JFK Assassination System Date: 4/12/201 Identification Form ' AGENCY : Agency Information OSA “ RECORD NUMBER:  198-10001-10011 . \ RECORD SERIES: GENERAL COUNSEL'S FILES AGENCY FILE NUMBER: Document Information ORIGINATOR: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FROM: TO: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TITLE : APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS: MR. MCNAMARA AND MR. MCCONE DATE: 00/00/0000 ; PAGES: 12 SUBJECTS : CUBA; LATIN AMERICA; SECRETARY MCNAMARA; DIRECTOR MCCONE DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Top Secret RESTRICTIONS: 1A CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA: UPON REVIEW BY APPROPRIATE AGENCIES COMMENTS : BRIEFING PAPERS/NOTES PREPARED BY STAFF FOR SECRETARY MCNAMARA'S TESTIMONY TO STENNIS COMMITTEE v9.1 HW 56329 Docld:3242735642 Page 1
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Apparent Contradictions: Mr. McNamara versus Mr. McCone Tn yesponse to your request, attached are three separate papers addressing the three apparent contradictions concerning FROG miasiles, -the “static situation," and submarine bases. | Each of these papers presents in sequence the relevant statements or testimony with an indication of source, the facts pertinent to the testimony as provided by DIA, and a brief conclusion. Some statements by Me. Hughes of DIA have been included since these statements are used as a reference point in your subsequent statements.
Hw s Pier area (Mariel) on 27 Dee 62. ‘Mig photograph was taken of the laBoea ~ratrenget are sweeping back and forth and a — Hi TeBoee area, tographs that we have firming up at least 55355 56629 Docld: 32423642 observed this Soviet ship moving into the mo hexbor area from out in the ocean sector, at. that time, we also observed parked at Gockside 10. probable frog missile trans- “porters along with their support equipment. vB Rats ehip pulled in, this equipment was eppabentiy loaded, and moved away from the This is. one of the first + Mes ‘Metienara¢ : Recently, our : pecouiedesance has _evealea that certain equifment of ‘these Soviet Goubat: forced, namely that. associated eth the tactical rocket units, has also i _tontea to be moved out of the deland back: ‘ £0 he: Soviet Union. ! (ps 36 + Special Cubs Brieving), Docld:32424689 Page 3 Page 3 Again. our | Mr, MeCone Mr, McNamara said aiso, i believe, My. McCone, that the frog wisailes wete being sent back to Russia, ‘Theré has | been rio previciis mention by anyone that - any of these have been shipped out, What. is. your posttion on this? BE. MeCone: Some aix weeks agok we noted that ten or 12 frog ninétie Inuchers were: on. the dock at Mariel, q believe » aii We presumably were loaded of a ship,’ dontinued to carry the number of mies 28 5, of frog: mlséiles, and launchers, An’ \ - A Guba that I mentioned yesterday, which bhe rangé is 24 to 33: That fe the mtsatles themselves. Me. MeCone: | Those aré the missiles themselves. Have you ever carried more than. that ; Mr. MeCone s I do not believe so, no, (p.. 93-Testimo ny before: "Stennis Committee ye
Mg. Secretary, you said that certain equipment associated with the remaining Soviet forces has started to move out. Can you give us some details on that and | what you think it moans 2 Yes, I don't wish to over-emphasize ' this point, J don't wish to mislead you » irito thinking that there are clear indica- tions that the four Soviet combat forces | whith I deseribed as having on the order of 1,200 men apiece, roughly 5,000 in total, are at the present time moving cut of Cuba. But it is a fact that certain of the equip- specifically certain of the rocket equipment has been moved out of Cuba, What this | implies for the future, I can't state. (p. 39, Special Cuba Briefing) | EACTS: 6 November 1962 low-level photography revealed five probable frog missile transporters and two probable frog missile launchera at the Remedios Military Gamp. On 9 November 1962, a sixth probable transporter was sighted. Based on these figures, plus the existence of four such major Soviet military camps, it was estimated that {rom 24 to 32 frog miasiles were probably in Cuba (assuming 3 or 4 missiles per launcher). Subsequent analy sie of all photography to date fails to reveal any
