404-10174-1062 , RETUANTO Gis a Background Use Oniy Ce A phan eeliny \ Do Not&eproduce —™ f F et V. MONTECRISTI GROUP (agrupacion Montecri sti) 4. Genera) ' The dgrupacton “Montecristi 16 a small group composed of wealthy — . Guban professional and businessmen, predominantly lawyers and economi ste. Established about 1952 shortly after Batista's coup d'etat, it ia ae - - - of the oldest of the anti-Batiste groups and was isvolved in the April - 1956 abortive army revolt led by Colonel Ramon Barquin. On 20 July 1958, the agrupacion Montecristi signed the Caracas Unity Pact (the unification agreement signed by representatives of all the groups in opposition to Batista), and formed a part of the Civic Revolutionary Front (Frente Civico Revolucionario - FCR). During the Batista regime, it served as a support mechaniam for revSlutimary activity inside Cuba,. Its main functions as 4 support mechaniam were to collect funds to finance the revolutian and to provide econamic and political guidance to the FRG. About one millicn pesos (one million US dollars} were collected to support the fight against Batista. Because of the economic, professional, and social position which the group represents in Cuban society, it exerted considerable influence am the political and econcmic decisions of the FCR. It also sent military observers to the Sierra Maestra and to the Sierra del Escambray during the Lighting. In 1957, Justo Carrillo Hernandez became the group's representative in Mian, where he cooperated with the 26 of July Movement under the terms of the Caracas Pact. In late 1958, the group, while still co~ operating with the 26 of July Movement, began planning independent military activity against Batista in conjimctimm with the military group heared by Barquin, then imprisoned on the Isle of Pines as a result of his participation in the abortive coup of 1956. ° . In January 1959, Barquin, released from prison by the revoluti mary W ; pe forces, assumed temporary command of the Cuben Armed Forces. He was ae replaced in this post by Fidel Castro and subsequently by Raul Castro Rus, / and was relegated to unimpcrtant militery duties, probably because of the 26 of July Movement's fear of his independence and military following. ‘ ind ~ 6 wd 3 ws. we re 9 ve 7 ww)
14-00000 ¢ RETURH TO GiA Background Use Only ‘\Do Not Reproduce a Since Castro's assumption of power in Cuba, tthe Montecristé group has followed a policy of participating in the government for the purpose of exercising a restraining influence om Castro. Even before the fall of Batista, the group did not think that Castro and hia redical ideas were the solution to Cuba's problems. But any ~ plans to sabotage Castro's program, the group felt, would serve no useful purpose and would cnly make a bad situation warse. So it wag decided instead to attempt to influence government policies and to serve as a brake on some of the more radical policies of the Castro gcvernment, although Carrillo criticized Castro's methods in June 1959, he did not consider it feasible at that time nar was the group prepared upenly to oppose Gastro. The Montecristi group beceme alarmed in august at the situation, particularly with regard to Cuba's presént economic problems and the § - grovth of Comamism, By October the group abandoned hope it could exercise a moderating influence on Castro and reportedly began @ clandestine resistance movement, while its menbers in the government carefully maintained an appearance of complete loyalty to Castro.- Resistance plans included the following; 1. Col. Barquin's acceptance of leadership of resistance movement. 2. Anti-Commmist propaganda campaign from outside Cuba. 3. Withdrawal of Montecristi members from government at opportune time. 4 Ultimately, a coup or revolt by anti-Communist sectors of armed forces.
