Bahamas Police that he is currently regarded as a fugitive, fe ° 3. During the course of his visit to Europe, he and his a - > contacts have been subjected to an intelligence type investigation allie while at the same time contact has been maintained with HAWTHORNE for the purposes of determining the truth or otherwise of his 5 *s wa story. . aa pO Le As a result of our investigations we are now satisfied tha we (a) HAWTHORNE's story about arms being purchased in “ Europe for use in the Bahamas is without substance, / Qe “ht . and (b) HAWTHORNE did have some part to play in plans in- | oy volving certain other U.S. as well as U.K. citizens to ship arms (within the letter of the law) to Central QF PELs -NI«6 America with'’a purchase certificate to be provided a py the Nicaraguan Government, and possibly for trans- MAY 1 7 1967 shipment elsewhere. This deal is be eved to be worth 4,000,000 dollars, and no doub his American contact, Sa amuel \BE ANTON, (at present in, London) hoped to nake a “handsome pr 2 Sane aan De HAWTHORNE was last Weare” OF by us stayife at the} -~. Brankfurterhof Hotel in Frankfurt, Germany, as,@ guest in either “8 Room 126 or 162, and registered in the name of} RICHARDS /- actua dy ea the name of his recently acquired British reiweeet AWMRICHAR | ' He is without. funds even to cover a hotel bilds and (least of all: his telephone bill for calls m \ 2 . the eceey a Clubsin London, to 3 PARRA (@: FARRARA) | Dino’\CELLINI\in Madrid and Lis and to. Rayon _| his English accomplice, in .arre enginprpghe mee referred to at d (b) above. . AoE Tp e. Gy Gap fw 4 “4 ‘ eyey Feead ares) a in 4 Se of \ 6 Oe Sabo be” inpormation sen Gamers as at paragraph "5 i, \ above to Mr., ,Bledso¢e today by telephone, and ‘said that ASMP Bega Se ed we had no Se for HAWTHORNE iy ape would - oH ick he | | [ \ .we were cone! an Doclda: 32301773 Page 2?
eu under7the John F. Kennedy A i = sHe2017 fy edy Assassination Records Collection Act~o ; Poe Sie | Bs 92 (44 USC 2107 Hotes 3} ‘ vie ta oN. 2 Ae \y hen U! : he nd be glad +6 see you take appropriate action in conjunction with the West German police authorities, subject to the source of your information not being quoted outside the F.B.I. - 7. As a service we are not concerned with arms traffic to Central America and.will be making no further enquiries on this matter. Nevertheless, we think you may find the various reports of our contacts with HAWTHORNE to be of interest both in the Domestic Intelligence and Special Investigative Division, and in this connection I attach:- (a) A Security Service internal memorandum dated 21st March 1967. | , (bo) A Security Service surveillance report dated tuth “ bod April, referring +o a meeting between RalphyPaRRA Envy Een @XPARRARA (porn 26 February.1918.and on record with ds'as an associate of arms trafficking up to 4956), and a U.S. citizen named Louis KUZIN. (c) A Security Service note of 27th April headed OXFORD (the code name used for the operation involving HAWTHORNE) . (4) A press cutting dated 28th March 4965 which appears to relate to the KENNEDY referred to in the report . at (c) above. | | ; A (e) A Security Service note on a meeting with HAWTHORNE | i. in Frankfurt, 28thn/29th April. (f) A note of a telephone conversation subsequent to the meeting at (e)- (g) A note on Sam BRENTON dated May 1967, prepared as 4 ' prief for Special: Branch, Scotland Yard in the hope that they would feel able to interview BENTON while — in the U.K. In the event this intefview aid not take place. . , 8. The paper at (g) above refers to pDinckeELLINI in Toronto; {oi the R.C.M.P. have been advised of this possibility. | The latest ., ,4:, information we have about the arms order which HAWTHORNE and his ea ee Parcs ~- friends were ony hae is eventually destined for Peru, and that an Woe! A an atin, ., American compan mericas Finansaz Inc" of New york, may be the. ™ intermediaries: ac mt LMS 9. The information HAWTHORNE gave about a Venezuelan freighter, off loading arms at Cooperstomm to a person named GAWYER is, we believe entirely without foundation. Regarding the other references in the material referred to above to Columbia and Panama, We propose .~40 report on these ourselves to c.T.A. as soon aS we are able to I y . complete a balanced report which willtake into account all in- : “, formation available to us. 4 ? { vi \y Encs: / ; DocId: Page 3 ; {.- ;
