. SECRET ' CUBA THE EXCHANGE OF INTELLIGENCE CONCERNING COMMUNIST SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES I. Tntroduction in combatting Castro-Communist subversion through- out Latin America, there is a fundamental requirement for intelligence -- a requirement which involves the timely acquisition and processing of information as well as its rapid dissemination, on a selective basis, to countries concerned, While efforts are now being made by CIA, AID, and the US Military Services to improve Latin American intelligence systems, success thus far has been limited, and much remaing to be done. It is not with this broad problem, however, that this paper is primarily concerned, but rather with the narrower matter of the need for a stronger program of exchanging essential information regarding Communist subversion in Latin America among those who need to know it. Il. The Nature and Scope of the Problem l, Limiting Factors a. There are many inhibitions which tend to discourage the exchange of intelligence on an international basis, even among allies. National privacy with regard to the inner workings of an intelligence system must be preserved. Com- pounding the problem further, where Latin America is concerned, is the divisive influence of the long history of rivalries, wars, jealousies and disputes which have characterized relations among the nations concerned. The wounds of past conflicts among pairs and groupings of nations are not com- pletely healed. There is lingering hostility between Peru and Ecuador deriving from their boundary war. Chile and. Bolivia continue at odds over the Rio Lauca and the question of Bolivian access to the sea, and, even now, Nicaraguan insurgents are harbored within the borders of both Costa Rica and Honduras. It could hardly be expected that these countries would be eager to exchange intelligence on a full and frank basis. , SECRET HY 50955 DBoctd: 32423999 Page 3
HY 0955 SECRET b. Beyond this, Latin America is not a homo- geneous entity in social, political, or economic terms, and attitudes toward the Castro-Communist subversive menace vary widely. A completely unified approach toward exchange of intelligence concerning this menace, therefore, cannot be regarded as attainable. ec, Additional impediments to intelligence ex- change are the generally low level of competence of most Latin American intelligence services, their lack of rapid, secure means of communication, thé ‘absence of adequate security systems, and the lack of security consciousness. Deficiencies in security safeguards must necessarily limit the exchange of intelligence obtained covertly by any of the nations involved, and particularly the United States, which has the most sophisticated system and hence the greatest need for protection. ad. These defects promise to persist, since the governments of some countries have little desire to develop a competent career security service. There is a fear that the existence of an efficient service would constitute a threat to further activities of members of the existing governments at such time as they might find themeelves out of power. More- over, many Latin American intelligence services tend to label as "subversives" those of their own nationals resident in other countries who are opposed to the existing government. e. These realities. all. underscore the fact that multilateral intelligence exchange must be approached on a most circumscribed basis. It should not be concluded, however that nothing of value can be accomplished multilaterally. With proper definition, limiting the problem of exchange to matters directly related to communist subversive activities, such as the movement to and from Cuba of subversives, the production and movement of propaganda materials which threaten internal stability, the movement of arms, and the movement of funds, it. should be practicable to marshal a useful measure of cooperation, In pursuing this effort, it will be important to draw a sharp distinction between secret intelligence SECRET 2 Boctld: 324273999 Page 4
Paragraph 2 inits entirety was actdecl by CIA, a. Portiens uncerlined were added ly the ommitlee- SECRET to the CIA Submission. gained by covert means and information obtained openly. The former involves the requirement to protect national secrets both as to sources and acquisition methods employed. The latter, which ean be of great value, can be exchanged without fear of compromise. New paragrephe. Categories of Exchangeable Intelligence The following describe generally the categories of exchangeable matter, and exemplify the types of material under each: a. Travel information - Unevaluated information devoted solely to rapid reporting of the movement of individuals between Latin America and Cuba or Soviet Bloc countries. Such reports can be reduced to a few elements such ag identification of the individual, point of departure, date and time of departure or arrival, destination, and carrier. When presented in an abbreviated form such information offers minimum security problems with respect to exchange with one or more countries. .o. Intelligence information reports - Un- evaluated information derived from clandestine collection operations or confidential sources reporting on plans and activities of Cuban or communist connected subversive individuals or groups; on movement of arms propaganda and funds; on shipping and air movements and on results of surveillance efforts. Because continued receipt of such information by the United States is dependent on careful protection of sources and methods of collection, the exchange of this information with other countries must be carefully controlled by the collecting department. ec. Intelligence en and studies - Evaluated intelligence. in_ allo he above areas, prepared by an appropriate element of the US government in a form which is releaseable to other Latin American countries. d. Selected overt materials - Articles or news stories drawn from press, periodical and other overt publishers. Selected for maximum impact on SECRET 3 HY 50955 DBoctd: 32423999 Page 5
