2 Office Memorandum + unitep staTES GOVERNMENT DATE: 39 January 196l 5 TO : Chief, Tortact Bivwtatt: ATTN +: Suppert (Crowley) ‘ L/A 3ranch (McCrea) 7 FROM : Chief, Miaal Office SUBJECT: Interrogation of Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo, Chiet of Segundo Frente del Escaabray | L. On 27 January 1961, Eloy Gutierrez Mencye, Comandante, Segundo Frente del Escambray, was interrogated at the Miamt offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The purpose of this interrogation was to establish @ basis upon which Gutierrez Menoyo could be excluded froa the US. 2. During this interrogation, Gutierrez Meacye stated thac he was born im Madrid, Spain, 8 December 1934, That he was tagen Co Guba when he was Li years old by his parents, who still reside in Cubs. He never formally secured Cuban citizenship, although he felt that under the terns of an oral decree by Fidel Castro he was entitled to Cuban citizenship ca the same terms a3 Ernesto Che" Guevara. 3. Subject further stated chat he had first beccne a revolutionary against the Batista Government of Cuba in 1952. fa 1957 he made his firse trip to the US, to Tampa, Florida, under an assvmet name in order t9 secure arms for his revolutionary companions. When this tissien was successful he returned to Cuba and was named Comandante of his group, which became known as the Segundo Frente del Escambray, He made special meation of the fact that he had never received an official designation as a nilitary officer by Fidel Castro, but thac his aflitary rank had been conferred upon him by the officers and men of the Seguado Frente. 4, In 1959 subject visited the US with a group of Cuban Revolutionaries, and said he was “presented with the keys to the city of Miami", This travel was performed under a special passport issued by the Government of Cuba. 5. Subject claims a brother was killed during the Spanish Civil Bar fighting against Franco, and another brother was killed in the attack on the Cuban Presidential Palace, 13 May 1957. His father is an M.D. who is in charge of the Hot Springs Sanitarium on.the Isla ce Pinos. 6. Subject further stated that in 1960-he Bezan laying plans fo escape from Cuba as he had become disillusioned with Castro. He said Castro no longer represented the ideals and principles for which be had fought in the revolution, However, it was noteworthy that subject at no time gaid he had a hatred for Castro, and on one occasion specifically said that be still mafatained a personal liking for Castro.
7, AS & means of facilicating his escape From Cuba, subject. said he beyan a campaicn to sell bonds in Cuba for the purpose of raising an army to Liberace Spain from the despotic rule of Francisco Franco. The name of this liberating arcy was to be "Ejercitio de la Liberacion de Espana" and the movement became known as the "ELB". Sublect Stated that in the fall Of iS60 he was called in by Prestdent Dorticos of Cuba and told that because the Cuban population was making @ joke about the initials of this organizatioa by saying it stood for "Ejercito de Liberacion del Escambray" (Escambray Liberation Aray) he would have to Stop the campaicn to sellvbands. . Subject said he made a trip in 1960 to Spain co visic his birthplace 8 country. He sted that he made this trip at Iomigration officials had 3. and to meet telatives of hi his own expense and that. he travelled alone. _ positive information that he made this trip in the company of Armando Flettas ' y Diaz, another member of the Segunda Frente Group, but when he was challenged on this point, subject flatly denied that Fleitas accompanied him to Speisa. $. Subject said that he Stayed in Spain only three days because the "pressure" from Franco Security agents was so great that he feared for his life and his relatives were fearful to have any dealings with him. He then travelled to France and Belgium. In Belgfum he was arrested for associating with a group of Spaniards who were plotting against Franco, One of the Spaniards had entered