## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY:

FBI

RECORD NUMBER:

124-10284-10081

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 105-85440-28

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

FROM:

TO:

TITLE :

FBI

DIRECTOR, FBI

DATE: 08/11/1967

PAGES:

185

SUBJECTS:

MAB, ASSOC, CUBAN EXILES, MIL ACT, ACA

DOCUMENT TYPE:

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION :

Secret

• RESTRICTIONS :

1A; 1B; 1C; 4

CURRENT STATUS :

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW:

09/03/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF CIA, INDEFINITE

COMMENTS: INC S/S, ADMIN PAGE

v9.1

NW 83608 Docld:32303569 Page 1

32

Date:

4/28/201

2860A Dater 03-18-2025

---

## Page 2

PSI Elio Quintero (protect identity), (97-4313), 153 N.E.

44th Street, Miami, advised

on 7/29/60 that he had been serving in

a liaison capacity with the MRR and prospective defectee pilots of

Cuban airlines.

His operations were directed by Dr. Manuel Artime

Buesa, an ex-Lieutenant of the Cuban Revolutionary Army who now was

serving as Secretary General of the MRR. Quintero was in daily

telephonic contact with Salvador Aldereguia and Antonio Bascaro,

two members of the Cuban Revolutionary Army who were in exile in

their admission into the US.

Tact a on note tie we attenting do expanse lor

7-4313-3 P.

6,337

Carlos Rodriguez, a Cuban national living in NYC as of

August, 1960, reportedly

"MRR

- Camilo

Cienfuegos, said that he was affiliated with the

• and claimed to be in close contact with

the

"real MRR" in Cuba.

He said that Manuel Artime was not entirely

beginning to show signs of progress. (CIA, 9/1/60)

105-91331-1 p.2

[In July, 1960 there was dissension in the MRR leadership

which consisted of Ricardo Lorie, Higinio "Nino" Diaz, Antonio

Michel Yabor and Manuel Artime Buesa. Artime, who represented the

MRR on the FRD Executive Committee, reportedly was aligned with the

political group of Manuel Antonio de Varona, Aurelio Sanchez Arango

The dissident group, Lorie, Diaz and Yabor,

who were not accepted by the FRD, aligned themselves with the

Liberation Alliance which was formed in Miami on 8/7/60, and claimed

they were the true MRR organization. A paid political announcement

in the 8/2/60 issue of the

"Diario Las Americas"

stated that Jose

Ignacio Rasco Bermudez, a secretary of the FRD Executive Committee,

certified that the only MRR duly accredited representative of that

organization to the FRD was Manuel Artime.

The National Board of

the MRR in Cuba, backed by the FRD, reportedly approved the reorgan-

ization of the MRR and Artime's expulsion of Lorie, Diaz and Yabor

On 8/16/60, CIA, Miami (protect identity), advised

that Artime and

(continued)

(Ц)

SECRET

-10 -

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 2

---

## Page 3

SECRET

Rudolph Fernandez (protect identity), a cotton broker of

Atlanta, Georgia who was closely associated with Francisco Gualberto

Cajigas

civilian leader of the

Cuban Unity of Liberation

y Garcia Del Prado (ucian 105-88041), furnisned Information

to Miami Office Agents on 9/12/60.

had told Fernandez that

Father Medina, Rector of Villanueva University, Havana, arrived in

Miami from Havana, on 9/5/60, for the purpose

of contacting

Cajigas and offering him the help and resources of the Catholic

Church in Cuba in his fight against Castro. Fernandez said that,

according to Cajigas, Father Medina advised that the Catholic Church

in Cuba was opposed to Manuel Antonio Varona of the FRD.

Father

Medina also disclosed to Cajigas that Manuel Artime, one of the five

readers of the FRD, had visited Medina and had confided that the

FRD was, divided and unhappy. u

105-88041-6 encl. p.5

(39)

Ramiro Loys (protect identity), a confidential source of

information, advised on 9/6/60 that he had been told by Carlos

Marquez Sterling that Antonio (Tony) Varona was coming to Washington,

DC on 9/16/60, where he planned to confer with officials of the

Department of

State and CIA concerning the eventual unification of

the various anti-Castro groups then in existence. At that time,

Varona was to discuss what assistance this group might expect from

the US and he also would provide the identity of various anti-Castro

groups known to him. Among persons under consideration by Sterling,

Varona, and others, for inclusion in this unified organization was

Artime

Buesa. According to Loys, Sterling had been a Cuban president-

ial aspirant during the election of 1958 and Varona was a former

Cuban Senator now in exile in Miami, Florida.

109-504-1916

(22)

Rolando Arcadio Masferrer Rojas (2-1622), 1900 S.W. 21st

advised on 10/6/60 that through an intermediary

(ee center lentil he had been in contact with termed time

Buesa, military leader and member of the FRD, and had offered to join

the FRD provided the FRD would manifest certain stipulations. (Date

(continued)

-12-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 3

---

## Page 4

Fray Balbino de Ferral of the Capuchinos Convent Plaza

de vesus #2, Madria, spain, advised on 8/22/63 that he had been

leported from Cuba in September, 1961.

Nas a member of the MRR, identified as a counterrevolutionary

a counterrevol state that SECRET

group which was headed by Manuel Artimes

who was one of the leaders

of the 4/17/61 Bay of Pigs invasion (sic).

Fray Balbino said that

he acted

in a sort of liaison capacity between the MRR and other

counterrevolutionary groups.