” RETURN TO Cla ‘Background Lise Only tue 0 Not Reproduce . dn 1939 Marques Sterling was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Gonvention fram Sabana Province. Following Dr. Grau San Martin's with- draval from the presidercy of the Convention, Murquez Sterling was elected — to fill the positian. Thus he presided over the drafting of the Constitu- tion of 1940 which is in force today. dhen Batista sssumed the Presidency in 1940, he appadloted Marques Sterling Minister cf Labor. In 1943 he was designated Minister of Educa- ticn but realigned «tein twenty days due to what he describes as his inability to obtain apcroval of his program, He then withdrew from active polities will jcining with Eduardo Chibas in the fcrmation of the griodcxe P Beyond the steiemant of the PPL party program tne Embassy is not . familiar with the >-litical views of Marquez Sterling. A bicgraphic repert dated Janusry 1940 indicates that he Holds rightist ideas and is | friendly toward tha United States. Files for the period 1945 to the present show that his name has been associated with several commmist or communist front scetivities. The FPL party platfora dated August 21, 1957 may be described aa moderately Mberal. It dencunces commmian, together with nazisx, fascias and other totalitarian dcctrines, ani paints to the need for strengthening diplomatic ties with the United States, as well as the bonds cf friendship between the two countries. Marquez Sterl?zs is a tall, thin, and distinguished looking gentle- man. He is described as a very intelligent, cultured and well-read “person. He reads Emglish well, but claims he has difficulty in speaking it. Be is married to Silvia Domingues and has two children. His religious affiliaticn is not Imam. He claims he does not drink or smoke. The Embassy's biographic te indicates that te has suffered from tuberculosis, Following Caetro!s victory, he went ints exile. Preaptinny poem see pumas erin saa
14-00000 Background Use Cniy Bo Not Reproduce Sanches describes.the Triple 4 aa a civic association to be converted into a political party as soon as the ccistituti mal - provision for this type of organization is put into effect. His Group is small, well-organized, but has little mass folloving. It does not represent a really important or significant political force. Some reports heve indicated the possibility that he may return to the 4utentico Party. . Sanchez, however, claims he has olans to increase the score and strength of the Triple 4 by incorporating other groups into hia organisation. According to Sanchez, the Triple A currently is expanding through- out the ccumtry and is getting recruits from the old autenticos, from pwople who first started political Life in the 26 of July, some few from the Ortedezos, and also from the ranks of these who are completely new to political activity. His group has act attracted the suppart of former followers. of B:tista who joined the 26 of July in considerable numbers. These he describes as people who had no positions of public ‘responcibility under Batista, but because they essentially favored a strong-man government, they supported Batista and now suppert Castro for the same reasoz. according to Eliex Roiidrigues Amaro, Asalstant Publicity Director, and Sr. Gonzales, Secretary of Acts, the Triple A has been extending its activities throughout the island and has established lecal groups in towns and cities in most of the provinces. It has also established a labor commission and claims some influence in the labor mcvement, particularly in the ecngtructian and gastronanie trade unin federations. Sanchez emphasizes, however, that as long as the Castro government remains nm power, no political group which is nct with the government can win a majority in the labor ma ement. although the Triple a has little mass fcllowing, 1% possesses a cadre ‘of intellectuals and has the capability of prceviding a sasll opposition. The grcup hes made efforts to organize and extend ita activities, has zubliched a few pamphiets to date, and has requested US asaletance in developing its opposition capahility. eee 8 be } i z
14-00000 FRE PUY Poh fay “~  Beckoround Use Only a . ENO Not Reproduce ° . Gol. Raman Barquin Lopes was born in Las Villas privince, Guba, on 12 May 1914. He graduated from the Cuban Military Academy in 1940. He ” attended the U. 5. arny Strategic.Intelligence School in 1948. In 1945 he served as technical advisor to the Cuban delegstion to the Chapultapes Gonference and in 1946 was named director of the Superior War College of the Cuban Army. In 1948 he became Chief of the Intelligence Sectian of the army General Steff. In 1949 he was assigned to the Inter-american Defense Board in washington. He subsequently became Cuban Military attache in Washington and served in this position until April 1956 when he was arrested by the Batista government as the leader of a military plot and seatenced to six years imrisonmnt. In January 1959 Barquin, released from prisun by the revolutionary forces, assused temporary command of the Cuban armed Forces. He was replaced in this post by Fidel and subsequently by Raul Castro Ruz, and was relegated to uim- portant militery duties, probably because of the 26th of July Movenent's fear of his independence and uilifary following. In May 1959 hs was virtually exiled by appolmtmant as roving ambassador in Zurope, based in Frence, Because.of his connections with the Montecristi group, his popularity, and influence with the military, it is believed that should the Montecristi group enter the political aransa, Barquin would play an dzpertant and influentiel rols.