HW 54653 MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR _ FROM: Betsy paLMEKED DATE: OCTOBER 5, 1978 SUBJECT: FBI File Review - Manuel Francisco Artime Buesa On October 5, 1978, I reviewed a five volume file at the ‘FBI on Manuel Artime. Pertinent information is outlined below. “Main Tdent' File - #105=85440 1. Correlation Summary August 11, 1967 Subject: Manuel Artime Buesa #105-85440-28 Manuel Francisco Artime Buesa DPOB: January 29, 1932, Camaguey Province, Cuba Graduate of University of Havana 1949 1958-59 - Officer in Cuban Revolutionary Army Mid-1959 - Leader in Movimiento de ‘Recuperacion Revolucionaria (MRR) underground movement ‘in Cuba. October 29, 1959 - resigned post in Red Army 1960 - Became head of MRR in United States | 4/17/61 - 12/24/62 - Imprisoned in Cuba for participation in Bay of Pigs invasion July 1960 - Artime representing MRR on FRD Executive . , Committee and aligned to Antonio Varona, Sanchez Arango and Justo Carrillo. A dissident group of MRR, headed by Ricardo Lorie, Higinio "Nino" Diaz and Antonio Michel Yabor aligned themselves to the Liberation Alliance. The FRD and the MRR inside of Cuba recognized Artime faction. Page 22.- Artime identified as overall commander of Bay of Pigs invasion and apparent political leader of the military force. He was captured and imprisoned: on Isle of Pines and was one of three prisoners’ singled out for the highest ransom figures. He was described as intelligent, aggressive, energetic, hot-headed and dogmatic -- having tremendous leadership potential and a good organizer. Docld:32259715 Page 2
FBI File Review - Manuel Artime Page 2 Page 25 - On 12/28/59, a few days before the fall of the Page 26 Page 32 Page 38 Page 42 Page 58 Page 83 Page 92 Page 96 Batista government in Cuba, Artime joined Castro's 26th of July Movement. He did not previously participate in the revolution against Batista and in no way participated in Batista's overthrow. According to one source, Artime, while in prison in 1961-62, was in no way considered a leader by members of Brigade 2506 and had no great amount of prestige among them. Artime and Miro Cardona on speaker's stand with President Kennedy at Orange Bowl Stadium, 12/29/62. This added greatly to his prestige. In late January 1963, Miro Cardona, head of CRC, tried to overthrow MRR leadership of Artime. In May 1963, Artime and other leading Cuban exiles were planning to publish a document which was to constitute the unity of the majority of Cubans in exile. Group to be known as Cuban Committee of Liberation (CCL). In early August 1963, Artime, Varona and Batista Falla were in Nicaragua as guest of dictator Luis Somoza to discuss training bases to be set up in that country. Miami report of 3/19/64 indicates Artime travels between U.S., Nicaragua and Costa Rica, recruits for his training operation located in Nicaragua. He has more than $5 million worth of equipment in Nicaragua. As of February 1965, MRR of Manuel Artime had -a small base in the Dominican Republic, MRR attack a Spanish merchant vessell off Cuba and set it afire. Raid made with full knowledge of CIA who completely backed MRR. Source advised on 9/23/65 that general opinion of Cuban exiles indicated Manuel Ray of JURE and Manuel Artime of MRR were no longer considered leaders in the anti-Castro movement. On. 3/7/66, Artime advised that MRR office was in his home and the group was relatively inactive and not engaged in any significant operations in the Miami area at the time. Note: The other four volumes on Artime reflected his activities since 1966 and no notes were taken. HW 54653 DBocld:32259715 Page 3