103=991153-15

on 1/2/62, Philadelphia SOI Enrique Menocal (protect

identity) advised that the 30th of November Movement (105-92196) was

founded originally by Manuel Artime (date not indicated) and was

composed largely of Catholic students in Cuba. Menocal said that

November 30th was the date on which Huber Matos, former military

commander of Cameguey Province in Cuba, was arrested by Fidel Castro

and sentenced to prison for being a traitor to the cuban Revolution.

105-92196-28 p.3

(47%

SI 105-92196-17 encl.p.1

(41%

The MRR, an underground movement formed in Cuba in mid-1959,

was composed primarily of three larger groups:

(1) the ACU, under

Manuel F. Artime Buesa; (2) a military group under Major Ricardo

de la Lorie Valls; and (3) an air group, without planes, of 13

experienced pilots under Major Antonio Michel Yabor.

The ACU was in

existence prior to the Castro regime as the Cuban Catholic University

(CACU) studente organization. In November: 1959, under Artime's

leadership, the majority of the CACU membership joined with the

Rebel Army Officer group to become the MRR. In February, 1950, a

coordinated movement of anti-Castro exiles outside Cuba was formed

in Mexico and named the MRR.

Artime and Lorie were joint heads of

this newly formed group. About the middle of 1960, Artime, who was

in the US, reportedly began to act without authority from the MRR

Directorate, which resulted in formation of the MRR splinter group,

(continued)

-21 - SECRET

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 4

---

## Page 5

(continued)

SECRET

Cuba since: the ill-fated 4/17/61 Playa Giron invasion.

MM 639-S).

On 12/29/62, President John F. Kennedy visited the Orange

Bowl Stadium, Miami, where he reviewed

the returned prisoners of

Brigade 2506. He was accompanied by Jose Miro Cardona and Manuel

Artime, both of whom were

Kennedy. (MM 039-5). 8

Un the speakers' stand with President

After Artime's

return to the US, he used his influence with

the US Government to obtain an interview with President Kennedy in

Palm Beach, Florida.

He was to continue as head of the MRR.

Artime

made a good appearance, spoke English, and had charmed US Government

officials who were in charge of government policy between the Us

and Cuba.

He was extremely ambitious and would like to be the head

of the chu and probably the future President of Cuba.

"Nino'' Diaz, supra, 1/4/63). L1

(Higinio

As a result of nationwide press, radio, and television

coverage of President Kennedy's 12/29/62 activities at the Orange

Bowl, which coverage prominently mentioned Artime's name, Artime

now was better known and his position in the anti-Fidel Castro

movement was greatly increased. Generally among Cuban exiles Artime

was considered young, immature, and highly ambitious,

and many felt

that he would be the victim of his own publicity. [MM 639-S, 1/5/631]

97-4133-57 p.1,3-5

129

The 1/6/63 issue of the "Miami Herald" carried an article

entitled "Rift Develops in Invasion Brigade; 100 Boycotted JFK Here."

This related to boycott by Cuban Brigade 2506 (105-117331) prisoners

of President Kennedy's 12/29/62 appearance at the

Orange Bowl to

welcome the returned prisoners.

The article stated that Enrique

Llaca, Jr.

• recently receased from Castro's prisons, singled out

Manuel- Artime and Dr. Jose Miro Cardona, head of the Che, Ior

criticism, declaring

they were using the Brigade for their personal

benefits.

Both Artime and Miro Cardona denied this.

The Brigade,

under the leadership of Artime and a joint chiefs of staff, had set

up headquarters in Miami.

(continued)

SECRET

-26-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 5

---

## Page 6

(continued)

SECRET

The 1/6/63 issue of the "Miami News"

, in an article

entitled

I "Brigade 2506 Meets Monday to Map Plans"

, set out the names

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Brigade and quoted Artime as

stating:

"We have fought only one battle and we are certain the

final battle is very near."

received by President Kennedy at the Orange Bowl, the group headed

Bro ana

by Enrique Llaca Orbiz appeared on Channel 10 Television, Miami.

During their appearance they stated that they were opposed to the

CRC and to Manuel Artime, chief of the Brigade. U

105-117331-1 encl. p.2,3,6,9

150%

LIn May, 1961 Fidel Castro offered to exchange a number of

Cuban prisoners

taken during the 4/17/61 invasion attempt, for US

tractors and spare parts for same. Eliminated from the proposed

tractor exchange deal were the three leaders of the invasion -

Manuel Artime, Jose San Roman and Rafael Bolivar Fuentes.

The

Cuban Government proposed the exchange of Artime for Francisco

"The Hook" Molina, a pro-Castro Cuban who had been convicted of

second-degree murder in NYC.

However, this proposed exchange failed

to materialize and in late March - early April 1962, in Havana, Cuba,

the prisoners were tried before a 5-man military tribunal and con-

victed. '

The verdict involved heavy ransoms with the ransom for

Artime

set at $500,000.

subsequently, the US carried out negotiations

for release of the prisoners and on 12/23-24/62 they all were air-

to Miami.

Artime, the civil representative of the CRC, re-

portedly had emerged as a focal figure in the exile community. At

a press conference on 12/25/62, he emphasized that all the returned

prisoners regarded themselves

Council."

"troops of the Revolutionary

Artime declined to discuss the military aspects of the

«JU)

beginning to process

the prisoners. CIA, Miami, had contact with

Brigade 2506 leaders Artime, Jose Perez San Roman and Eneido Oliva

as sources of information to keep abreast

and desires, and not as

"controlled agents

Brigade 2506 moond set bracket.

(U)

(41 622?