Released under the John EF. Kennedy (Assassination Records ‘Collection’ Act of 199? (a4 USC 2107" Note y- CT" BRTE: “1i- -T4- “2017 — : _ Lee “Janes Russell HAWTHORNE = OxheD, 20)! . \ “The above named arrived at. London Airport | on Tuesday . 21st March at 08.30 hours. Following advice from the Governor Bahamas -prior warning of his arrival was given to the Chief Inmigration Officer '- who was also asked to give the Security Service and/or Special F Branch the opportunity to interview hin. : 2. HAWTHORNE was to be refused leave to. lana under the ‘terms of the entry in the Home Of ffice Suspect Index. © SG , 3. He auly arrived and informed the Innigration Officer that he. 8 had married (at Nassau in mid-February) a British Subject - Marion RICHARDS ~ ~~ ,. who was now staying at the Carlton Towers. In-view of this new circumstance © ' the case was referred to the Home Office who confirmed that HAWTHORNE should - not. be allowed to enter the U.K. : = Pa London Airport. I introduced myself as arranged by HSB. Bahamas and* “ subsequently had a Special Branch representative ‘join, Me. I Antroduced him. Ke “as @ “colleague” - HAWIHORNE was not given my name. - 5a In questioning HAWEHORNE I confined myself to two broad : objectives:~ | | | | | i] \ \ t | 4 | _ oo 4. , In the neantine we had been advised of the arrival and I/went to. | a). to check the story previously told by AVRHORNE of his 7 | |, visit to Geneva in December 1966. rc ‘ oe i) ‘to establish the reason for his present visit, what his pe  " antentions. were, who his contacts-<rore to bevand finally. f Poa howe the Government of the Bahamas was involved. tee OS ; aa ° ” . . vou December Visit to Geneva ee Be Regarding (i) HAWTHORNE told me. ‘that, shortly after his | rae arrival in London he had nade contact withi~ a a et (a) Ralph FARRA a _ oe -(b)> Len WESTON - Enalend (ec) Vick ? . o He knew that he could meet these individuals” in the ‘coffee ‘shop of ‘the Hilton Hotel any afternoon and that. they would organise the- supply. of arDS. | es With WESTON and Vick, in the latter's Jaguar, . ‘the party drove to Geneva .~ .. ' crossing the channel at. Dover. -HANTHORNE travelled under his” ‘own name ‘but. .. @id not remember which port he arrived:.at in France nor where Switzerland - -was entered - he was asleep for nost ‘of the time. He said that he did not | - have any entries in his passport for this trip.as the immigration ‘formalities “had not required this. He did not on either the outward or inward. boat e have to fill in any landing cards. He had had. to visit-a passport’ officer. ° ‘on board the ferry but was unable to give & satisfactory desorption of the. Broosdarer eee a oR The ‘trip: to Geneva took. one day and ‘the party arrived a one 2 Arter ‘the’ Letter. < of Credit: was. found 1 unsccaptabie. ald returned. Docld: 32301773 Page 4
i IMATE: 11- 14- 2017 § pe - oo o oO . A. eleased under the John F. Kennedy ‘Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 {44 USC 2107 Noper. ba be .: immediately to London. He then went to South Wales to the home of --  Maiss. RICHARDS. He kept their room. on at the Cariton Towers: during® . v the | whole of his visit to the ‘UR. Bo oat 8. During the time he was in London. FARRA, WESTON and Vick Ay . ..’  @oncluded an arms deal worth 444000, 000 Sollarse, HAWTHORNE did not. oo i -. - know the details, - oom an i a msg, -  - Because of HAWTHORNE" 8 failure to give satisfactory - yo ... Circumstantial detail of his visit to Geneva I an convinced that this 2 _| trip did not in fact take place. Loe io Sos 8 . Phe Gurrent Visit to Geneva Oe — a a ste 406 ne | asked HANTHORNE if he would now produce the Letter of a | Ho Gredit which was to have been handed to him at Nassau prior to his |... =I. ae C } 5. > - departure. He said that.this had not in fact happened and that BENTON — fo..  .7 +! bad.taken this from Miami or New York to London and was now at the. | ~". Garlton Towers where he would give it to HAWTHORNE, I also asked . HAWTHORNE, for identifying details including addresses of the three __ individuals at (a) (b) and (c) above, but he said that his wife, who had travelled in advance of hin, had’ these in her baggage at the Carlton ~ i - 3°. Powers. All that he could recall was that YESTON' s flat was close to ho ea 2s the. Cunberland Hotel. { \ 446 oe As a result of further questioning HAWTHORNE said. that he had come to London at the present time at the behest of McLANEY and his role .. Was to make the necessary introduction to FARRA and the. ‘others; For . ‘this .. “S- service he would get 10% of the Letter of Credit which was for the sum of fo