Belgium illegally and was also carrying a firearm, . Subject said that he did nor know of these facts or he would not have assoctated with the group. He stated that he was released after five days and was told that he would henceforth be ineligible to return to Belgium. He protested this action as he was travelling on a Spectal Passport issued by the Government of Cuba, 10. Subject stated that after 1 January 1959, when Fidel Castro &ssumed power in Cuba, he has exercised no official function. He received salary checks, as a Revolutionary Army Officer, for the months of January and Pebruary 1959 bue he did noc cash then. He was requested to pick up his pay at military headquarters after this, but stated he had never done so. He stated that he had. maintained himself in Cuba from the proceeds of a small bar he owns in Havana, ; Ll. Subject stated that he, and other Segundo Frente officers, were not trusted by Fidel Castro. Therefore, he has never been given any official position in Cuba. On several occasions Castro has offered him a Position as Milleary Attache in a Cuban Embassy in a foreign country, but on each such occasion he has refused the offer, 12. Subject stated that about 10 to 15 January 1961, le became possible for him to arrange through busebio OJEDA~Diaz, a Captain in the Segundo Frente for passage to the US, Accordingly, he passed the word to other Segundo Frente officers with whom he had had previous discussions regarding escape fron Cuba, The group departed from &@ beach area just east of the main harbor of Havana at eight pm of the night of the 25th of January 1961. ao
' from two pm until five pm. Page 3 13. Although their departure was noticed by guards aicas the coast, by | militia members, and by patrol bouts, Subject stated that thy were not impeded because they were heavily armed with machine guns, pistels, and rifles, and, apparently, because some were ‘in uniforms wits insignia of high rank. The 19 members of the group (List attached) made their way in three fishing boats to Key West, Florida, where they arrived curing the night of 25-26 January. 14, This interrogation lasted from ten am to one pm at which time Gutierrez Menoyo vas returned to a detention cell in the Immigration head- quarters. Q. Maurice Hunsaker was present during this laterview. During a break for lunch, Mr. Edward Ahrens, District Director, ISNS, stated that the members of the Menoyo group would have to be removed from the I&NS building in Miami because he feared an attexpt to remove. Gutierrez Menoyo from the building might be made. Arrangements were made with the Commanding Officer, Homestead Airforce Base, to place the Cuban group under custody at _ the Base until arrangements could be made for them to be ficen to the I&NS Detention Camp at McAllen, Texas. : 15. Therefore, Lt was agreed between various CIA representatives in the’ area that Hunsaker aided by Luis Rodriguez, ACSI representative, would continue interrogating Gutierrez Menoyo during the afternoon. The group would then be taken to Homestead AFB after dark. It was agreed chac Hunsaker and Rodriguez would question subject in a friendly and pleasant zanner in order to acquire as much information as possible from him so that discrepancies in his story could be ascertained. It was the consensus of all concerned that subject was telling complete untruths, but thar he was extremely skilled in doing so, 16. Consequently, Hunsaker and Rodriguez continued questioning subject During this.time, subject maintained the general continuity of the story he had expressed during the morning hours. Many attempts were made to secure Order of Battle information, names of military :Officials, sympathies of named officials, plans of the Segundo Frente or of :the Government of Cuba. Subject pretended ignorance of all these subjects. .He maintained that because he was not trusted by Castro he had not been -@llowed access to any military bases for the last two years, Because of ithe numerous personnel changes he did not know