INS LTR

(continued) 2803122/gel

311.326 46/93)

SECRET

-27-

7803 rodigel +241, 326

430/82. see 15t and zad

set of brackets

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 6

---

## Page 7

(continued)

REFERENCE

SECHS SEARCH SLI? PACE NUMBER

105-99200-A Washington Capital News Service,

(460

12/24/62

-A Washington Capital News Service,

(46%

- A

12/26/62

"The Miami Herald",

(46)

12/26/62

("'All-Out Effort Would Topple

Castro -- Artime"; also,

"Not a Turncoat Among Them.")

(Photograph of Artime appeared

in both articles).

105-107224-A

Washington Capital News Service,

(48)

12/25/62

(1)

reported that a meeting of anti-Castro exiles

Street, N.W., Washington, DC, was to be addressed by Commandante

Manuel

Artime, Cuban exile military figure who participated in the

ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in April, 1901.

one Peter san Roman, who keviat agued in ine oldine commendante

Jose Perez

sion.

109-584-3405

Washington Capital News Service released datelined Miami,

2/6/63, reported that the Cuban Brigade, which participated in the

abortive Bay of Pigs invasion,

was preparing militarily to try again

to Liberate cuba, according to a statement made that day in Miami,

by Manuel Artime,

Brigade leader. Artime told UPI he was speaking as

an individual and not as Secretary untry tor action"

MRR, or the

Brigade. He called on Cubans to

and on all free

(continued)

-29-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 7

---

## Page 8

SECRET

(continued)

publicize the movement on 4/11/63. He appeared to have the backing

of Manuel Artime, who had been seen with Rivero quite frequently

during the past week (place not indicated), and possibly that of .

Jose Miro Cardona, president of the CRC. Artime dealt with Miro

through Carlos Pelaez Cossio, a former senator under Gomez and

Batista (sic) and a personal

• confidant of both Miro and Artime

This reference indicated that foregoing

acquired on 4/10/63 in the US (place not given)

105-117331-7 p.2

(51%

information was

" Ere of at total

9503, 222/gel24,326

Miami Office report dated 4/30/63, set out information

indicating that during January, 1963, some MRR (97-4133) functionaries

participated in unity discussions with other Cuban revolutionary

organizations.

The MRR problem was complicated by the recent return

to the US from imprisonment in Cuba, of Manuel Artime Buesa, MRR

leader who had participated in the April, 1961 invasion attempt.

In late January, 1963, Jose Miro Cardona, head of the CRC, tried to

overthrow the MRR leadership of Artime.

On 2/22/03, at a meeting

nela by the Enrique Oviedo Leon faction of the MRR (place not indi-

cated), Artime was expelled and Oviedo was named. MRR Secretary

¡eneral. A document (quoted) entitled "

Dr. Manuel Artime Buesa"

Was made available ban 492-500 4/23/63,

Manuel Villamanan (protect identity), Cuban exiTe in Miami, said

that Artime still was undisputed head

of the MRR; that about 75%

Brigade 2506 was sympathetic with the MRR; that Erneido Oliva of

Brigade 2506 was

very close to Artime

and in agreement with Artime on both

the military and political aspects of the fight against communism in

Cuba; and that the MRR was not making clandestine trips to Cuba at

that

time. (Details set out) • Ul

97-4133-60 p.1-3,5-8

(4,30%

The following references relate to an alleged aerialstrike

over Habana, Cuba, du57-46239 night of 4/25/63, In which action Alexander

Irwin Rorke, Jr.

reportedly was involved.

Frank Forini,

(continued)

SECRET

-32-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 8

---

## Page 9

(continued)

against Artime and considered him a demagogue. M

109-584-3822 p.1-6

(17,627

SI 105-97873-18 encl.p.5

(Felipe Vidal Santiago,

12/17/63).

(44%

It was reported on 1/22/64 that no further conversations

between former Nicaraguan President Luis Somoza and former Cuban

President Carlos Prio Socarras were known to have taken place con-

cerning

"Operacion Centroamericana"*. This project continued to be

at a standstill and activities of Manuel Artime, MRR leader, apparently

were

not connected with it, although no open break with Prio had been

made. Artime was slowly strengthening and training a group of exiles

in Nicaragua.

The MRP (105-92704) claimed that. Artime

receiving

aid from the Nicaraguan Government and from the US.

(4)

The Alliance of MRP - Alpha 66 - SFNE would consider joining

with artime when his organization had developed sufficient

strength to make an attack on Cuba feasible.

10521014-93

CIA, 3/9/64) &41

*See ciA report

dated 11/1/63

(105-123568-8)

appearing elsewhere in this summary.

ke 4)

PSI Margot Pena (protect identity), a Cuban exile,

advised

on 1/24/64 that supporters of Manuel Antonio de Varona, head of the

CRC (105-107224), and of Jose Miro Cardona, would oppose Manuel

Artime, head of the MRR, should Artime return to Cuba as head of an

anti-Castro force.

Pena explained that Varona and Miro accused Artime

(continued)

SEGRET SS-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 9

---

## Page 10

Miami report dated 3/19/64, set out activities of Manuel

Artime Buesa

as head of the MRR.

This included Artime's travels

between the US and Nicaragua and Costa Rica; his recruiting activities

in behalf of his anti-Castro training program and including a number

and his operation of training camps in Nicaragua where he reportedayilad

had more than five million dollars worth of military equipment.

It

was alleged that Artime was being officially sponsored and subsidized

and that he made a living out of the revolution. In early 1964, when

the Pro-Referendum Committee was polling the Cuban exiles for a Cuban

referendum election to be held in May, Artime was reported to be

against this referendum.

Reference also set out information reported

on 2/12/64 that Adelaida Padron Cruz, 881 N.E. T1st Street, Miami,

continued to be Artime's mistress and that this residence was used

by him for secret meetings.