ass 250,000 dollars. He did not then know at which Bank ‘this was*to be draw. x ~.' ..:\ Having got this detail of the order from BENTON. (who did not kiow FARRA - and the others) HAWTHORNE would make the. necessary contacts at the. Hilton - ,and from there he would then go to Geneva. io draw the money, pay this — oo -* -* over with” the order and then collect his. 10586" HAWTHORNE. did not imow.. - ~~». What the delivery details would be but he thought that the Bahamas were Kp. ~. the point of unloading. He did not Jcnow for -whom the’ arms were required - | "Joss he admitted that it was difficult to ‘see what use, ‘Premier Pindling could ~., make of them although he inferred that Pindling’ ‘knew of! the transaction. “2 He thought that KeLANEY' s intention was to resell at a a ‘profit elsewhere a "then the Bahamas. Bo ne oe oe 42s os Referring to PROBINSKY, HAWTHORNE said that he | was MeLANEY' 8 7 on" pdght hand man: who had been part. of the investment in the Bahamas. -. MeLANEY had brought Pindling to power and. now expected gambling concessions, -.:” PROBINSKY had an office next to Pindling' s and the latter turned: to | | ‘ “.. PROBINSKY for advice and guidance.. -PROBINSKY * was aware of the reason for © “"y.. HAWTHORNE! s present trip.- PROBINSIY had visited London in Bebruary | and vi Was now beck in Nassau. oe. fy o eeeet re 43. I asked ‘BANITHORNE what he would do if he | was ‘finally refused oe wo * Leave to land (at that time the Home Office was still considering his case). ol. > He had not considered alternative arrangezents: but would have. to consider . this with his wife. He had already rung her at the Carlton Towers and : _ She was. on her. way. to the Airport ready. to accompany him. .. He “did not: see - any point in going on to Geneva and was vague in his. replies. when asked a What action, if anys he would take to ‘pursue. the contact with Ten WESTON “and Vioke., is cs ae ; pee - coh: tra Et a tr mer Seen enc AC ke tenis ce Sandia gc a meme tonne agp ace Doclda: 32301775 Page 5
” Released under the ° John. F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44° use 2107 Hofey. DATE: ,11-14- 2017. . ; : ae : Ue, . Little progress was , being made. at this stage of the interview, -, HAWTHORNE being more interested in knowing why he was refused leave to land and speculating as to whether it was “because of his gambling antecedent. He admitted he was wanted by the Belgians and also that he had -been sentenced to ten years in the U.S.A. but. had not served the sentence as by appeals he _ had had this reduced to two years and he was still appealing. This process had cost him 1,000,000 dollars and his view was ‘that the U.S. authorities were nore interested in brealcing people such as hin financially than in a putting them in gaol. . : . 7 re >) ae I accordingly broke off the necting.” I subsequently discussed . an “| -the course of the meeting with the Special Branch representative. He agreed . ©): “ $o question HAWTHORNE's wife on her arrival at the Airport. He also under - - took to warn Dover to keep a look out for BENTON in case he tried to. | i o. ’ wendezvous with HAWTHORNE on the continent. I provided BENTON'S particulars a8 furnished by the F.B.I. _ ee : 16. . _° After my - return to Head Office the. ‘Special Branch . representative - - rang me to say that HAWTHORNE and his wife were on their way to Frankfurt . in oN en route for Luxembourg, and also that HAYTHORNE, in ‘order to avoid having oa - his wife questioned had admitted that. he did have’ in his’ possession a Adentitying particulars of FARRA and Cow, Waich are as follovws:- _ PARRA ~ Telephone No. Ambassador 7733 oO MO - eye Extension 496 - Apartment N. nen hone ene Se WESTON ~ Telephone No. Paddington W155 pe a Je eet ee Adress 2 34 Scourcliff Close, Wel. - i Te oe 7 at ie po hee Anbassador 4350 oo me, oe ge was also established that, his wife's previous London address was Flat E10 se (.0%. Sloane Avenue Mansions and that she was ‘travelling on her 1958. passport. She . ; _ was very surprised at what had happened | and did not appear to: be in her ee j.~. >... Busband's: confidence about the reason” ‘for. ‘his présent trip. HATHORNE’ had © cs". 2. previously said that she had come to the ‘USK. to visit. her parents at Easter.” ; oo She Was Gissappointed that he would not see then, . BO a be fo Loo o 17. Before: HAWTHORNE left he showed some ‘interest | in a identifying foe George RAFT's solicitor. oo Sha a — ae 1B. oe Regarding further contect HAWTHORNE was tola- to ring ‘the 8.3. - office at LAP who would then if necessary, get in ‘touch with Mee . me a" a 19.0 A subsequent enquiry made at the Carlton Towers revealed that RENTON had not arrived by 22nd March 1967. and was not. staying there by . as 22nd idarch 1967 either under his” “own name or the aliases he is known to. Use. oO Docld: 32301775 Page 6
