Oke mt 105-23 O7 oa : ae De. CASTRO said 1 no one mentioned to him name. of < GATHERINE. TAAFFE. or any other woman. prior his departure ~. . 1/27/60 for. ‘Miami. Immediately after being released by “a INS, Miami,.on late afternoon 1/27/60 he contacted SA DAVIS oN by, phone. | “Immediate ly thereaféer: he phoned VALDES at Miami eas International ‘Airport Hotel. VALDES told him to call back . eyo at 7200 P. M. ‘Then went to home of uncle, ARTURO FERNANDEZ “de CASTRO. “At: 7:00 .phoned VALDES who instructed him to come © oto the’ hotel. ‘Proceeded | immediately by. taxi. to hotel ‘where : _ hes met: VALDES. _ ay VALDES ‘then. briefed him: and for ‘first time he’. can learned this. ‘was kidnaping plot against | ROLANDO MASFERRER . os Also,” for’ first. time, he learried a woman was involved. . =. VALDES | ‘told him.an American woman arranged for them to meet ~ “a Miami policeman at the hotel that evening. No other Jee reference made to this woman; her. name not disclosed by. ae wi VALDES . . pe moa “After ‘VALDES and de CASTRO ‘arrested and placed eae re jail, VALDES claimed to. de. CASTRO that this same woman » Acer also. ‘arranged, for a boat in Miami, an American boat captain, — i. and another. man to transport MASFERRER out. of Miami in oF. gommection: with the kidnaping. ; ws ee . De. CASTRO said that: on 2/8/60 his brother, ARTURO . cee FERNANDEZ’ de CASTRO, of. Havana, visited him in jail. ARTURO “2 ) told: him the father of VALDES disclosed to him the American | oe woman who figured in this matter was CATHERINE TAAFFE. Said -. Ehisys was. first. time he ever heard her: name ._ . nr ree : ° Upon’ 3 return to ceil, he~ questioned VALDES about. ea TAAFFE . ‘VALDES. said he first met her in Cuba in connection po ah thy sugar business. long. time ago. Described her as woman. f. °°" who-has many friends who are big people and ‘that, she only:. pep nad. to Se lephorie them: to ‘get things done. . mo oe HW 54460 Docld:32330439 Page 4
Da thes ‘De CASTRO ‘said VALDES also told him in jail that an whole plan in: thie. case ‘was, his idea. a ‘Noted ‘de CASTRO has consisteatly adhered to same ae pore story. _ Has record of previous. reliability in his deal- cc dng: with this office: Miami of. opinion de. CASTRO has been Be ay substantially factual and truthful in this matter. Believed. ‘he has-acted in. good faith with the Bureau and will not — - violate. Bureau's. confidencé. It is also felt this incident - may. enhance his. position. in "Confidential A" of the Police... Tt" is. obvious, of | ‘course, the: Cuban Govt. cannot admit com- op lbetess in: this. ‘conspiracy. . a . lye BOT “On. 2/11/60: CTAAFFE | furnished signed statement in ; which’ ‘alle: states plot to ‘kidnap MASFERRER was conceived by .-«h- MALDES, and discussed. with her in Havana in 1/60. Said “plan. presented: ‘to an. aidto. RAUL. CASTRO by VALDES and this. aide. agreed. kidnaping of MASFERRER would be good idea and |» Said: $50,000.. could -be allocated for plan.. VALDES asked | | *. TAAFFE’ ‘LE. she. would contact Capt: LEE NAPIER of Miami PD and. “too “gee: if he would assist: them. -Said conversations with VALDES ‘— p JinHavana | re this: matter extended about 1/5-13/60. TAAFFE. as “4. elaimed she was never in favor of plan to. kidnap MASFERRER. nocd and ‘suggested: the. Cuban Govt. use diplomatic measures to bring. ; 2." MASFERRER back to Cuba. After plan deve loped sufficiently, bo ~she ‘then. thought plan could be handled in such a way that “2 \) “PEDEL CASTRO would get beached on some Bahama island; MASFERRER : vy Vi would: not be there, and British anll.U.S.Govts would be 4 notified; and this would have. been. excellent opportunity to) nr ea Cuban. Govt. 7 oe SEE ts “Judging from’ all. evidence developed 4 in this case, oe ob ede appears . info. furnished: to" “Américan Embassy. by Sgt. troF 28°" FERNANDO. FUENTES. COBA has little, if any, basis in fact and. Ce <2 only attempt, to. hide = complicity of Cuban: Govt. in ‘this | POA HET ET re Pea Lt oy “CONEIENTISA 0 4 owes : Sat i ’ HW 54460 DBocld:32330439 Page 5