109-584-3884 1p.1,7-10,13,18

117,627

Bernardo G. De Lorres (105-124552), a Cuban exile,

1440

S.W. 4th street, Miami, advised on 4/3/64 that he was one of the

ransomed prisoners of

the April, 1961 Cuban invasion and had

returned

to the US on 12/24/62. He stated that the support of the US to the

Cuban invasion and its support to the movement of cuban exile leader

Manuel Artime in Central America, were two events which precluded

prosecution of Cuban exiles for violation of neutrality.

said it was general information among Cuban exiles in Miami that

Artime and members of his organization, the MRR, were receiving US

assistance in some manner in connection with the establishment of

training camps in central America. U

105-124552-3 encl.p.9

(52%

Hecksher of CIA (62-80750) furnished information on a strictly

Bureau memo dated 4/9/64, advised that on 4/5/64, Went n

confidential basis, requesting that this information not be disseminated

outside the Bureau. This pertained to the Involvement In antI-Castrol

(JasiP, Conton pg 59, us classified

(continued)

pan аденсу,

9803 rodgel 211326 4130/42

-58-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 10

---

## Page 11

SECRET

As of 3/10/64, the MRR (97-4133) in the san francisco,

Calif. area, was conducting a recruitment program for a group to

start military training within the next 2 months at an unknown

location under the leadership of Manuel Artime.

As of 4/20/64, the Northern California MRR membership

had conducted a similar

program.

No further move was to be made

intil word was received from Artime, following which recruits

probably would proceed to Miami for further instructions. It was

robably would r

the general feeling in MRR that the US Government was supporting

97-4133-103 encl.p.1,2

(310%

The Newark Office, on 4/16/64, reported that SOI Jose

Manuel Macias (protect identity) advised on 4/1/64 that a couple

of days previously, several members of Cuban Brigade 2506 who had

visited Washington, De and Miami, Florida, returned to the New York

area.

While in Miami they tried

to see Manuel Artime but he was in

Central America. Instead, they saw Antonio Iglesia Pons, who was in

charge of military affairs for Artime.

Artime did not have control

of military activities but served

as a figurehead and the go-between

with the US Government. U

• On 4/15/64, Macias stated that

several members of the Brigade

again would go to Miami on 4/20/64, and from there to Central America

to the training camps set up by Artime.

Artime was reported to have

two bases

in Central America, one in Nicaragua and the other in Costa

Rica.

109-584-3912

(62%

In connection with foregoing, Bureau memo dated 4/24/64,

(u)

set out CIA's appraisal of this and other information furnished by

the Newark Office ind disseminated to CIA. Aocording to CIA on 4/23/64,

215/8, (Cort.

(continued)

4503 rod/gel 4211.326

14130/92

SECRET

-61 -

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 11

---

## Page 12

SECRET

(continued)

Antonio Iglesia Pons was in charge of the Nicaraguan operations base

as a camp.

felder, out due noo in chose at udi vard urairo lor

with Artime s

memo also set out information on CIA's relationship

(u)

102-584-3912

TP 52-S advised that Rodrigo Calderon of Miami, Florida,

a former high ranking officer in Cuba under former dictator Fulgencio

Batista, came to Tampa on 4/25/64 and met secretly with other Batista

followers.

This group met for the purpose of formulating plans of

their own in the event Fidel Castro was overthrown in the near future

by anti-Castro forces that were not followers of Batista.

It was felt

that this group feared Manuel Artime and desired to formulate plans

to be able to re-enter Cuba because it was common knowledge that

some Batista supporters would be regarded as undesirables in Cuba

when Castro was thrown out. It was believed that this meeting was

held at the home of a woman doctor by the name of Dr. Miranda.

Others present were Dr. Jose Mijares and a Dr. Santos, who worked

for Hillsborough county in Tapa. (X4D) =

9-584-3914

ment of an organization among Cuban exiles

capable of replacing the

Castro government.

In May, 1960, CIA furnished the names of Cubans

making up the nucleus of the organization which would move against

Castro and which would publicly announce its existence under the

name of Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD - Revolutionary

Democratic Front) (105-87912) .

On 6/22/60, a manifesto was published

in Mexico City, Mexico, announcing the formation of the ERD.

Directo

of this organization who signed the manifesto and were in Mexico City

(RI, last i and pation t to

(continued)

9803 rdd sel. $211326

SECR

-62-

4/30/98

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 12

---

## Page 13

SCRET

lanuel Artime Buesa was InNidatarua the week of 5/4/6

09-504-394

4/30192

Press reports indicated that on 5/13/64, the MRR issued a

communique advising of the capture of the Port of Pilon in Cuba and

demolition of a sugar mill.

Manuel Artime participated.

The communi-

que was signed by Manuel Artime Buesa, Secretary General, and Rafael

Quintero, Military Coordinator of the MRR. The raid on the sugar

refinery at Central Pilon, Oriente Province, was reported also by

CSNY 2822-S and verified by Frank McCarthy,

UPI, and Julio Lubo,

former owner of Central Pilon. The following references on Artime

relate to this activity: li

REFERENCE

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

115,605

97-4133-99 (Setting out press release as

furnished by Dr. Cesar Baro

Esteva, Vice-Secretary General,

MRR)

(IsI Alfredo Borges, protect

"The NY Times"

5/14/64

("Cuban Exiles Say They Seized

Port").

- A

Washington

Capital News Service

5/13/64

(337

105-114543-126

150%

*Add. info.