ern Ate John F. Kennedy J Assassination Records Collection Act of 1592 DATE :211-1962017 ~~ | oe of ph Bey cee Ms -sBoRer 1 O a _ Section. Dionne 7 an | - 7 7 Subject. vhesatee BARROW... et een > Officer ..... Ae Be. ace a "Nickname. Aa ene nee sa a i ae nl li “AA Ret. cose Be QU5. Sea 3. L he: Copy £0 sntnnnnnninisininnnn a ee mos 7 PF. Ne seasesecseseaveeees . Day.,..BrAday..ceeee. betters Date cecudett.ckn aril. MOET ecclecee bese - : 7 | Following’ your telephone request on the after noon of Friday 14th April we were able to get some of P24 cers to the Grosvenor House at 16.00 hours, . 2. , Initially | our officers could not identicy any= one as FARROW from the photographs in their posession, Ce in the lounge of the hotel. However, our officers did discover two’ characters who seemed likely to be of interest and a certain amount was heard of the conversation to-, wards the end. of ‘their tea, Be as | . hou Kuz MS 7 : : 3. The two. men taking par part in“thrs*mgeting, are . referred to hereafter as the cockney" and a man who wes subsequently identified as Loui skKUZIN of 19106 viest 8 an Mile Road, Southfield (Detroit) Michi gan, U.S.A, Uris ey Wa iS employed” by Shelly Company. UZIN-is (or. wes) Enat an . Staying in room 809 of the Grosvenor House for four RLERts, ‘He was due to leave on Monday 17th, His American pess— Port number is AL 127202 | issued in New York, ~~ Se FET NAeN ny a oo oS From 16, 00 to 16, 45. the - teockney* monopolized the conversation and KUZIN listened apparently intently, . oo ? n ) en oe 5. The Following Snippets of convers ation were ’ gleaned:-— : a) . The cockney snoxe about jewelry. and said ‘The , ee _ next time Iv saw it Marge was Wearing it pb) Hey was next heard to talk. about Ben and Fran=— oot, ©@olse concerned in an event in. Paris which , “involved 826, 000. a re ota : 2 e) our officer thought. he heard the nanes Vie. _ and Bet mentioned. : a) He ‘then. talked about "scrap! ; referred té ‘sone= - body as a“ttank! and later talked at length about Germany. Our officer gathered that he. 7... had bought some goods in Germany for $20, 000. o "and their true value was 28150, 000.. He talked ~ of séme goods which our officer interpreted . to be assemblies of. some sort, probably. engines. aan or the ike for mechanical. vehicles of some sort, | /He méntioned . «. Docld: 32301775 Page fF
' Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination. ‘Records Collection Ack: OF1922. (44 USC ANd: _ DATE: 11-14- RE Co : ae Soe ny ao A 4 ‘SURVEILLANCE. REPORT pe ‘Satin Es ee Subject. ese ean ee LO Officer niece teesiennieneed Nickname.acicscsesnnneesncnsins sates “ (oe COPY £0 eee ceseetseeeesetesriesee \ i: oD od A (0 | oot ce OP i co , : I 8 AA Rc cccccccssecssseeessnnssesssseciseciensenee Poot - DAY ....scsccssesscssescesssesecsceseeees Datie....ccceccsessessssesssssseesessoeees sesvesseveses veveee 7 | . po . - | I. Co CO - - . oe ow He mentioned. the fieure of 1650 in connection a oo ; ce with these, items and this brought a whistle of ! amazement from KUZIN. f _ four officer | - -- e)., He also mentioned 200 Tanks but / could not | ee ce gether any other details or this, : . ar eS | oe ft) It appeared that KuZIN is going to Germany and J ie Cs part of the reason for this trio is to see © Dee oe Fe  . WHoffnert. He is going to Darmstat and Manhien, Te a i ~All this was overheard from the cockney, who- suggested tnat AUZIN should stay at the Palace an ‘Hotel in Manaiem, it being the best. - : He also mentioned the names Jao B1lis and Joe 4 on et Levy, and our. officer also thought ne said tha t Ralph (pronounced Raylph) was ‘coming to join — them at Grosvenor House at five o'clock, Sevéral - ‘other towns in Germany were mentioned, the most frequent being. Frankfurt, but our officer could © gather no details of this. | The cockney spoke © h) “From 16.45 until they separated at 17.30 XUZIN- joined in the conversation but our officer Was not in a position to hear’ wnat he said. , ; 6. Both the men Frequently admired and remarked on 1 young attractive girls who happened to’ pass throush the Hotel lounge. Even to the extent that their conversation would cease. abruptly while each concentrated on | _bhe passing of _ the (girl in question. — an ae 2 When they parted KUZIN stooped the cockney paying the _ bill and told the waiter to charge it.to room 809, The cockney left the hotel and got into a grey Jaguar KY XK iM 140 D.. KUZIN collected his key and disappeared upstairs. io : 8, These events were reported to you verbally by our me officers, © oe —— Pee ef ke ZaAnaAnnm_- of money on several ‘occasions, always large sums . ~ and elneys in dollars. - De eee Docld: 32301775 Page &
