TESTIMONY OF DEAN RUSK
Originator: SSCIA
From: RUSK, DEAN
Document date: 07/10/1975
Document type: TRANSCRIPT

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157-10005-10249

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

Date: 10/05/93

Page: 1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : SSCIA

RECORD NUMBER : 157-10005-10249

RECORDS SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : R463

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR : SSCIA

FROM

10 •

TITLE :

TRANSCRIPT/RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS/EXHIBITS

DATE : 07/10/75

PAGES : 161

SUBJECTS :

RUSK,

DEAN TESTIMONY BEFORE COMMITTEE

EXHIBITS 1-11

DOCUMENT TYPE : TRANSCRIPT

CLASSIFICATION : T

RESTRICTIONS : REFERRED

CURRENT STATUS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 10/05/93

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS :

BOX 258-2

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

NH 50955

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Mr. Smothers. Mr. Secretary, we see there a series of

lettered subparagraphs setting out alternatives that the CIA

has offered up as potential areas to be pursued, and then

some handwritten notes opposite each paragraph apparently in-

dicating approval or disapproval of the proposed faction.

The Chairman. Is this memorandum a CIA memorandum?

Mr. Smothers. It is for the Chief of the Western Hemi-

sphere Division.

Senator Tower. But who signed off on it? That sig-

nature is obscured.

Mr. Smothers. The author of this working paper is

unknown. It appears to be -- we have an acting chief --

Mr. Dennin. The chief at that time was Ned tolland and

though it is not established, people have said that they

believed that it was Mr. Esterline who was the acting chief

at that date.

Mr. Smothers. Looking at that memorandum and coming

down to subparagraph C under paragraph l of the memorandum, we

see the statement:

"To what extent will the U.S. Government participate

in the overthrow of Trujillo".

And then in subparagraph C:

"would it provide a

small number of sniper rifles

or other devices for the removal of key Trujillo people from

the scene?"

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WARD

PAUL

Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003

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Mr. Schwarz. Now if I might put this document in

chronological context for the Committee, the persons in Santo

Domingo are at this point seeking permission to pass machine

guns to the dissidents who they know are seeking those machine

guns in order to assassinate Trujillo, and there is a block

put on this shipment -- rather, to

the passage of them; they

had already been shipped to the Dominican Republic -- and a

draft cable was prepared authorizing the passage and then it

was said, no, we've got to go check with State to determine

whether the machine guns should be passed.

And this memorandum reflects the checking with State, he

apparently came to see Mr. Berle..

Further, as a matter of information, the me fliesbent who ('

was referred to in here, did know that other assassination

weapons had been passed to the dissidents.

Now given that background, I will read the memorandum

into the record and I will have one question for the witness. (1)09,

"Mro

Herbert

of CIA came in. A local group in the

Dominican government wishes to overthrow Trujillo; wishes arms

for that purpose.

"On cross-examination it developed that the real plan was

to assassinate Trujillo and they wanted guns for that purpose.

Herbert wanted to know what the policy should be.

"I told him I could not care less for Trujillo and that

this was the general sentiment. But we did not wish to have

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anything to do with any assassination plots, anywhere, anytime.

(Herbert said he felt the same way."

Now, Mr. Secretary, in the way which your understanding was

of the expected degree of candor between CIA and the State

Department, would it be your expectation that if Mid Herbert

had known that other weapons had been passed to the same

dissidents and they had stated that they intended to use those

other weapons to assassinate MI. Trujillo, that fish herbert

should have passed that information on to MI. Berle?

Mr. Rusk. Under those circumstances, I would think the

answer is yes.

I mean, one thing I'm sure of, Mr. Schwarz, and that is

Mr. Berle did not write this memorandum on May 3rd, 1961 in

preparation for a Senate investigation in 1975.

Mr. Schwarz. You believe it to reflect accurately what

transpired?

Mr. Rusk. I have no doubt. It was sent to Mr. Coerr, Mr.

Owen, Mr. Devine, in the Department of State, and I've known

Mr. Berle for quite a long time and I would have predicted this

would have been his reaction.