-67-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 13

---

## Page 14

on 5/11/64, MM 960-S advised that Manuel Artime Buesa

continued

as head of the MRR which maintained headquarters at 2212

N.E. 2nd Court, Miami. te

Rodriguez)

action groant an eat one a Come comando it. E

wered leave ten the boat,

for central America to join Artime. L

On 5/12/04,

INS, Miami (protect identity) advised that

Artime would leave Miami on 5/12 or 13/64 for Costa Rica, his Central

American headquarters, and then go to Nicaragua where he reportedly

had military training

in about a week yenes

artime was expectea to return to ch

Upon INS letter " 6/92

Add. info.

211,326

109-584-3976 p.8,9 .

(17363)

SI as par. 2

105-117222-182 encl.p.3,4

(add. info.)

(12,5000

Alberto Oms Barreto, a former member of Brigade 2506 which

participated in the April, 1961 invasion of Cuba, advised on 4/2/64,

that he had made a trip to Washington, DC and Miami, Florida in mid-

March, 1964, and had talked to representatives of Brigade 2506.

Oms

stated that leaders of Brigade 2506 in the Miami area were not con-

templating doing anything at the present time in a military way to

overthrow Fidel Castro. Most of them were not in sympathy with

Manuel Artime Buesa who formerly was the civilian head of Brigade

2506. Oms stated that some former members of Brigade 2506 had gone

with

Artime and Artime was reported to have military camps in

Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Artime currently was the head of the MRR

and was reported to be preparing for raids and guerrilla activity in

Cuba in the Immediate future. l

On 5/13/64, CSNY 2822-S advised that his niece (not further

identified) recently

had a letter from Joaquin Godoy of the MRP. Godoy

(continued)

SECRET

-68-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 14

---

## Page 15

(continued

REFERENCE

109-584-3949)

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

109-584-A

article entitled "Cuban Forays

Indicate'' 2 Units: Plan Strikes"

from the 5/16/64 issue of the

!

"Washington Evening Star")

SECRET

Press Release for 5/22/64

column of fulton Lewis, Jr.

for King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(650%

"The Washington Post and Times Herald"

, 5/30/04

in an article entitled

"Cuba's 011 Refineries 'Off Limitsi o.B-%,

Jack Anderson's

"Washington Merry-Go-Round"

column, reported that

these orders regarding the refineries were issued to Cuban Commandos

Dy CIA. An alde to cuban exile leader Manuel Artime had explained

to this column:

"We don't want to damage foreign property.

A year

before, Artime had complained to this column that CIA had cut the

allowance for his freedom fighters down to a token $1000 a month.

He hadn't complained recently.

97-4133-A, "The Washington Post

and Times Herald"

5/30/64

(33%

CIA (protect identity) advised on 5/14/64 that the

not a CIA operation. CIA at the direction of "special Group" hag"as

been furnishing support to the MRR and its leader, Manuel Artime, and

had been maintaining liaison with him on

regular basis. CIA dis-

claimed control over the MRR and Artime.

On 6/17/64, Gordon (Rock) Rothwell (protect identity),

Covert CIA Representative, Miami, Florida identified Angel Alfredo

Fontanills Y Miguel

as being connected with Manuel

Artime and the MRR.

CRET

105-129278-3 p.1, 2;enc1.p.3

(54%

-71-

Last 2 is Classigled

agency ltr. did stai

9803 1dd/gel *241,326

4/30/97

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 15

---

## Page 16

SECRET

(continued)'

Information from Mesa, developed through his interpreter, James A.

kraker (protect identity) of Crystal, Minnesota, indicated that as (

of December - 1963, the MRR was

reported to be sending a 5-man team

into Cuba once a month for the purpose of assassination, with Fidel

and Raul Castro and

Che Guevara as the principal targets.

Communi-

cations between Cuba and the US allegedly were through clandestine

short wave radio.

Mesa returned to Minneapolis on 1/5/64, from a

isit to Miami where he talled to see Artime who was in ruerto nico

would spend more time ins

Nese dean take According to raker Whe MeR in the twin caties s

Venezuela in 1964.

area was. disbanded in July, 1964, upon orders of Manuel Artime

REFERENCE

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

97-4133-77

-82

-83

-84 encl.p.2

-92 encl.p.1,2

-134

4,30).

3131

5053

31

(327

Cuban exiles were saying that the US was providing a steady

flow of aid to the Min which was led by Manue. Artime Buesa.

exiles claimed that the MRR attack on Puerto Pilon in May.. 1964, was

launched from the Dominican Republic.

Artime was receiving support from the Venezuèlan Government.

failure to establish personal contact with the Venezuelan Administra-

tion during his 5/22-27/64 visit to Caracas, had provokea criticism

in government circles. Some disillusionment with the MRR was said

to be caused by Artime's failure to establish himself

puted leader

the

undis

14)

ENAZUELA

109-584-4034

(17, 630)

During an interview on 10/22/64, John Ermil Freeman

(105-109596), 2728 S.W. 24th Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, intimated

(continued)

(i)

-SECRET

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 16

---

## Page 17

SECRET

(continued)

placing himself in absolute control without heeding the ideological

postulates of the movement; and his failure.

to sive up to the stand-

ards he had set up for the organization.

• (4)

The "Miami News"

, Miami, Florida,

7/5/64, reported that

on the previous day, Artime ordered all his men to report to south.

American training camps immediately. l

moved, a vent to an he a,

on 7/9/64, M.H. Redmon (protect identity), INS Investigator,

the MRR had closed its Miami headquarters and

moved to Central America, but had established a secret underground

office somewhere in Miami.