HW 50955 SECRET other countries particularly where such infor- mation is not. freely available to security services, as in the case of foreign broadcast reports. ~ 3, Current Exchange Arrangements a. At present there is little organized ex- change of intelligence among the Latin American nations. There is a limited amount of informal exchange, often on a basis of personal relation- ships between government officials having a community of interest with respect to a particular matter. b. The Central Intelligence Agency has estab- lished working liaison arrangements in those | Latin American countries where such relations have been considered to be in the best interest of the United States. Most of the intelligence concerning subversion in Latin America available to the CIA is derived from covert operations or through contacts with another intelligence or security service. This inhibits the passing of such information to agencies of a third country. There is, however, a substantial amount.of intelligence available from overt or non-sensitive sources which can be pro~ vided to other countries. In 1962, CIA received information reports from[ services with which liaison is maintained in Latin America and released reports co [ _Jrecipients. Intelligence items exchanged included collated studies, weekly intelli- gence reviews, name traces and travel.reports. e. The US Army, through its attaches, currently has an informal arrangement involving bilateral exchanges of intelligence with Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay and Venezuela. Information provided by the Army has been concerned with subversive personalities, communist infiltration, weapons movements and related matters. Reciprocal intelligence received has been of small value. The Army also provides selected information on sub- versive activities to Brazil, Chile, Guatemala and Mexico, without reciprocation. The Navy has established a Navy-to-Navy program for the ex- change of intelligence among nine South American navies, the Mexican Navy and the US Navy. SECRET i Boclda: 32473999 Page 6
HW 450955 SECRET SECRET d. Exchanges of information are also effected from time to time through channels of the Depart- ment .of State. e. As yet, however, the program for the pro- vision by United States agencies of information on subversion to Latin American governments has not been developed to an adequate degree, Since the United States possesses the most extensive acquisition capabilities, as well as the only secure and reliable means of rapid communication throughout Latin America (currently in process of improvement), the development of an integrated United States system for bilateral exchange offers the greatest possibility of achieving the results desired. f. United States experience in the matter of intelligence exchange in Latin America, and in other areas of the world, has led to the conclusion that bilateral arrangements are more fruitful than multilateral arrangements such as those. established within the framework of NATO, CENTO and SEATO. Nevertheless, this experience has shown also that multilateral arrangements can be of some uSe, particularly in creating an awareness of the need for intelligence exchange. g. The concept of an exchange of information among members of the OAS with regard to subversive activities has been put forward at numerous Inter- American meetings, but has not been implemented, largely for the reasons set forth in Section II. l. Under the Punta del Este decisions, the OAS members were urged to cooperate in strengthening their capacity to counteract threats or acts of aggression, subversion or other dangers to peace and security... The. Council of the OAS is charged with maintaining vigilance over Castro-Communist subversion, and a "Special Consultative Committee.on Security (sccs)" is established to give technical advice on request to governments and the Council on matters relating to subversion. All American governments have been asked to furnish information on Castro-Communist activities to serve as the basis for studies and recommendations by the Council of the OAS on how to An Docld:324273999 Page 7
Undertined portion Lem. 7 w added by lmontecpnumerated below are thé prihcipal programs n to G/& Jers HY 0955 SECRET ~ counteract them. Since the Punta del Este meeting, the OAS has been making slow progress in the countersubversion field, but there has as yet been no significant exchange of intelligence through its machinery. . h, The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) has _ also demonstrated an awareness of the need for exchanging intelligence regarding communist sub- version. Annex 4 of the General Military Plan prepared by the IADB requests the American States to report-information to the Board and to establish agreements among themselves for exchanging infor- mation of collective interest. The United States has approved the General Military Plan, but similar action hag not been taken by all member countries. i, This brief summary serves to illustrate that there is much room for expansion of bilateral intelligence exchange arrangements among the Latin American nations themselves, which is now minimal at best; as well as a need to créate an expanded program for bilateral intelligence exchange between the United States and individual countries, and finally, a requirement to develop the possibilities of a multilateral approach within the recognized limitations involved. Ttems ctheeted weres teken from the TIl, Existing Programs “Actions Recommvenced” portion of the a's dn acddrtio m by CA, not in “1. Bilateral exchange of intelligence is now being conducted by CIA, DOD, and other US agencies with their Latin American counterparts in instances where it has been found possible to establish appropriate arrangements for exchange of selegted information consistent with security requirements. 2, A.study is currently underway to evaluate the feasibility and desirability of establishing military intelligence centers of the Caribbean Command and the Caribbean Sea Frontier, Atlantic Command, for further dissemination of intelligence as appropriate in con- junction with our Military Alerting System, for rapid processing and dissemination when appropriate, of “intelligence on subversive activities directly to. the countries concerned through the US Ambassador, SECRET 6 BDoctld: 324273999 Page 68 vee Ui Comm Hee paper amd Wsted ag ERI Hing Avyrams ums tee, "progress. They are subject to continuing improvement. paper.