Senator Mathias. Mr. Chairman, just at this point --

The Chairman. Senator Mathias.

Senator Mathias. It would be interesting to get the

Secretary's reflection that if that is the case, as Mr. Berle's

memorandum indicates and as the Secretary said, how do you in

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• Juno 1901

Rusk ExhiLd # 4

HEMOLIDUM FOR THE RECOND

SUBJDOT : Record aud Holated Policy Decisions on Passirg

Ares to Dordrican Dissidoats

The following 1s inton from a Kororandus datod 11

Nay 1960, Subject:

Dabriciang où Abassador serland:

"The Ambassador bogen by saring that accordiar to

"Is, Munone Cho"

, tho leader oi the Donindeon Dissident

prineco, (rapa be dad moe tienter, une lassidents nocd

guns and municion iron dig timd Suades. In particular they

a small nanoco of hit-govored riales mch ucleccogie

siChus.

Tro damoondor mid that to saw no problen in tho

purchaso and delivery clanaccoincar of the aomo to too

dIssidents.

But to said. of course, this ruises tho question

of snother the United Jiatis Governono vanto to chaego in

this activity."

2.

Ga 27 June 2900 trusseder pariano told lo

he thought inat ma ma reco could to the best tog

Dea tra: (11(7)

water tie

Doninicon diorzactise

Misaacador Barzand trooked

une loadion où dank pousible altos lot lauding

In e mooding on 23 June 1560 Assistanco Secrotary

Rubotton told Col. J. C.

ring that the Governaunt of is

United Statos ves rechared to

provide tho boxinon discidents

with s anall nuncer si chaper 2ih00 or ouct dorices doi tho

rocoval où loy trujillo poopio iron the score.

4= 0901 10000002 1040 Ma Crooked Crrnd antibild i bian

of coverü action,

"te treety crieston

of Costa Ries,

joes around dud petrieton due incroaced

financinà support di colocica cido coupa.

approvad anchoded mathorzeroion dor

personnel and coupont Into dis bonindean donaülic.

CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TO

DECLADGIFIGATIGN ARO/OR

RELEASE OF TIC DOCUMENT

AS SANITIZED AIR, 01194

SCART

PERPERTY D:

1 1110

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-2-

5. At 12 January 1951 meotirs ne this Scocial Group,

Mr. Livingston Merchent cubed thet ine Deprataont of State

folt that a linitod numbor of sucle coas und other matorials

should bo mao avnilablo or the dissidonts insido ile

Dozinicon Roguslice Mo Tomas Parrott of too CIA said that

ho bolicrod tact thas could do accomplishca secuely or tho

Cli and that the piun mila cuipuless dai tho actual i

introduction si she anucrols into die doninican depublic

would bo the responceility or ire

soninseen discidonts

thonselves.

The decision of tie spociai Caoup vas comminicatod

to consul dearcorn in Ciura Conditio, and ima lotüer datod

31. Januay 1901 to 18. Frank Doring on the Seate Espastment,

Consul. Deraworn made the toilone rock: lith regard to

tho delivery di too exotic equipmono, ay irionas vero

of courso deliritod that suea a decisioo las boon race.

nopo that it vali dou in recoosary to play dom too long tho

question of newl delivery nance they are corer and capectant

and a too croat tamineos on our pari would only loud then to

quostion our cinocritj."

0.

dated i5 tach 1951, Grave

0038E

For loons to

SC

anot reguests unres thirty-

clane culiber suita a desoon soscial vistols co cirilor and

tarco

orall

bones contriter.

¿ sending ammunition complicates

problem, dorice and to mad

wy to ter it 100e the tarires."

Tho Poputr Parcetor

request and

autorial

sandbert provided the cockenied

theon metront mis airch to

Jordi.

BROOS

the

in did vero paciou

in direct touch

ciemani ci

we uncsluent

zation.

(1)(A)(B)

(INA)(B)

7.

01 20 Mich 1561 ir

Q6e8, tio

pormission to puse timee ti Carcinco,

cal io and suppig oi

i Chai

tory ringder

U. Se

laval ne.