On 8/4/64, Redmon stated that numerous

MRR members went to Central America to join Artime during July, 1964

and that the MRR claimed it would move all of its records and

equipment out of Miami by chartered airplane to Artime's headquarters

in Central America.

The MRR had a large ship that operated between

Central America and New Orleans, Louisiana.

The ship, name unknown,

was operated by

a cover company using letterhead stationery containing

the following:

"Maritima Bom, S.A.,

Coconut Grove Bank Building, Suite

309, Miami, Florida, Phone #

444-5781-82."

This company also claimed

to have Post Office boxes in

listed as President

Panama, ana Nicaragua. Sixto Mesa was

Ter INs letter did 646/92, 98031d8/gel 311.306 16/93

On 7/20/04, Carlos Zarraga Martinez (protect identity), PSI

under development, advised that the

rank and file MRR members continued

to severely criticize Artime for maintaining his mistress,

Adelaida

Padron Cruz.

She reportedly had great influence over Artime and some

of his decisions concerning the MRR's operations had been influenced

by her and objected to by the general membership

On 8/18/64, Miguel Dotres, 8418 N.W. 24th Avenue, Miami,

advised that in late

March or early

April, 1964, Aldo Vera Serafin,

head of an anti-Castro organization (not

further identified), con-

ferred with Artime and brought his organization into Artime's organ-

ization.

Dotres furnished information indicating that Artime was

against Baro's proposal that the MRR be headed by a 7-man board; also.

that the Cuban exile community doubted that Artime was a factor which

eventually would figure in the overthrow of the present Cuban Govern-

eir the overtir on of

ment.

SECRET

97-4133-115 encl.p.1-8

(5,3208909

(continued)

-76-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 17

---

## Page 18

SECRET

In early October

(105-112098) - Alpha 66 Cuban exile group was planning to initiate

armed action in Cuba and its paramilitary organization had been moved

from the US (place not indicated) to prepare for infiltration of Cuba.

strict instructions that there should be no collaboration at any

level with the MRR or the JURE during the process of infiltration.

Gutierrez had no faith in the ability or willingness of Manuel Artime

or Manuel Ray to adhere to a joint infiltration program. Once in

ah, anever, anted lichica disboration it Do encouse. (U)

A delegation of the MRR, headed by Artime, was expected to

arrive in Caracas in early October to seek support from the Venezuelan

Government

(Ps1. 2 and bracketso

CIA, 12/3/64)/(S)U

05-112098-54

(49%

98831d2/gel *211,326

430/42.

on 10/24/64, Firmin Joseph, representative of a group

of

Haitian exiles dedicated to the overthrow of Dictator Francois

Duvalier, said that the schedule for an invasion of Haiti would be

Joseph said that a house in

northwest Miami, which currently was being used to billet some of his

men, was visited recently by a Cuban whom Joseph

believed was from

2-1622-273 p.2

(15257

ULcarlos Zarraga Martinez (protect identity), Key Source =

2954 S.W. 16th Terrace, Miami,

Florida, who was attempting to

orm a unity group, advise

on 12/1/64 that the political activities

of this group would

be to offset the "right wing conservatism"

Manuel Artime Buesa.

MRR.

As of mid-December: 1964, Artime continued to head the

Some exiles felt that recent

scandals (not further identified)

(continued)

-79-

SECRET

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 18

---

## Page 19

(continued)

SECRET

in Costa Rica involving Artime had discredited the anti-Castro move-

ment, which might result in the withdrawal of support of Cuban exiles

by the American people and the US Government. (No source given).

Add. info.

109-584-4114 p.3,4,8

(18,63

Robert Dennis Arrington (105-96912) of Los Angeles, à US

citizen who had entered Nicaragua on 12/8/64, was arrested by

Nicaraguan officials on 12/17/64 for alleged possession of illegal

arms and plotting the overthrow of the Nicaraguan Government. He

had come to the attention of Nicaraguan authorities when he tried

to make contact in Managua with anti-Castro Cubans in an attempt

to interest them in buying the arms he was carrying. In Managua,.

at the Gran Hotel (date not indicated) Arrington met an unnamed

Cuban who promised to take him to see

Manuel Artime who was expected.

momentarily; however, this Cuban never came back to

see Arrington.

Foregoing information on Artime is covered in the following

references: .

REFERENCE

97-4948-7p.12

105-81431-12p.12

105-96912-9p.9

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

(340

(440) 0240

tinued to be headed by Manuel Artime Buesa, a Cuban exile doctor who

continuously in

the US, Central America and the Caribbean.

On 12/10/64, MM 639-S advised that different Cuban exile

(a)

leaders

continued to claim

that Artime and the MRR were making a living)

(continued)

-80-

SECRET

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 19

---

## Page 20

(continued)

SEUNiCA

off the Cuban revolutionary activities; were engaged in smuggling

instead of anticommunist warfare; and were misappropriating funds

designed for commando and infiltration activity against the present

government of Cuba.

MM 639-S continued that it was claimed that

with large sums of money earned through illegal

According to reports from the Costa Rican newspaper

Nacion"

, there was a training camp in Costa Rica, and in November

1964, Customs Authorities found Cubans smuggling large shipments of

whiskey from Panama into Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Santiago Alvarez

Miami, a Cuban exile and leading figure

in the MRR, advised on 12/17/64, that after the November scandals

concerning the alleged smuggling activities of the MRR, Artime reportedly

visited with Costa Rican President Francisco J. Orlich (place not

indicated). The MRR claimed that Orlich signed a declaration exonerating

the MRR from all allegations concerning that organization's activities

and smuggling.

