MFR, RELATIONS WITH MANOLO RAY AND THE MRP.
Originator: CIA
From: WITHHELD
To: MFR
Document date: 06/02/1961
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10179-10097

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

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2 June 1961

'RETURN TO CIA

Background Use Only

Do Not Reproduce

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Relations with Manolo RAY and the MRP

1. For background see my memorandum of 12 May 1961, reporting on

my long session with Manolo RAY, Rogelio CISNEROS (Eugenio) and Ernesto

BETANCOURT. As will be noted in that memorandum, Manolo promised to

come up with a prospectus within approximately ten days' time, after con-

sulting with his leaders in Cuba.

2. On l June 1961 Mr. Barnes called me to say that Mr. Goodwin had

been visited by Mr. Ernesto BETANCOURT who asked for immediate financial

support for certain activities of the MRP which would run around $10, 000 bed

dollars.

Mr. Barnes asked me to contact BETANCOURT for the purpose of

ascertaining what the funds were to be used for, exactly how much needed, etc.:

I called BETANCOURT and he told me that I should get these details from

CISNEROS (Eugenio), who was staying at room 549 at the Washingion Hotel.

• I called Eugenio and made a date for me and Ray DuBois (Ray Adamo in the ira

name he uses with Ray and Cisneros) to call upon him.

We called on CISNEROS

at approximately 1845 hours 1 Jure, "and he Informed us that he had urgent

need for pesos for use in support of his sabotage and underground activities..

In Cuba, He said his people were absolutely without funde, needed money for

living expenses, transportation, purchase of sabotage equipment, air fares for

couriers, and for assisting people to get out of prison. He said that it was

now possible for people to biry thelr way out of prison by bribing one of the

many "communist" lawyers and judges. He thought that 40, 000 or 50, 000 pesos?

would meet iminediate needs and that come sort of arrangement should be made

8o receive funds - 30. 000 monthly or thereabouts - ori a fixed and permanent

бадів.

pesos.

3. We made no commitment to Eugenio other than to say that we would

pass his plea along to the interested people. I reminded him that we had asked

him and Manolo to prepare à plan for consideration and that we were Stilf.

waiting for that plan, I said I personally doubted that anything could be done

until the plan was received from RAY. He said Manolo was planning to come to

Washington on the afternoon of 2 June with the plan, but that he himself was

having to return to Miami immediately and it was vital he be able to take the

money with him, arrange in Miami for purchase of the pesos (at rate of 4'x'1-

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monty already in Cuba - dollars would be delivered an emers of le pesos who

are in Miami). I told him I would cali him in the mining to lel kim know how

things stood.

I discussed our meeting with CISNEROS with Iracy Barnes on the

morning of 2 June. It was Tracy'e opition, in whick I leastily concur, that

we should put out no money whatsoever until we hare bad a chance so examine

Manolo's plan ladle study just what repercussions or ramifications there

would be, policy-wise and otherwise, to a decision tu andäst live MRP

unilaterally; that is, outside the Council ard presumadly without MIRO's

knowledge or consent..

Since RAY has withdrame his fraun frous the Council

with a great deal of fanfare, it is most unlikely that hitzo wound loak kindly

on any assistasce to RAY, especially since he feels us has a rather firra

promise from the President to deal only through MIRt

5. RAY, upon arrival in Washington, will presunably take his plan (along

with BETANCOURT) directly to Mr. Goodwin and I wuld aiso presurce that

Goodwin will pass it down to Tracy and Tracy to us. Ray Dubois. whe has.

been Manolo's case oificer, in standing by in the event he sould be needed...

6. I personally feel very strongly lar we should de mthing do support the

plan, whaterer it is, until we have received from the Mitte House and the

Department clear-cut, unequivocal policy guidance or the exerall plas I also

on this job. Harry is tempermentally suited, bas a gund aminess head, is.

Quent in Spanish (lived 28 years in Cuba), is cleared, failums directions.

completely honest and tremendously conscientious. I waitibe harder to

find a better person.

200 :

7. Also, I would like lo point out the security rista inherent in say arrángo-

ments with the RAY-BETANCOURI.-CISNEROS tria. liesse fellars have had

easy access to the White House and to the Department, are natasious for their

"planned leaks"', will probably presume all the Deparsuent afficials they deal

with are privy to the arrangement, and before we know it die whble exile

community will be well aware that we are providing fincial and material

support to the RAY group. I am nos arguing agains: providing such support.

but am merely pointing out the real poreatial for embarrassment to us if the

matter is nos hardled with the greatest of precautions. I foetthey have become

800 closely identified with l.S. -officialdom, including nyaelf,. and that the

plausible denial aspects, to dare at least, are almost min-exiater.

03

James A Nioe:

CC: A/DDP/A

DC/WH/+.

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