‘04 f02t7A0117 gts ere RETURN TO CIA Pa a ; ; . Background Use Only ” a wet . Do Not Reproduce WH/OOG 71-93 45 MAR O71 MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Western Hemisphere Division SUBJECT 3 Status of AKCALL-1 Ransom Negotiation 1. Om 26 August 1970, $120,000 ransom was paid for the release of AMCALL-1, $70,000 of thie aaount was paid by the Agency and AMCALL~l's wife arranged to obtain the remaining $50,000 from August Vanistendsel, a prominent Belgian with high level Vatican connections interested in AECALL=1 who presumably provided the additional money. Al-= though there was no firm commitment as to the exact time AMCALL-1's release would be effected, AMECRU-1 aaticipated his release within 60-90 days after Payeent of the ransou. 2. Although 6 months have now @lapsed since ABECRU-1 delivored the Boney to the Cubzn negotiator in Paria, there vas no way to determine the reason for the delay in AMCALL-l's release until A¥ECRU-1 was able to return te Parig to discuss the metter with the GOC representative authorized to negotiate the rangom cases. Since AMECRU~1 now resides in Hiawi he ig no longer able to maintain as close contact with the Paris official as was the case when he lived in Barcelona. However, he did arrange a trip to Paris in January to dincuges the status of i and other ransom candidates with the wc / ott oor ah 2. " ee ob oe ae oy rn eee ea ed nceammyenenttfienpmrtnereaans.s + « nomrompainbdnminestininiemacewen: — manbnalie gait gimme
14-00000 = ee ‘> tose tee fete eee att Es TI CES MA Rt, ESE ATLAS STS CETERA SOAR ADA OCA «nhc ee EEE Ga DN SIGE PETES TSP SLRS EARFUSN RAID eeerteantit Sherman OF ‘ c . a bewwttans Pepresentative. While the talks were still in progress, ths] case officer in contact with AWECRU-1 met with him in Paris on 28 January. Since the Station has consistently been advised to ayo dication of CIA interest in any ransom ease, other than ANSOUR-1, Little concrete infornation was obtained regarding AKCALL-l's status or the GOC time table for his release. After AMECRU-1 concluded his Paria talks the early part of February he left for Caracas where he ig expected to remain until the latter part of March before returning to Miami. Although a full report on the results of hig Paris negotiations can not be obtained until he returns to Mingi, AMECRU-1 has been in touch with AMCALL-1's wife and QUPILI-1 th asset hendling the AMSOUR-1 case. According to AMCALL-l‘a wife, AMECRU-1 advised her the GOC representative in Paria indicated the delay in releasing AMCALL-1 was partially based on the fear expressed by certain GOC officials of AMCALL-1'g potential leadership in exile movements ig he ig freed. As a rebuttal to this GOC argumeat AMECHU-1 wrete a letter to Manuel Pineiro, the DGI Director in Cuba, stating that AHCALL-1 had no desire or intention of engaging in political activities after hia release and wished to seek employment with gome European social research organization. <A letter from August Vanistendael werifying AKCALL~l‘s intentions, with assurance from Vanistendsel that he would assist im resettling AMCALL-1 in ae was attached to ANECRU~1 letter to Pineiro. Th ase officer obtained copies of the AMECRU-l létters to Pineiro from QUPILL-1 and forwarded thea to Headquarters. pooce Le mcs wien & adh er eee PROD ORT «| PRMMELtieTYthetreERaTRTRB tte “tems sath tthe = ete on Beatin eaten eee a ones
14-00000 5 | { ~~ é * oe ze » . - ~ D and eaevicad “ 3. AMRCRU-1 algo told 4NCALZ-l*e wife tit the GOC Paria representatives offered te return the rangom eoney if the intereated perties were mot Gatisfied with the current progress of the ease. The raeifications involving any deaand for '- - Seturn of AMCALL-1's ransom and termination of eny : further efforta to obtain hie release are cocsiderably greater than was the case with ANPANIC-7 whose entire i rangom wag provided by the Ageacy. In the egse of , A4HCALL-1, there would be no vay te demand return ef our ghare of the ranso=e without exposing iaterest until euch tige as the Cethelic comtribatora indicate a desire to recover their $56,000 investment. Hot only did Vanistendael's letter fail te imdicate any concern in this respect, but clearly empossizced bia continuing deep interest in ebtainise ARZiI-1's freedom. AMCALL-l's wife is also fesistert tret hie chance of being released not be dering this precarious stage of the negotiation esd that any decision concerning returm of the rezson be detersined by AMECRU~-l's evalustion of GOC intent. Although AMCALL-1l°s wife bas always been discreet and her relationship with the Agezey cooperative and above repreech, her understandable anziety over ber husband could lead to extrene resentaent should eny attempt be made to recover the Agency’s share of the renson at this juncture. This would be gertienlarly ¢rue if the Catholic contributors show ne alezm over their investment or the present lack of pregregs uade : in effecting AMCALL-l'a release. em a EPSRC EES SESS OSS ee mater enn rene mee crite eystos cones apap a 6 aban ott | Nereee se owhe-uveeas te es ete > ew , og & Nees f + akan . = cpg’ wn, we Reh OS eocereminm a ne ecm ae to So at Gn AE sant 1 raneenepmedttigte ttPadbepbusctegmmemion fo , eer Ls |
14-00000 2 Thar oth re - a , 4 sal at ° . “ . ~ a? SE ee bee Le od na - RR MeN eg gee - € ( 2 _ oo. . ~ ae | , - . a i °% CGucl ° ~ wg 4 4. It is,therefore, suggested that the &gency hes little choice but to await AMECED~1's weturn to Hiewi where a detailed assessment of AHCALL~1°s states can be obtained by AXBIGH~2, eur contect with 452Cey-1. Wesley %. Laybourne Wesley L. Laybourne acting Chief, Wa/cod DDP/WH/COG/S4: HE. Gratz:ali 1S March 1971 Distributica: Orig & 1 - éddressee h = WE/COG/Chrono AZ WE/COG/SA wk = 201-27 5349 a “ — a { 8 I sa amonnagntindinaps catia bo ere A satemaeess aetna atitie.g Meares + 38 + Ch emede canton ilthe thier ox 8 dou