{oa020-40306) oo, a CBOHET cekhale 13 January 1961 ¢ MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: Cuban Delegation Planning to Come to Washington MX At 1730 hours 12 January Mr. Barnes was given a summary of our present information concerning subject, which consisted of the following items: /,. Vk fs fers 5 1 le OR POMEL wie, te" a, To thank Presidont Eisenhower for the $1, 000, 600 rolief fund made available for Cuban refugees. TAA tat eam ce cdo nnate Tater on OMAR ee Te : b, To thank the Peruvian Ambagsador for the break : oe in relations between Peru and Cuba, c, To try to get an audience with the OAS in order i : to influence other Latin American countries to break relations with Cuba, 2. According to a Bender source (AMCLATTER-1) who taiked with Tony Varona, Varona considera this a completely unilateral operation, i.e,, an Autentico Party operation, Jt was arranged by Tony through one Ernesto Rojas who contacted Whits House officiala Hopkins and White, Also involved are Manolo Bratia, Jose Antonio _ Mpeatre and an MRR mat’ namod Jose Antonio Mendez, (AMCLATTER-1 also mentioned a (fru) Manolin Hernandez, a wealthy sugar man connected with the Reforma Central.) AMCLATTER-] had no information concerning the alse of the group although estimates seam to run from a few hundred to about a thousand. 3, From Mr. Jacobs we hear that Rojaa is an unofficial delegate of AMBIDDY and lives at 6711 Glencarlyn Drive, Lake Barcroft, Falla Church, Jefferson 22-5598, A call to this number was answered by Rojas! wife who gaid yes, he iy connected with the matter of 1, 000 Signatures for presentation to Elsenhower,
mp AMEE Cy a LOTUS seas eS batts wey ead Shape etree - : aes i wk . ew a va 2m 4, Bill Kent reported from Miami that Rojaa is working with Manuel Brana and in New York with Jose Antonio Mestre, alias Jose - Agustine Mendes, Rojas talked to Mr, White and Mr. Hopkina of the White House Staff in Pennsylvania recently. 5, AMCLATTER-I also reported that Tony Varona said he was dealing with Eduardo Gonzalez, a Rescate man in New York, who was’ bringing down 300 people from New York in addition to the unspecified number of people coming from Miami. 6. AMCLATTER-1 commented that when Rasco found out about . the proposed trip he called the MDC representative, name unknown, in New York and told him to are that the movement was stopped since it wae not FRD-~-sponsored. Eduardo Gonzalez called Varona to try to get the MDC representative to lay off, which Tony did, assuring, Rasco that thia was his own personal operation, 7. Mr, Stanulle suggested that Mr, Barnes should make it quite ‘clear in any conversations at the White House that we seriously doubt | that at this stage Varona or anyone elee can exe rt very much control] if the delegation cemes to Washington. This seems chvious since by now not only does it suem that several groups jin addition to Varona's were initially Involved in the organization of the cuvaleade but others may well try to get into the act, 8, We have been promised through the Bender channel more precise iaformation on whon the cavalcade will arrive but given the somewhat confused picture one cannot count on receiving advance word, Note: See memorandum to A/DDP/A, aubject ‘Jose Manuel Brana Duran," oh con [sh {13 fan 1961} Distribution: toe Rn Original and 1 - €/WH/4/PA ] - WHd/ Registry 1 - Oviginator a