97-4133-123 encl.p.1,2,4

(5,327

according to reported comments of Fulgencio Batista y

Zaldivar (62-70441) as of mid-January 1907/82

ne nad not been ir

contact with Manuel

Artime Buesa. . (CIA).

WE pen agencys 25191 lt. 298 4

62-70441-270 p.2

(21326)

At the request of the Department of State the Bureau con-

ducted an investigation of an attack on the Spanish vessel "Sierra

Aranzazu"

(2-1877) on 9/13/04, off the eastern tip of cuba. It was

alleged that this attack was carried out by representatives of a

group receiving US backing, known as the MRR and headed by Manuel

Artime.

The Secret Organization of Continental Action (OSAC) initially

claimed responsibility for the attack.

Newspaper accounts indicated

that Artime denied responsibility for the raid and in a statement from

Panama suggested the Castro government was responsible in an attempt

to discredit the MRR. On 10/5/64, Rolando Masferrer Rojas, 42-46

TP 3 ON this pg. AND ISY BRACKETS

abp

SECRE $1-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 20

---

## Page 21

On 2/23/65, the New York Office advised that on 1/8/65 and

SECRET

1/26/65, NY 4533-S furnished information that the Soviet Intelligence

Service

in the US wanted to obtain any information available on

the

organizations:

(1) Alfa 66; (2) Movimento Revolucionario Popular;

3 Movimento Renosadoz Revolucionario; and (4) Representacion

Cubana En El Exilio.

New York advised

that the Movimiento Renosadoz

Revolucionario might be identical with the Movimiento Recuperacion

105,337775-2 encl.p.J

Florida, advised that on 3/6/65,

Pedro Jose Leal rores (105-141029) and some od his Eraends went to

Miami to try to see the military commander of RECE*, whose name

believed to be oliva, and also to try

o 115ar e

was

to see Manuel. Artime, leader

of the MRR.

The reason for this trip

was not known, but Soler said

he believed that Leal wanted to associate the Porfirio Ramirez

Brigado Comando # with one of the darger anti-Castro organization de 4)

This reference stated that Leal was leader of the anti-

Castro organization known as the Porfirio Ramirez Brigado Comando #1,

a group of young Cubans who had received Army training at Fort Jackson

505-242029-360710

755%

(4)

*Representation of Cubans in Exile

couraged and

frustrated with the failures of exile leaders like

Manuel Artime Buesa, who had been ineffective and would have to

discontinue military operations in the near future. U

As of mid-March, 1965, Manuel Artime Buesa continued as

head of the MRR

and traveled extensively in the US, Latin America,

and Europe. He was

criticized severely by other anti-Castro leaders,

(continued)

SECACT

-84-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 21

---

## Page 22

SECRET

on 5/20/05, N110 Messer, 27 N.W. 47th Street, Miami, advisec

that he had been Manuel Artime

Buesa's secretary and as such traveled

thousands of miles with Artime in the US, South:

America ana europe.

He said that he was planning to leave this secretarial position and

had obtained another job. U

on 7/23/05, PS1 Angel Yerga (protect identity),

a Cuban

exile who travelea Irequently in Central America, advised that

Artime continued as head of the MRR (97-4133).

About two weeks

previously both Yerga and Artime were in Nicaragua. However, the

MRR then had no offices or operations in that country. Yerga heard

from Cuban exiles in Nicaragua that the MRR reportedly had two

unidentified airplanes available to them in Panama.

However, there

was no indication that the Man planned any rajas

against Cuba either

by using these planes

s or an operation by sea. (W

General Luis Somoza in Nicaragua told Yerga that Artime's

operations there had been eliminated almost comp.

because of

the US Government's attitude toward the MRR.

On 7/23/65, CIA, Miami (protect identity) advised that

organization no longer had

aperational interest in the MRR or

its

leader, Manuel Artime Buesa

per agencys 0/519, ltr. J%)

(4) 26-3233-143 pozjenc2.p.2,2

SI as par. 1

97-4133-139

1327

SI as

par.

1

and

(08,067-4272 p.1,

0, 1

continued to receive

On 7/23/65, PSI Angel Yerga advised that the MRR (97-4133)

money from CIA and that Manul Artime Buesa was

reorganizing the MRRf

Add. info.

@u)

97-4133-141

(6907707

SECRET

-88-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 22

---

## Page 23

(6) SECRET

On 7/29/65, WF 1683+S advised that Concepcion Maria

Fernandez Planas*

(105-98201) had been married for a couple of months

to a Cuban exile named Alfredo Cepero, a lawyer who was believed to

be employed in Virginia.

During the first days of the Castro regime,

she haa datea Jose Machado Ventura, who served as Castro's Minister

of Public Health in Cuba.

At one time date not indicated Fernandez

also dated Manuel Artime of the

uba during April oi 1901.

craveled to Washington, DC for the sole purpose of visiting fernandez

at her residence (address not given). WF 4683JS stated that CeperoS)

105-98201-13 encl.p.2

(45)

*Cuban rational employed at the Pan American Union, Washington, DC.

(see 105-98201-8).

1 C(1)

Documents furnished by OACSI-Army included a G-2 USARSOUTHCOM

report advising that an unnamed source who was Chief of the Presidential

Guard, Republic of Panama (RP), indicated on 8/16/65, that source had

been visited in his home, on both the

preceding Friday and Saturday,

by Cuban revolutionary Manuel Artimes.

Source said that Artimes was

a friend of General Somoza, Chief Director of the Nicaraguan National

Guard, and of source's sister-in-law, Mrs. Yolanda de Corrales; also,

that Artimes knew source's brother-in-law, Lt. Gumberto Corrales,

Assistant to General Somoza.

