Evening star., 1961-04-26


Did the CIA misjudge the
to rally to the side of the anti
Castro insurgents?
Did CIA underestimate the
military strength of the Castro
forces which could be brought
to bear against the invaders?
If adequate answers to these
questions are ever provided to
the general public, they are
not likely to appear until the
projected investigation by Gen.
Maxwell Taylor, former Army
Chief of Staff, is completed.
No Scarcity of Views
Interested parties" in the
Presidents official family have
felt free, however, to give news
men their views since Mr.. Ken
nedy in effect declared open
season" on backgrounders for
newsmen. A backgrounder in
Washington usage is a semi
private news conference with
an anonymous source.
President Kennedy, at his
news conference last Friday,
told reporters. IT wouldn't be
surprised if those of you who
are members of the press will
be receiving a lot of back
ground briefings in the next
day or two by interested peo-
pie or interested agencies. E.
I wouldn't be surprised if in
formation is poured into you
in regard to all the recent ac-
tivities. I think you'll be
informed and some Of the in
formation, based on what I've
seen, will not be accurate"
Reports began appearing in
newspapers last week end that
the CIA had underestimated
the strength Of the Cuban Air
Force and the readiness Of the
Cuban people to side with anti
Castro forces.
Foreign Policy Session
In the first two days of this
week. a foreign policy brief
ing conference" scheduled
more than a month ago,
brought newsmen from across
the country to Washington for
background sessions with lead
ers of the key executive de-
partments.
The list of speakers included
Secretary of State Rusk, Act
ing Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for Far Eastern At
fairs Alfred Jenkins, Space
Administrator James E. Webb,
United Nations Ambassador
Adlai E. Stevenson, Latin
American Task Force Chief
Adolf A. Berle, Undersecretary
of State for Economic Affairs
George w. Ball, Soviet Affairs
Expert Charles E. Bohlen. AS
siStant Secretary of State for
European Affairs Foy D.
Kohler, Deputy Undersecretary
of State for Administration
Roger w. Jones, Assistant Sec
retary for African Affairs G.
Mennen Williams, United
States Information Agency Di-
rector Edward r. Murrow, Gen.
tral Intelligence Agency Di-
rector Allen w. Dulles, Deputy
Secretary of Defense Roswell
L. Gilpatric, Undersecretary of
State Chester Bowles and AS
sistant Secretary of State for
Public Affairs Roger Tubby.
Mr.. Kennedy also spoke to
the group on an off-the record
basis.
Two Errors Reported
One high administration
source reported Monday there
had been a miscalculation on
both the Cuban and American
sides on two vital issues: One,
whether there would he a sub
stantial response inside Cuba
which could link up with inva-
sion forces and achieve success;
the other concerned the pace.
extent and weight of Soviet
bloc arms which had reached
Castro forces and were in
operational condition.
The anti-Castro invasion that
got ashore ran INTO much
heavier and much quicker OPP
position than was anticipated,
it was said. Either there had
not been the general prepara-
ton which the Cuban under
ground had promised CT the
Castro forces moved in much
faster than had been antici-
pated from inside Cuba, one
source reported.
Yesterday another high ad-
ministration source said that
the intelligence on what had
been going on in Cuba as well
as the strengths and weak
nesses of Castro forces had
been quite correctly analyzed.
There had been accurate in
formation on the general stu
alton in Cuba, on the number
of resistance forces, on the
Castro army, air force and ma
rines, and on the general tenn
per in the country, the inform
ant said.
He denied there had been
any miscalculation on those
points.
Nor was it correct, he said,
that facts known to the intel
ligence community did not get
to the top policy planners.
Still other sources felt that
all elements in the executive
branch of the Government