} oo ee ap Ee “ 7 ae ao “Subject. eeeerecee SH ede eee eee eee eoetaseresedereenseeoesnore { - Officer a eceeessesseneneneneneteneeae | 5 ee ‘Nickname. vous eas © COPY tO vrrncnsennennenmnnnannananen 8 * PRY NOsssssuennnnssesnsnsitivegiannen i ) : AA Rebeccnmnnnnnnennnninnrnetecen | Cee ere e er rrr errr Dayecseicscsecsssecsssneessssees sues Dates rccsenen veeeecccvnes rer ere ee rrereerreer yyy t | .) , | 9 “Attached isa , photograph of the cockney who ; . is described as foll ows:— a , . - : e , . } 4 . British male aged 45 - 48, Heicht 5'9'-10", an 7 _.Medium build, Large round head, lisht esrey “4 hair on sides, bald on top. Round face, _ tanned” “: ese. °. complexion. Broad nose, wide nostrils.- aa | “i. -.. .'*. + Wearing dark blue suit, blue shirt , blue tie “d ~ "and black leather shoes, Of very smart aonearance, a ; . Smoked cigarettes and spoke witha a cockney Ae ‘ / accent, os ane - ee SS mo ie \ ~ 10... KUZIN is described as follows:- . . American male aged h2-45, Height. 5'74%-9", ae " Medium build, Long héad, dark brown Kai: is _on left hank side, Thin face, sallow compl Long thin nose-which has been broken Some tin . ; Wearing black mac, black mohair suit, Slack ‘ shoes. Smoked cigarettes and svoke with 2 American accent. Had a large gold ring witha * Fs _Tuby in it on the sméki finger, _ An nes “48th | aprid, 2967 WDH/PuG Enc. Docld: 32301773 Page 3
oe vm, ‘Released uniler the John F. Kennedy Assassination & DATE: 11-14-2017 ©. , ‘ —_@ a rr . an NN _— a 0K oxwory Lo -  OxFoRD re-establishea contact on 2hth April, 1967 and@erhnand - gaid that he was about to return to Nassau. Without prompting he anna admitted that he wes unable to rendezvous with Ralph PARRA in. _ feneriffe but edded thet he had seen him when on his way back to _ the U.K. , Here he was clearly lying as it is knowm FARRA returned to the U.K. direct from Hadrid and that since his return he has not left the J.K. OXFORD said that everything was now organised and it © has been arranged to see him in Frankfurt on Friday 28th after which it is his intention to return forthwith to Nassau. ur -g,.° °° FARRA has continued to avoid OXFORD and in the last week =. “there has been no direet contact between them.  CHPORD, However, is 7 _reported to have spoken to FAERAts girlfriend who was non-committal in her replies when OXFORD enquired about prozress. FARA has been .". peported as admitting that LepXWAINSTAIN) has been leaving his Enal aN “‘phone"off the hock “to avoid HAWIHURNE and other people who were trying = .. to get hold of hin. 3. > «Perhaps, however, the-most interesting report has been — one which relates to a business negotiation 4m which FARRA and Vick | are undertaking in respect of a susply of arms to Nicaragua. An . order for these is being arranged through somecne called KENNEDY. , Pull details of the order are not known but included is ammunition» for "lobe anti tank recoilers". These recoilers are reported as being "rifles 140 or 140 Al or 10 A 1C. 300 to S00 are required and the ammunition is 106 millimetres. 8 HEAT M544 A 1 with fuse, ‘: specification P.1.B. 3501, quantity 50,C0O0 to 100,000 or nore". he Acoording to our informant this is.2 genuine order from _ ‘Hicaragua (as others have been ‘in the past) and there is an "end | - yser certificate’ and contract. FARRA has pointed out that the ’. Wicaraguans are working as intermediaries and have cone to FARRA's _. gouree of supply as the order cannot be net in the United States. “"- Reference was also made to "four months” and the*impression given. ‘gg that this is the time which would elapse between placing the | ~ order and delivery. There was nothing in this report te indicate “s. that either OXFORD.or the Bahamas are involved mith"this perticular — L- TheLKENNEDY mentioned above may be a person who was. reported in the U.K. Press (The Observer) a year or two.ago as. - involved in a proposal to supply arms to South Africa through. -. Nicaragua. A copy of this press statement is being obtained and  “4P available in time for the current bag will be enclosed, if not _° dt will follow in due course. | AN. Docld: 323501778 Page 10