+ sRoRRET 43. Intelligence is being provided to the Caribbean Command by CIA and other elements of the US Embassies in Latin America as well as to CIA Headquarters for further dissemination as appropriate. 4, Various agencies of the US Government are now disseminating to Latin American governments unclassi- fied studies and reports and other non-sensitive information concerning Castro-Communist subversion. “5. US Government communications systems through- out Latin America are being expanded and improved upon on a high priority basis. 6. Programs now exist under AID, CIA, and DOD for the training and equipping of Latin American internal security and intelligence services, Additional programs could be established in other countries Where it is . found to be in the best interests of lhe’ United’ States ana acceptable to the country concerned. New 7. All information received by CIA concerning travel to and from Cuba is put inté a computer system capable of producing lists by name, by country, by point of travel, or sorted on various other bases. | Items markeel “new” in parag raph DE iV. New Actions Recommended were alse by C/A, Naw 1. Reinforce the present procedures for bilateral exchange of intelligence, as described in Section III. 1. by recommending that the US Ambassadors utilize the existing Country Team mechanisms as an intelligence advisory committee to coordinate procedures for, ensuring timeliness, completeness and freedom from duplitation or false confirmation in the bilateral exchange with the host governments. 2. Encourage Latin American countries to engage in bilateral exchange of intelligence on Castro- Communist subversive activities. Committee Sppshected, “electrical © bb M ree New RB. Arrange for the electhical at weep ite | ton to appropriate Latin American governments of daily summaries of radio broadcast material as monitored by the FBID of CIA, SECRET { HW 50955 DBocld:327423999 Page 9
¥ Revised 9. Undertake action in-the OAS to establish a -+ HW 450955 A a SECRET tee deleted. the app ” . ropriaté here, — Comms Nw abi News 4. Make available to as many countries as security permits,Weanitized results of the extensive travel coverage obtained by the Central Intelligence Agency, already processed by machine. (See paragraph III. 7.) &, Increase, where feasibie, emphasis on the provision of US intelligence advisors to Latin American countries. Discourage the employment of intelligence advisors from nations other than the United States except in instances where the United States can arrange to provide for the training and control of any third country intelligence advisor. New 6, Arrange for the preparation of periodic studies [by eA | of Castro-Communist subversion in Latin America which can be disseminated to selected Latin American govern- . ae ments. By CIA Struc put by Comm sifee , 7, Undertake action in the OAS to stimulate govern- ments to keep the Council and the SCCS fully informed on a continuing basis of the nature and inciden¢ée of subversive activities in their respective countries. 8. Encourage Latin American countries to approve the General Military Plan of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), and, in accordance with Annex 4 thereof, furnish to the TADB intelligence information and estimates concerning Castro-Communist subversive activities. Security Intelligence Advisory Committee consisting of senior representatives of the appropriate services of each government to deal with all major aspects of sub- versive activities in their respective countries, consider new coordinated plans.of action to counter and neutralize subversion, and implement necessary actions to insure the most effective and timely exchange of information between the governments on subversive activities, . al % In Committee Papers this recommendation WAS, -2 5 Arrang per regrondl meetings of Sensor intelligence and seeuvity SEvvide representatives... for The purpose of pestering the eKehange of mitelliq tite ss» and developing +++ 4 Meehanisms and Procedures, SECRET 8 Doclda: 32423999 Page 10