the names of ecficials in important posts, ete. ‘of interrogation would be required, and {it was planned that continuous By this time it became evident that firmer measures daterrogation and a polygraph would be employed on Subject after arrival -at Homestead Airforce Base, ; ; . i 17. However, a sudden change of plans occurred and shortly after five pa the encire group of Cubans was whisked to the airport and put aboard a chartered plane for New Orleans. At.New Orleans they were to be transferred te another plane for passage to McAllen Detention Camp. No further interrogation of subject was possible. , Benen
14-00000 Pase 4 ; . \ 48. Eloy Guttlerrez Menoyo is an intelligent and capable man. He did not give up a shred of useful informacion in aix hours of interrogation. He never once gave any indication of nervousness and was cool, calm, and collected at every moment. He pursued his story carefully and correctly, never got mixed in his details, and although his explanations of many things, in particular his lack of occupation the last two years, were completely unbelievable, he did such an excellent job of discussing the situatiow that he sounded plausible. 19, et is the opinion of Hunsaker that this man will not divulge information under normal interrogating techniques. It appears evident that he has a great admiration for himself, he feels he is @ great man doing.a great job--regardless of.what he considers that job to be at the moment--and could not be shaken by ordinary means of persuasion. Subject is an extremely handsome young man, and | it is obvious that he is proud of his good looka.. It is the opinion of soma of the men who have interrogated him that the weakest spot in his armor would be a threat to mar his good looks: The threat of a good solid poke in the nose might have considerable effect upon subject's willingness to talk. | a) JUSTIN FX GLEICHAUP QHunsaker/amb Attachment: List
14-00000 Attachment Lise of Eley Gutierses Heneyo Group: * Name Alien Number ; Date & Place of Birth ” Rank , / GUTIERREZ-Menoyo, Bloy AlO 190 153 12-8-34, Madrid, Speia Comandante, Segundo Frente del Escambray /\ asencio-Suarez, Lazaro Al2 542 409 . . 10-4-25, Santa Clara, Las Villas, Cuba 7 Comandante, Segundo Frente del Escambray - ; “ FLEITES y Diaz, Armando ALL 240 493 4-4-30, Santa Clara, Las Villas, Cuba Comandante, Segundo Frente del Escambray CONZALEZ-Guanche, Augusto Al2 542 413 11-2-37, Bacuranao, Havana, Cuba Comandante, Segundo Frente del Escambray / LA ROSA~Sabina, Jesus Al2 542 415 9-3-34, Camanayagua, Las Villas, Cuba Captain, Segundo Freute del Escambray 4 OJEDA-Diaz, Busebio Al2 542 420 10-29-30, San Juan de Los Lleras, Las Villas, Cuba Captain, Segundo Frente del Escambray Interventor of Omnibus Lines | / ORTEGA-Acosta, Doningo AlZ 542 421 - - = ; Central de Anezonas, Las Villas, Cuba Captain, Segundo Freate del Escambray / PERNAS-Lorenzo, Floreacio A8& 557 929 10-17-27, Havans, Cuba Commercial Eaployee Gaptain, Segundo Freate del Escambray
14-00000 Attachment Page 2 /~ REDONDO-Gonzalez, Roger Al2Z 542 423 2-3-35, Sancti Spiritus, Cubs Captain, Segundo Frente del Escambray / RUIZ de ZARATE-Castello, Angel Ramon Al2 342 424 10-2-23, Clenfuegos CPA National Treasurer, Segundo Frente del Escambray, Feb 58-Jan 59. /~ LESNIK-MENENDEZ, Max Awe 9-8-30, Vuelcas, Las Villas, Cuba Newsman [ praz-torates, Pedro Manuel Al2 542 411 6829-19, Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba Bus Conductor LICO-Diaz, Paulino Al2 542 417 6-22-11, Guanabacoa, Cuba Cook /~ pORTA-Bolanos, Gustavo Al2 542 422 10-10-32, Havana, Cuba Laborer Contractor / NAZARIO SARGEN, Andres Aco : 3-Ll-16, Laza de Medio, Las Villas, Cuba / nanos, Angel Gilberto Ae- 8-12-34, Miami, Plorida om 1 GONZALEZ-Fraga, Jesus Al2-542 414 8-28-28, Jerez, Havana, Cuba Fisherman :
14-00000 fT eet recommen WeNiaiiE a rtee BRON LY Attachment Pase 3 LOPEZ-Conde, Enrique Al2 542 418 : 7-15-38, Guanabacoa, Cuba Fisherman SUAREZ-Pauron, Marto AL2 542 425 : 3-530, Cojimar, Cuba Fisherman b+ tetas edt