Released under thet DATE: 11-14-2047.) "FROM THE. PRESS SECTION. | THE OBSERVER 2 8 MAR 1965 oeecacsesens -CLEN URNESS: ‘I can - rrange anything from a battle- -ship toa textile plant provided 4 : it is degal.’, arn ‘Swiss banks’ ° “The elaborate moves - are ' “ mecessary because of’. neat-total’ : international -ernbargoes on arms | to South Africa. Among the: i countries which have given the LT TPCT I ae J A ON tem ne mnt ee et ater ee ; U.N. an undertaking not to export- # * arms which would aid the enforce-- ment of apartheid are Britain and © Belgium. A definite order from a- 2 third “friendly” country is neces-" sary before the arms can be moved out of. Belgium. ; : .* ‘Another man able to add. a ‘piece © * to-the overall’ picture is (322year- sold © Me’ John Kennedy; ex-.; E ; manager of singer Tommy Steele. | E « According to Mr Kennedy an: i = attempt was made—unsuccessfully i “by ERIC CLARK —to arrange. meetings with the + a and ANDREW WILSON + Panamanian Ambassador © 10° ot <4 7 London, Sencr Eusebio Morales. : =: , Fs : THE United Nations ‘has. been, yk The arms order—said to be part... ~H ; warmed’ of an international { : ; of a long-term net worth a bend i Re ~ {4 than million” sterling—will be ¢ os » Private operation— centred tk |: paid for. with ® money © already , H oO carry out a multi- | ~ deposited in Swiss banks. 7. E ; million - pound arms shipment} ” In his-third-floor office‘in the i _f “into South Africa. - fh City Mr Furness, an accountant,‘ eB "Perfectly legal, but loaded with ©} | ‘Said: “ As for-me, I’ aminot doing... a6 nef political repercussions, this opera- . | "'—and I. would never do=-anything | 308 N KENNEDY :) If any "oy Ey tion is aimed at avoiding national | .. that is illegal ‘or which ‘thought - Ni he. smup ‘arms toe embargoes and U.N. resolutions. Nicaragua “he _ would’ have I It illustrates the devious methods, | Africans | ‘are out’ _ American gunboats breathing . ; ‘the Verwoerd Government has to. { - 8m solely: a_ conta i ‘down his neck.’ ae by ‘use to. get round the now bigbly | the arms business,“ can arrange‘’*# ” ae G effective UN. embargo. “feuile from a battleship to 3 : or oo ee fs . ternational arn s. to, textile plan provided. it is cea aon nied nn rder some} e 7 “ bave been. n informed hat South Two bare © they were for. If it wasarevolue °° FI q | tiga, is ready of small: a aie : tion I'd want to be sure that it f ~~ @ Fe © “One of the principal figures able’ | rooms . eo See feria interet oor any | H ‘to throw light on this particular -. Mr Furness has occupied “£6: “a=: “ | usual in this respect. . Lots of them — as * operation is a self-styled British “| | week furnished. accommodation in**| | are only" “interested in the end toe ti sarms “contact man: "——57-year- ~ _Selborne Road, Hove, Sussex," 21 profit.” _ “te. | Un 7 old: Mr. Clem Furness, who oper- ; ih since October. last year. He is} /.. He said he will: not. deal with toe “ates through the small City pre- |; known by neighbours ‘as-an elec- % the ‘Middle East I don't want t : b mises of an old- established family : ‘trical businessman. His London : | be- the. man:.to ° : 3 end —_ io put . the spark i in., poo. BY business. = spe a" [ib Office, where we interviewed him, *}- | the powder-keg.” , i ee Mr. Furness, Wwhoi in the past has: ‘| consists of two bare, almost un-.. - Would -he arran re” “deals: | ee arranged arms for-Dr Castro in Ei furnished rooms ‘in Devonshire “| South Africa?" S th Aftiesy s in ; { we Cuba” and the late. Premier. i Row. They are- ts as the] 4] Bet arms." Iga ft 90u rica wi Ve Lumumba in the Congo, says the: |). London premises of Lewis and_: os -ontact:“ ring ” between. the’: iH Hall (Electrical) Ltd.,; a '32-year=" Joa in © Supply arris from a country fg, uppliers aid- the “South: African |. old+firm of electrical’ contractors 1 fri would not be atl fare Pees ‘ Government is now on the point |) awith registered offices in High” ! aa d add ae twa thn et: -of completion. *- +: .. |.) /Street, Birmingham, 14. 1 go ‘aythin that ¥ ‘itle The "An attempt has beent made td eet} i. Present-at the interview was. his . cn ge SP Africans at was i exa it he - B h hipped frorn Belgium 'to™ ‘aide. a Mr Smith,..who said: Jefe - st for . Fms Tor thee ~ fhe. arms 5 Pc LA 8 co Lewis. and Hall are nothing to. -defence, not for aggression. i icaragua. in Central America— do with this side of the business.”. >.“ im not a man who would per. Where they would have stayed for N Mr Furness, a white-haired. be-- ’sonally buy or hold any-arms. If. =a. few weeks before being. “W pectacled Yorkshireman, talked “1 | YOu came in now and offered me * exported 13 South: Africa. SL Aaf bit part in the international ++ P them for fiye bob I wouldn't touch ia veneredesisiniet YD vcs inaee ante} them.” Docld: 323501778 Page 11
