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2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

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2 February 196°

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORDS

SUBJDCI: BObriefLag of Edward G. Tichbarn(P)

1. Edward G.Iichborn(P) arrived in Washington Iron his trip to Cuba during

tho night of 31 January 1960/, "o was debriefod at the Hotol Statlor Iran about

1000 to 1530 hours on 1 February. Those prosent at

sno dobrioling vero Masgra.

3 (Phil Tooney and Charlos Penney frcu Wa Division, MAlexandor Hunter) PP/EAN, and

the Undorsigned. This dobriofing was very interosting and resulted lon a good

deal of pertinent Information. The three and a half roels of tape derived ixe

therofrom aro now being transcribod by this cifica. Sons of the more salient

points aro notod bolow.

XX

2. Some of the operational Iniormation and sugrostlong offared by Tichborn

ura the following:

a: Thore appoars to be little chance of a coalition of the opposition

groups at this time of in the near future sinco they aro not well organized

and each group want would want to be the leader of such an effort. Also,

according to the manbors of the orposition to whon Fichborn talkod, 1t 1s

the general consensus of opinion that Fidol Castro is In no danger of loosing

his grip or the devotion of his followerax for sore time to come.

b. Fidol Castro soons to bocone most it upset and almost paniced by

defoctions. Possessing a "Messiah-typo complex" ho cannot bear tho thought

of someone loaving the fold. Rather than to let such defactious pass on

unnoticod, he fools compelled to give reasons and rake excuses. This then

blows the matter up perhaps out of proportion and quickly bocores a matter

of public knowlodge. Tichborn feels that the laducesent of deiactions coald

porht u here more effect ol Castro than any other singlo, rational actioa wo

c. There appears to be & relativaly long-standing schis botween th

rothora Fidel and haoul Castro. Raoul 1s the sono cold individual. As a

havo littlo effoct on Fidel who has already reduced Abroad the land holdines

of his mother and another brothor in conformity vith the agrerian refora

rogram and who Ja1lod his sistor, and firod a Minister, avar a shako-dow

n an inow'enco deal.

3. Of spocial operatioral intorost wore soveral indiriduals Ilchborn

montioned uho night havo sons Influence on Fidol Castro and honco miget bo of

1: (53213)

08

3/PV

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Іжі і шина смтітамя

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operational Intorast.. They aro:

2. Pathor (Padro) Alberto do Castro: ho 1s a Jesult priost presently

locatod in Carecas, Venezuola, who had been a teacher of Fidol Castro during

h1s youth. Castro vas in Venezuela and saw Father de Castro thore during

which timo the littor criticizod Fidol for sono of his actions. In spito of

tho fast that this rominstration occured in front of sons of Fidel's men,

and they laterthe litter treated him with great rospect. It was felt by Iichbern's source

chatted alone of this Information, and by Tlahborn, that Father de Castro undoubted

Ios an hour....

has sono influence over Castro, Tichborn supgested that 1t would bo of valuo to

determine whothor or not Fidel has chy regular contact with Father do Castro

b. Horb nathows, he is a journaliat with tho l.Y, Tings and was the only

American newspaperman covering

tho Castro story prior to his final succosa.

While Tichborn was In tuba, a front pago articlo fu appeared in Rovolusion

(tho regimo's press spokesman) on Mathews. It was a sort of editorial and

praised Mathous as & "roal man" and one who understood the rovolution and

Its alms. Iichborn fools that 1t might be to our advantago to got into

contact with Mathews sinco he appears to have the confidenco of tho

administration.

c. Profossor Rosco: Subject 1s on the faculty of the intveraidad de

Villamera and 1s a contemporary of Fidel Castrn. Thoy vero claosmatos and

both were dabators although according to Rosco, Castro did not mako the

Debating: Society of which he (Rosco) was the presidontonco after the

revolution, Rosco attended a sppoch Castro mado and aftor the oration, the

latter asked Rosco what he thought of 1t. Upon hearing sons criticism, he wantod

to know how 1t could have been inproved. Sinco Castro was leuving for

Vonezuela and the United States ho asked Rosco to arcompany him in order that

they could discuss the rautur further. Tichborn fools that Rosco (a ember of

the opposition) tux probably has more influence on Castro than Rosco roalizes

and that this jossibillty would bo worth looking into.

1. Edward i-Murrow: ha producod a-ll program on Castro and Tichborn fools

hat ho might havo established a rapport with Castro during this period.

4. Ono of tho contacts Tichborn sade in Cuba (tha Director of Tourism sokod

him if he know of azyone who would be Interested in coming to Cubs on an all-expenses.

pald visit 1n ordor to vrite articles (or other similar propaganda) on present day

Cube. Tichborn mentioned Cloto foberts, a popular radio and IV commentator in los

ngolos as a possiblo candidato. (Tichborn also discussed this mattor with Horace

1. Davis. l Tichborn will mention this possibility to Roberts upon his roturn to

Californic.

5. Whllo 1n Cubs, Tichborn accidently net a young lady who later revealod to

him that she war "an

The incident and the detaila vill bo rade the oubjoct of a saparato

senorandun for GI Staff.

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6. Cn the adainistrativo side, fe. "iehty will foruard ho nell his

Iinancial accounting, ono copy to the cover company and the other to Honry

_W. Darkin(f). The cover lotter which was providod him 1hx the ovent that

ho cano to the attontion of the Gyban autheritios vas roturned to us and 1s

now in his filo. (Thoro vas no nocessity for its uso.) Tichborn inquirod as to

the possibility of receiving reimbursament for sedical expanses which will

on 1 February 1960.

Evalona §. Vidal

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