(roa-tote2-10133 aa | RETURN TO CIA Hogs : . - Background Use Only . . ‘ Do Not Reproduce ns | DRAFT poeta 4 “a & culy 1959 MEYOKANDUM OF CONVESSATION “SUBJECT : \ 03 PARTICIPANTS: Mitchell L. +EX BELL and | ¢ 1. I phoned Subject at his hotel on 8 Jaly at 1100 as we had pre- "gel ayp arranged to pammemge another meeting with hin. I told him that it would only take about a1 hour, or an hour and & half and then he would be free to return to hia home. , 2. when I arrived I told him that after looking over the situation , FZ wet Sl IA ey 7 and consulting witn ny superiors icacculnhemeeersded ‘for obvious reasons the United States would not support any revolutionary activities by Gen. Pedraza, I also said that the United States will observe its international obligations concerning Cuba and Pedraza, and that the United States would not overicok any violations by Pedraza or his followers of the neutrality laws. 3, I said that we had some interest in the possibility of his working for us ag an intelligence gatherer under terms to be negotiated after we obtained a current security clearance on him. I pointed out that we were not attempting to limit his action in connection with the i _| nor were we agsuming any responsibility for those matters he carries out in his own behalf. I stressed the need for security and discipline should he work for us, pointing out that he may be asked to do things which we cannct fully explain to him because of the need for security. He said he understood this perfectly. I dictated the attached Secrecy Agreement to him and had him sign it.
26 he Thad taken with ne a PRY Part 1 form and obtained the necessary data, S. If his statements Concerning previous emplcynent are correct, his working history shows a qe for taking Of risks and switching ° employnent frequently. ie appears to be basically a promoter in the Public Relations ang advertising “field. In 19S7, the firm Mitchell WER BELL, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, engaged in public relations and advertising, went throigh bankruptey, fe has since been sel f-e-ployed primarily as a consultant in the public relations and advertising field, He is also connected with a firm called Vorld wide Information Services, 660 Ist Ave., New York. dudging from the address I question the strength of this firnpead. Ai though Subject claims to be a Vice President of it, he adnitted thst he 1s employed on a comissiorelf basis and has had no earnings since January 1959, He said the reason for his failure to make Mxy money during this period is that he hes been involved in the transact song/n mentioned in my earlier menoranduy) ie the exchange of Cuban besos, which were largely unsuccessful, 6. I had asked Subject to write out in detail as mich as possible of the story he had given me on & Oly, but he had failed to do so, He wanted te know whether the United States Covernnent was going to do any- thing about what he called the serious Comaunist erisis in Cuba. I told him that the United States would handle the matter in its own way and ax own time and that for obvious reasons of security i could not go into any detail on any of these matters with him unless he were specifically to be charged with a gsven aetion.
ad ry € . Pe Ny . eee Te Subject said that he had called the head of world hide Information Services, Richard w. H:bell, since he was in Washington anyway and sroposed to go to New York to see him. He said while He was in New York he would &ttenot to contact Loes (See my memorandun of 7 duly) and learn more of the ‘alleged 1,00) availabie Gernans.. I told-hie that I neither approved or disappreved his taking this action at this time but if he did, I would agpreciate hearing the results of it. €. Subject said that he feels he should return to the Dominican Republic as soon as possible and asked if we were willing to finance such atrip. I toid him it wuld be necessary to get his clearance before doing'so, and that he would hear fron us in a week to 10 days. 9. My second interview with Subject gave me a more unfavorable epinion than before. While obviously capable, I get the inpreasion that Subject is such a big “wheeler and dealertgthat he has failed in business despite censidersbie ability, initiative and energy. I recommend that ne use be nade of him until such time that a very cara fil covert. inveatie gation of his background and activities have been made? that if security aporoval is obtained, he initially be hired under a short term contract ” for testing pursoses, and only after careful testing and «valuation should he be considered for long term contract employment. (¥> es4