“FROM THE Press SECTION. : THE 0 OBSERVER Business” builder. EE ": Mr Furriess and Mr Kennedy, -: I head of John Kennedy and Co.,. [Ee a public relations firm in Knightsbridge, met early this year a | -at a London hotel. ‘; Me Kennedy, the. man Who launched Tommy Steele, was ‘brought up in New Zealand. He: came to Britain in 1950. * practi- cally penniless.” “By 1960, after : finding Steele, he was admitting to. owning investments totalling be- “tween £30,000 and £40,000. ‘ested in the Panama Free Zone as . Mr Kennedy, who'was once de- . ‘s¢ribed as a man who takes over | ‘ailing businesses, builds them up . £ sand sells out at the peak, is inter- part of his public relations busi- “fess. He knows Central America... “:.“ Thad been mentioned to Fur-. “ness because it was known that 1. in That was- the country. Furness was inter- | ested in.” : {knew the Somoza family ? Nicaragua,” he said. - The Somozas: Who: lude a’ ‘former Presidetit! Control ali the. | ‘essential services in Nicaragua, . i ither directly: or through the - ;hands of their nominees: Kennedy ‘said that | he and ‘Furness: talked of a huge stock- . ' ipile of arms, said to be in Belgium, “ The: :that South Africa wanted. ‘Belgians. were willing to' release ‘them from the’country provided” -they had an order from a Govern- Mr Kennedy went on: “Itany- 1 ment and materials “for. ‘arms one did-,try,"to ship ating. to . ‘ Nicaragua. he would have ‘Ameri- # ‘can gunboats breathing dow his Vheck. It just isn’t possible; a - The idea’ that arms. cou dered by.., Nicaragua; -impotted | nto the cojintzy,: and“after three .| “weeks or so—when everything hdd’ ; -been settled—shipped to, South «j . aMfrica,. just isn’t practical, te Doclda: 32301775 Page 12 ; | upon + ‘Request for” ‘a meeting € now: knew that anyone helping ship arms to South Africa would ”! ; be “doing something the, British j Government is.against.” “” 2 8 MAR 1965. " Date.. sesenacensececceseceseccnss ° Mr Kennedy also said that he A . | :- “He said he had been asked to an " + arrange a meeting with: -Senor, | ‘ Morales, 54, the man who -has ' been Panamanian Ambassador in ' a “66 I . . ‘Britain since last year. * wouldn’ t arrange it,” he added.: i ~ South Aftica—through’ -Parlia- i mentary statements and Press : “reports—has claimed in. recent} . , months that the country is self- .j° { sufficient in the production of : ¥ smail arms and.ammunition. The . : ‘arms are produced in South Africa -_ ; by the South ‘African mint, the | | Defence Ordnance factories and: | | three factories‘set up by the Afri- <j" and - _ Chemical . ican Explosive’ Industries Ltd. a But despite South Aftica’s own: output, Dr Verwoerd’s Govern- ¥j.-° -- ment-is: known to have sought :{~"*’ purchases. of arms :f -. ranging -from pistols to aircraft ae substantial from European countries. . / AUN. Security Council resolu- tion of August., ‘7, 1963, called “all States to cease forth-. -with the sale’ and. shipment | of arms, Africa.” That. the sale and shipment of equip- condemned: Most U.N. * -tiembers: ‘agreed. The Belgian Government said: “ The’ Belgium ¢ ammunition. of all types” and military . vehicles to: South’ ‘resolution’ was | followed by another on December, 4 that year calling for.an end to. ‘accordance with this attitude to” " t givé effect to paragraph\ 5 of. the.: el joo , . 4 Government, “ which on numerous occasions has | -condemned the. racial policy of | ‘the Government of the Republic’ = = «of South Africa, has decided in... ~ : Security Council resolution on’: ; December 4, 1963, by ceasing the - | sale of equipment and materials} © 2.95: . [ for the manufacture and mainten-*.: ‘ance of arms and ammunition ins) | South Africa.” ‘ A Belgian Government: spokes: | man said in. Brussels last week that. -|if South Africa tried to order” “arms from Belgium it would be: || refused. » “In 1963 Belgium’ ‘recorded ‘the’: 1. official export of about £1,100,000°t': worth of arms and ammunition © to South Africa. For the first, 10°, months of last year the amount P was down. to about £14,000...
