E. HOWARD HUNT
Originator: CIA
From: S.D.BRECKINRIDGE
To: MFR
Document date: 12/20/1973
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

CONFOENTIAL

20 December 1973

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: E. Howard Hunt

1. I spoke with Fig Coleman about Hunt's assignment to Spain.

I had spoken with him back in August when we were inquiring into

reported activities involving Mrs. Hunt.

2. Coleman said that he got out of the War College in May 1964

(by which he fixed the time), and took over the Iberian desk. Bill

Ryan was C/EUR (or was it WE Division at the time). In early autumn

Ryan said that he had just been informed by the DDP (Karamessines)

that Hunt was to be assigned to Madrid as DCOS, as a directed assign-

ment by Helms. A memo was prepared and sent to the COS, Jim Noel

(now retired). There was nothing further for about a month when Ryan

called Coleman in and showed him a RYBAT letter from Noel stating

that Ambassador Stanley J. Woodward would not have Hunt in the

Embassy.

3. Woodward had been the Ambassador to Uruguay when Hunt

was COS Montevideo. He had a low opinion of Hunt and was counting

the days until Hunt left. The President of Uruguay visited President

Eisenhower in the States, at which time he requested a personal favor--

that Hunt be reassigned to Montevideo. - So Hunt took another tour.

Woodward was outraged, and had his reverige in 1964 when Hunt was

to be sent as DCOS to Madrid.

4. After a couple of months--early 1965--Ryan called Coleman

in and, observing that there was more than one way to skin a cat,

told him that Hunt was going to Spain under nonofficial cover. This

didn't require anything special, Ryan saying that he didn't know

much about it. It came to him from Karamessines on Helms' order.

Hunt was to have the telephone number of the COS, but he would do

nothing for the station. Hunt was to submit administrative vouchers

for reimbursement of his expenses and they were to be paid. Coleman

said he never saw Hunt before he went out. He knows that there was

no operational reporting, to indicate that Hunt was doing anything.

RETURNTO CA

Background Use Only

Do Not Reproduse

as tis.

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CONPIDENTIAL

The vouchers were not large, although the documentation was poor.

Coleman raised the question with Ryan about his signing off, and

Ryan said he could talk to Karamessines if he wished. Because

Coleman had a close personal association with Karamessines he

did just that. He was told by Karamessines that he didn't know much

about it either--"Helms said send him out." He was instructed to go

ahead.

5. In early July 1966 (4 July) Coleman went to Madrid. He

had a ten day turnover with Jim' Noel, Hunt had already gone and

he did not see him. )Noel/said he didn't know what Hunt did, but

that Coleman need not worry because he was gone.

6.

Several months ago/Noel was at a seminar at which

Ambassador Woodward was also present. At the time he asked

about Hunt.

Tad Szulc had been after Woodward about the Hunt assignment to

Spain. Coleman observed that Szulc did have a long article on Hunt

in the New York Times, and the Spain assignment was mentioned,

but without any conclusions as to its significance.

7. Coleman said the RYBAT file of C/EUR may have something on

the event, but not much. A letter out and the reply, but not much more.

D. Ruech

S. D. Breckinridge

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