Artimes, who had been unable to contact

President Robles, asked source to confidentially inform the President

that a conspiracy was being planned for the purpose of assassinating

the Presidents of Nicaragua,

Costa Rica and the RI.

Files of the

470th INTC Group, Fort Amador, Canal Zone, revealed background data

on Manuel F. Artimes Buesa, born 1/29/32, Camaguey Province, Cuba.

His father was shown as Manuel Artimes F. and his mother as Otilla

B. de Artimes. It was suspected that Artimes wanted to meet President

Robles to obtain from him a letter of introduction, for unknown

reasons, to Jack Vaughan, former US Ambassador to

RP and present US

Assistant Secretary of State.

(continued)

ARMY INFO (LASTI) UNCLASSIFIED

PER LTR. DTD. 12/10/86

SPUBJA/GEL- 10/30/90 - 9211,326

SEE 90-16409-288

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 23

---

## Page 24

(continued)

operating from Paul's Barber

Shop, Palms Plaza, 16772

south Dixie Highway, Perrine, Florida.

This involved

barbers Lestegas and Pablo Emilio Moncada Luna, sub-

ject of Bureau file # 105-136705, who were alleged to

have mentioned tentative plans to assassinate Artime,

Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo and. Pedro Diaz Lanz. (See

105-136704-1).

SECRET

Luis Posada (protect identity), former member of JURE

(105-114543), 750 N.W. 15th Street, Miami, advised on 9/23/65 that

general opinion of the Cuban exiles

strongly indicated that both

Manuel Ray of JURE and Manuel Artime, MRR leader, no longer were

regarded as important figures in the anti-Castro movement. l

105-114543-261 p.10

(500

PSI Cira Olga Montano Lezcano (134-14424) was interviewed

on 11/12/65, at Opa-locka Processing Center, Opa-locka, Florida.

Montano indicated that she came to Miami from New York in about mid-

1962. It was in Miami that she met her second husband, ernesto

Martinez Dominguez, where they both were active in the anti-Castro

group of Manuel Artime Buesa who was a personal friend of hers.

At

the meetings of this group, she gave first aid classes for a period

of two weeks in 1963.

In October: 1965, Montano and her husband made

a trip to Cuba in an effort to bring relatives out of Cuba.

While

there,

she was approached by the Cuban Government to engage in

intelligence activities in the US on behalf of Cubans.

Included with

information she was expected to report was any information concerning

Artime and his activities.

In Cuba, she was introduced to a man named

"Orlando" whom she recognized as a man who was in Miami during 1962

and 1963, working with Artime's group.

She and her husband departed

Cuba for Miami on 11/8/65.

Montano said her husband had told her the

cuban Government might have haa reason to believe he was a CIA agent,

because at one time he had worked for Artimes)l@

4941860142-710.3,5.02

-92-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 24

---

## Page 25

SECRET

CIA communication dated 6/15/66, furnished a letter dated

3/18/66, from Gilberto Navarro R, a resident of San Pedro Sula,

Honduras, Central America, to Manuel Artime, Director of the Cuban

Revolutionary Front in Exile, Miami, Florida.

This letter advised

Artime to get in contact with the CIA to deport from Los Angeles,

Calif. 3 sisters, Nora, Oneyda and Marina Amaya Cabrera, and to

order the American Consul in San Pedro Sula to cancel the visa of

another sister, Lila Amaya Cabrera V de Lopez, who planned to trans-

fer her residency. to Los Angeles.

Navarro said these sisters were

first cousins of the dangerous international communist, Eliceo

Cabrera o Rovelo (105-129943) who was located in Havana, Cuba.

(Copy of letter and of translation

from Spanish attached)

105-129943-3

1157,547

NY 4640S advised that on 3/28/66/he learned from the wife.

of Carlos Teperino that he had been put in charge. by Manuel Artime of

the contact and interview with Rolando Cubelas* in Paris.

This woman

stated that she saw relipe Llaudy in company with Pepin Naranjo

(reputea to be a great ridelista) together with Cubelas in Paris (sic).

No further details).

This reference

identified Felipe Llaudy as an official of

the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Relations and a known intelligence agent

109-12-210-5421 encl.p.2

156

*In early March 1966, Rolando Cubela Secades was on trial in cuba,

charged with plotting to assassinate Fidel Castro.

(See 109-12-210-5407).*

On 6/22/66, Felipe Rivero Diaz, head of the Cuban Nationalist

Association, charged that if the US Government had its way, it would

install propagandists Conte Aguero and Dr. Manuel Artime as the next

rulers of Cuba. (Source not clear).

102-584-4409 p. 12

SECRET

-98-

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 25

---

## Page 26

CONDENAL

DESTROY

I

DESTROY,

I

DESTROY/

DESTROY

SI

DESTROY

I

DESTROY

1 109-652-4

aspior I 134-14424-1 p.3

109-584-4075

-4114

p. 3

-4179 p.4

-6272

p. 6(6) 132) -173 pain,

-4290. p. 8

CONDENTAL

18

NW 88608 Docld:32303569 Page 26

---

## Page 27

DESTROY

DESTROY

DESTROY

I

CONSIDENII

109-584-A MiAMi NEWS

87/63

- A. MiAMi HERALD

9/8/63

-A NO NENSPAPER OR DATE GIVEN 5/22/44.

DATE ON CARD:

5/28/64 im

"1201'""

Drs

I109-636-3

DESTROY

I109-652-4

DESTRON, DI$113-7-210-314

DESTROY

-429

ugstor. 1134-14424-1 p.3

CORANDENTIAE

65

NW 88608 Docld:32303569

Page 27

---