eAlong with this équimment renoved from Cuba; we estimated that 5,000 Soviet soldiers and techn: ’ ed the ie¢land, Remaints g in Cubs, there- fore, are the defensive weapons systems shown here at their deployed locations, elong with the approximately 217,000 Saviet troops. and technidtans. Special Cubs Briefing, 6 Feb 63). In summary, then, indies and gentle~ meu, we have recorded the entry of Soviet | offensive weapons systems into Cuba and we have reported the introdugtion into Cuba pérdontel and Soviet military equipment, defensive arms, Soviet military personnel - _ on the island, including technictens increased, we believe, to & total of approximately  22;000 by roughly the lst of November. het total, a6 Mr. Hughes reported to you; jejans have also depart<— Ne, MeNemara also indieated that he considered Cuba to ve a Jessening military threst since uilitary péople and equipment are diréet quote, "There appears to be some continuing movenént out," This is contrary to the information at. Least ft have. My information Je that after the miédiles and the It-288 were moved out, With the reduction that you have: indicated to 5,060 persone] there has. only been @ rotation of people home and @ continuing movement in of the supplies and gpare ‘parts and backup ammmnition for such things as SA-2. Will you conment on that? Mr, MeCone: Yes, sir, we obaér'ved the withdrawal of what appears to be about 5,000 men at the time that thé MREMs and the IREMs NG Docld: 32424689 Page 6 5 56629 DoclId: 32423642 Page 6
Hw HW holds, t cen'’t say.. 55355 56829  Docld: 32473642 has been reduced by the Disém Barkation, vemoval of about 5,000 tien from Cubs and theiy shipment to the Soviet Union, leaving a total of about 17,000 Soviet militery personne), including technicians in Guba i todays | oon | (p. 35 + Bpecial Cubs Briefing, 6 Feb 63) 2 (Unidentified « Believed to be Ann Bordene, Northern Virginia Sun) Mr. Secretary, I gather from what you. day ‘that. in. redent weeks Cuba has. become less of a uittery threat to the United the crisis, after the misedies and the poubers were yemoved, 1és8 of a threat in- the #énse of, I think you daid, 5,900 ‘Russlens had retuned to the lemeland, It 16 a lessening threat to thé United ' States, from what. I gather, ' Guba is & lessening military threat to the extent thet the military pergomnel of the Soviet Union and theixy equipment are being removed. As you point out, 5,000 Soviet military personnel have moved out in the last Sight or nine weeks, ond thare appeara to be ‘some continuing movement out. (p.. 50 - Special Cuba Briefing, 6 Feb 63) c DoclId: 324274689 Page 7 Page 7 withdrawal quoted here in the morning paper, iA What the future and thé bombers were removed. assumed thet thié personnel aré the ones that were in chargé of these units and responsible for them, end algo possible sone collateral support and security | fortes in connection with those particular Weapons systems, | The retoval of the troops occurred almost concurrently with the removal of the equipment. Now, @ince then we have observed ; what we Peel is a relatively static | situation with, as I sald yesterday, with fome rotation, We aré continual Ly getting intercepts, one as recently eB yesterday, speaking-of going home, but ve interpret this from our observa- tion es rotational rather then a . Tf counsel would yield just there; Mr, NecNemara, thet very point there, about the Seeretary saying it was ‘ Yo an leagening, here aré his exact words as lessening military threat." We have 4 rule in the courtroom thet ve won't eels, enone witness to passé on the
a! | aw We33 3355 | Ds validity of another witneds' testimony, that i¢ for the judge or the jury to decide, and particularly we wouldn't want you to have to pass on Mr.McMNamara's testimony. But how could there be such a ‘difference in your testimony? Da you have access to the same facts? Yes, we have acecesa to the sane facts, It is a matter of Judgement. Senator Stennis: A matter of judgement only? ag have eupressed by views and I think, Mr.. Chairman, you will have to ask My, MeNemar'a how he reachéd his tt ts highly coumendsble that you~ did and I was avoiding any pérsonal eonflict between you.