04d to be 24600d to tid 0aeez64h19.

thin

vas concerned in by condud terriorn ai

(1) (AN(B)

ec in siriod:

"ne cannoù cranagice enou that no must

anto costuro or carport lad traile to corer troll, diesident

Jeader, 221.

Choco

itons jourotees ma commition) aro nos

Tart

no anted tor into they

aáty.

The agency in Ma 2ut3 ra 31

ren bee approval did

B22620n

procod to the chscernt1e0iy

coveral days

/ (0) (B)

to thie assadunt,

C0:SP

SCOSET

PROPERTY DF

THE WIDE HOUSE OEric

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1e6:10111

6-C:543

CIA MAS NO OR ECTION TO

DECLASSI

GUMENT

AS SANITZED,

G3327

RUSKEX7

MIMSRANDUM POS:

SUBJECT

The Honozablo Loan Luc

The Becactasy st state

: CIA Isvolvament in Cubaz Ccaster-

revoiutionary Motivities--Arrest ci

Roanão CUBaLA Succaas act

1.. With reference to the Hacera Prence Latira sews velcase

cê 5 March 1966, allegizg OlA involvescuE nia MOleRco CURELA

Secades and Ramou Toras CUI Dias in coucorceroiutionary

activities, tae following duelizas

sy's co

trose tiru

0213025.

2.

GUIN 123 reeruined by a Cut agent se

1963

cry 1224

side

Ha has had no concact witi ClA strif personnel.

3. CUBElA, the more important of too two men, has been

in cortact with this Agercy during the period 1951-1965.

The lest

Agency castact with CUBEld was in Sebrzary 1905. Ha bas had

direct contaci with several Agaary officiala and, in additios, is

know to bave bean in contact with. Cubas exilos, inclading Manuel

ARILE.

wask or 52

"GIT

Prazy activi

ectivesaime

DEs in coulder Etelligenceron

A The Agency was 25.

involvod with either di dese to mon da a plotto ascassinate ridel

Castro, as alatared in tho Leanee Lating novo rolease, 10r C2d 1

evei encourage eilaar di chose too persons to attacaot such an act.

880

montionad in tax p22ss Tolesso, i5 3

Cia câricial

diationed in

eboth Odon Alvarez do la Calure and Jose mus

?ins

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CONZALLZ. Callarzatua, as notod in tao press zeleaso.

conte

Aces no che.

Est nasce

saber.

There in no touch to the allogation mit

CiA paia $100, 000 or aay ouros sizeable pura di money to cadier

ca these incividuals.

5.

TEPEDINO, noted ia de preso zelease.

Is/ Pir-a Tolas

Picheia Helms

Dopudy Dirccior.

Signature Recommended:

1s/ Thenas H. Kermesites 3- MA2 1555

A Deputy Directos for Plans

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Mans Copie and Oliar

139) Ruck Eh DEPARTMENT LF STATE

# '' Memorandum of Conversation

HOP SECRET

78131165

SUBJECT:

Dominican Republic

DATE: May 3,1901

PARTICIPANTS:

fir. Herbert, CLA

Mr .Berle

195%

C-1x-1

(DA)

COPIES TO:

ARA: kir. Coerr - 1

Mr. Oven

Pir.

Devine -

3

TOP.

SACRET

CIA - Y

4.

is Herbert

of CIA came in. A local group "in the Dom-

inican government wishes to overthrow Trujillo; wishes arms for

that purpose.

On cross-examination it developed that the real plan

was to assassinate Trujillo and they wanted guns for that purpose.

parbert wanted to linow what the policy should be.

I told him I could not care less for Trujillo and

that this was the gencral sentiment. But we did not wish to have

anything to do with any assassination plots anywhere, any time.

El Retain class'n a Change / classify to.

E With concura

of

I Declassity

"a' and excise as

shown

EO 123.00

3131911-

CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TO

DECLASS! CATION AND/OR

RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT

AS SANiTIZED 10/1194

4195

А.А. В:пр

TOP.

8. SEO

MAY 1 0 19G1

15-561

FILED

IOP SECRET

406347

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