' Released under the John F. Kennedy Assaseination Records Collection Act ot 1992 "(44 Use 2107 Hokey DATE: i1- 14-2017 Oe 7 oe a OXPGHD was geen “in the lounge of the ¥rankfurterhof Motel . on ¥eiday 2%th Apral. He told ce tha he hod not, in fact, rung the ‘Bahasaa the night before ag bs zaia se would te dei Se i hava since |. gothered, Shat he cannot af: ora te telephone, : 2. fT esked ExeorD ta tell me what he hed been doing ainos the: oo -. - dpterview at London Adrsort. Using details provided by the hotel of the ; oS 4. wagtleus teleshene calis ne hed cade to azsist his souory, he told se that ¢ | eo os us Be had net gene to Teneriffe to neet Xalph FARNA ag eri ginally intended _, because the “funds for the Journey arrived tsa late. He had, hovever, ao - @peken to PARRA on the teleshone both in Tenerdffs and in Londen, Ye  @leo said that be had sade arrangeseats $hrouga cALAIN, RARER af the Colony Club in Rondony for San LENPOR to geet Dine CELLINI an Listen er ae _-.. there handover. the. Letter of Credit in respect of the arux fer the Te oo? Bepameas, BARRA puso: rently wet CELLINI en or about the 12th and cone oo sel @luded arrancecents for the purchase of 1,000 aide arg 2$ fifty -five ao dol Lars ezch, 1,069 rifles: at 125 dollars each and « mlilion rounds of. ; emumition delivered. O4f040 having eyoken to CELLIFZ on Leth april — . 40 was arranged that ReuTCR would zest F: ABBA on about the 17th oz lith - -. da London, cAgeaG having lesrned this from FANDA when he spoke to hin » ‘en the teleshsne on the 17th, (see content) below), The sras sere to be oe @ffleaged at Cogoerstowh amd shipment is beang arranged by wigs sa} oot. PARRA rem a port outside the eke oe : Deh ts: te eo Se OB haa net been pos: ible io identity coaperstoan and when iy Cops. os epelee to UXFURD aeein en Sth Uey he told xe then that CELLINE in Porente pases. Bad gontieced on 6th am LUS7 that Cocperstown wag the point | ef delivery oe pO opoc 0 and that the ceng$sct there was @ cerson by the nese of SATE? 1g Oh. 4 po |. &mdividuel eho was interested in boats. I asked how tha 4 ‘ery wore te be delivered and O2f02D sadd thet they sore td te tranaserted. in @ Venezuelan —_ sghter shich travelled teteeen the Uk. and Venesuala and this wold . at dischar-e the arag in the vicinity of Cosperatcen, Re thought delivery ". was to take plece in the raxt two wecka. He did act mow the same of the | . _. > Seeighter altneugh he kad heard it, he said ‘shat Bis wa & single rat? er oo wo Bhan a double berroiled : namee aa Gozzent CUFURD'® ‘teleshe rv) reesipta, @ a. “lst of wht oh are ettected as — ah Annex, are retained in London and these indicated that he dia * dn faot sade the contasts clained excent where SENTUN is concerned, There ia no rescra of any teleshene call te ZENTCH, the latter's maze being significantly absent’ fea the rehosts whieh have been. - provided by indesandtent sources. In particular there is reliable | dnveorsation that 2ENTUN was net sesticred nor discussed by OXF0ED- ain the course of the conversaticn he had with FARLA ea 17th: April, .. Ren was there anything in this discunsica te guggess that an arss _ deal bed recently been concluded betwera the twe. ESENTON, horevery arrived at Lendon Airport oa the 7éh iy aral bas gaad that’ he will . _; be sbeying at the Hilitea for ebeous four days before g05rg en to | a Nenesisla.- te sada ke Ras an Tendon on business. fe 8 a ceed Cosperetewn is nat tdentifiedle ad it, was pat to eXeRD thet this Wight te CookSarn foun or Cornishteowm. Hedid no& know whiten . “was the gore likely but seid that the mane hed been given by an Mohd | Englisheen in which case Cockburn fom may be the better bat, 0 althou ch it. sesne acre like dy that chis is a \ Fignent ¢ oF SRFORE ig. | (0) SECRE T oe Posse bxtetsteesee Doclda: 323017758 Page 13