Mr, MeGone: - None what. go ever. Senator Stennis: in the recora or even in, the Comittee pO ‘bat. this 4c a mitter of judgement and the tiidtary strength after the with- “gaia of the 5,000. “typ. 93-95, Testimony Sténnils Committee) ea Bors: Sincé the departure of the last contingent of the It-28 bombers and the personnel adconpanying theiny we have observed no significant ¢hangs in Soviet military forces in Cuba. ‘There have been somé smell Shipments of militery-assoclated transport and a | “number of large erates which could contain additional coastal defense cruise misaiies =~ arriving in Cuba, However, there have been no major ¢hanges in the personnel pituation. Mb. MeConets etatement. that, "We are continually getting interéepts, one a8 reeently: a8 yesterday, speaking of going, home, but we interpret this from our obdervation as votattonal rather thai a withdrawal, “ 46 confirmed as essentially the interpretation of the Intelligence commriity. On thie basis we would consider the "present gituation as oné of neither build-up nor reduction but rathsy static. . 4 Regarding Mr, McNamara'a statement concerning, "A lessening military threst," fi : . * / ftom the. atendpoint of offensive capabilities against the United States ao currently known, ‘and estimated by thé Intelligence commmilty, this would be ® correct etaterient, . with ‘the pepoval of the: offensive MREMs and thé 0-28 bombers, the miaibery threat of Guba: ‘yissaevie the United States. is lesa than it was prior to. this action on thé part of the Soviet Union, However, thee” te, 16 epAnitiee. evidence to show that. thie is. ca] we BE e38? 9 ho ce Es pagers I say I ves avoiding the interference you ¢ertainly don't see any lessening of
@ continuing movement but. rather that it has been donpleted. The statemént concerning "A lessening militery threat" tn the context of irrentily imown and éatimated offensive capabilities againet the United 5 46 & Correct statement, ‘(ese tian prior to the rémoval. of the MREMs and 11-28 ‘pombers..) Mere is no definitive evidence to show that thie is a continuing movement ‘tout vather thet thé movement has beén completed. H¥= 55355 Docild:32424689 Page 10 HW 56329 DBocld:32423642 Page 10
.. estlea, HW 55355 Docld:32424689 Page 11 HW 56329 Gveationt (Unidentified Sourde ). Mr, Secretary, are there any sea-based offensive weapon of thé Polaris type or others operating in and around Cuba? No, and i think perhaps what you have in — "mind is that there are recurring tumors that »the Soviets have. established submarine bases ' on, the shores of Cuba, ‘bases which might. pre- | suubbly be used for submarines carrying We have no evidence whatsoever that duch based have been established. Aé Fy matter of fact, we have -posdtive evidence that they have not been, (p, by - Spécial Cuba Briefing, 6 Feb 63) DoclId: 324273642 Page 11 Ma. MoCone 7 ‘, MeCone? We hiow of no subnatines in the sabes of Cuba at the present ‘time, 4 Ta dcteber there were ! four subanrtne} i that we had under survedllance thet. were feat of the Asorte, ; end.a mother ship in the wlitinity of\ the Agorea Which we likewise had under surveillance, They are building a harbor under the cover of @ fishing trawler harbor, " £ have né doubt but what they will inate in Cube. facilities for the mainterance of submarines, ‘The Soviet nuclear submarine fleet and its missile leuaching fleet is growing, aé you know, and it would be ~ véry sonventént for them to have a placé to operate out of, The Soviet conimunieations Link between Mostow and the Havana consists of two links which have been installed ince the 20th of October. One’ appears. to support the Soviet Navel operations and the other links the Soviet mintater of defense with
ae 55355 Docld:32424689 Page 12 HW 829 Docld: 324273642 Page 12 the commander of the Soviet. forces An Guba. . These are very aminous, and important developments, in my opinion. (Brom the Tnelosurée to Memorandum to the Président from Mr, MeGone ata 7 ¥eb 63 which Lets Mr. MeCone's public and private statementa.) “tir, Kendal, Kendell: Now, on the qgiestion of submarine base capability in Cuba, Mr. McNamara was. quite emphatic that there was none end, ag I recall, it was your judgement that the develovments of such bases — ‘was either in being or very probably. for the future, Can you verify your position on that? Yes, I think my position was that there appears to be under construction marine base the announced purpode of which was to sevvice fishing travlers and similar ships but Z had no doubt but what it, would and could serve a8 a subs maxing servicing base} that the existence of such a base would be highly desirable. However, we cannot say absélutely that that particular base is to be a
‘yybmarine pase. (po LOL + Testimony Stennis Comittee ) The joint Moseow-ffavana annonecanen of the signing of an, agreement to construct. “, fishing port" aapable of hana @ large number of fishing trawlers and the facilities. for ‘procesoing the eaten caused, conetdarable apprehension and. specwlation within the intenligencs comminity as to the real purpose of this port. Tt wes speculated thet such a facility could be ‘used ad. & pase for servicing Soviet submarines at 88a; WO have no evidence that thie is the snvenada purpose of the. fishing port. Mr. MeCones. statement that, “there appears to be under construction a marine base,” 46 an Unfortunate choice of words in that our Information indicates that construction 48 due to péegin in Februrey 1963 and therefore the base éould at best be only in the —  sntitel stages of conétruction. We have no évidenes that work has actually started on this construction. At the present time we ere unable to determine whether or not the fishing port could bé Used as 4 subvarine base. At the request of DIA the Nevy Bes: undertaken a study to determine the suitability for using this fishing port or any other facility in Cube as @ subiivine bast. ‘This study should be completed. ‘within the nett week. goneiuszon: There is fo avyidence that eonstraction has. started. There: ia no evidence thet the fishing port will be used as a submarine base... i bit . We have not been able £0 determine whether ‘thé fishing port. site eould, be used es a submarine bade, (Study has been undertaken; )