MEMO FOR THE RECORD: SUBJECT - REINOL GONZALEZ GONZALES, COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW IN MAY 1979 IN MIAMI
Originator: CIA
From: WITHHELD
To: MR.WILLIAM STURBITTS
Document date: 05/28/1979
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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

CONFIDENTIAL®

in line.

28 May

(201-275949)

20P

Memo for the Record

TO 8 MI. Willian Sturbitts

FROM: Wade E. Thoras

SUBJECTS ROIMOI CONZALEZ Vonzales Iconments on Interview

in May 1979 in Miami.

er deals?,

• This Subject was interviewed on the occasiono! both our

visits to Miaal and we spent at least some 6 hours with him ano

still haven't finished. He told us on the occasion of the last

visit that he still mants to tell us about some things going

son in the Cuban exile comministy in Miami, that some Cubans aro

•-buying arms and planning actions against CASTRO, etC. He vante to

tell us, he said, thas

surprised but he

denies

all part for himself in any such illegal actions. He does

not believe it possible,

given internal and external conditions

now prevailing, to overthrow CASTRO anytire soon but says if it

were possible, he would be the first to start preparations for

that purpose.

when we next go to Miani we will listen to what

additional he has to say.

2. Subject was for the writer the nost interesting and perhaps

the most productive of the peonle me mere assigned to intervien.

This guy is cut from a different mold fron the orher t. He is

¿ tough, intelligent, cunning, shrewd, lacking in fornal education,

but a real toughin-fighter who knows what he wants and knows how

to go about it. He is, too, I think, a real opportunist, and this

In:

SLSTIPEND

may explain in part his reason for putting on the 6 Nov 61 IV.

progran. I had the fedling repeatedly that he was not really

coming clean on many of our questions, but the only tho questions

¡indicate

he knew of thought they would be thrown at him and hehad his

(Reinol knew answers prepared. More about the IV progias and BArioso later.

BARROSO.

APR 2 9 1980

Ir.ROFILMED

"DOC. MICRO. SER.

3. This man started out as the secretary-queral of the Unior

of Christain Workers (UTC), at one point belonged to the ARDI an

association of young denocratic people), the MRP for a while,ete.

In 1959 he was named foreign relations secretary of the Confederation

of Cuban Workers (CIC), however, at the election of officers in late

1959 CASTRO showed up and imposed his slate, a Communist slate for

the most art on the congress, Subset a equire go a 2

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+ 49-79-0-71

X9A2 - 35151

019-124-233"93

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odoro

his post as foreign relations secretary to-anion ALVAREZ! He

and ALVAREZ had been on opposite ends politically in previous

years, when ALVAREZ was working at the Chase Manhattan Bank in

Havana and representing the bank workers union, but they had

put aside their differences to nork together against BAlISta.

Then, when CASTRO came along he propelled ALVAREZ to the post in

the CTC to which Subject had denocratically been chosen. Ibe

imposition of CASTRO's slate took place at a CIC congress in Nov

1960. He claims that he has never seen ALVAREZ since the business

of turning over his files to ALVAREZ was done in 1960. He knons

of course that ALVAREZ went on to other jobs, eventually to the

Cuban Embassy in Madrid, and eventually defected to the US. He

Claras to have no use for ALVAREZ, he'? a dedicated Commie and he

wouldn't trust in.

4, Jor Ben Madero ele the gun cere adore site ia

currently morking with the Human Kights Commission in Washington,

30 years ago when he knew her pretty

well she nas desocratic or leftist in her politics but very lefto

ist in her economics. He described her as a revolutibrary of a

sort, with lors of prestige in Cuba in those days.

lap 161223-230358

5. So far as he's dila re there mas only one Octavlo BARROSO so

the one you're talking about is the same one

known to him, the

same one shot in late 1961 or early 1962, he's not certain exactly

when. He clains that PUJAL and BARROSO mere captured al the same

time of at about the sane riperald that it might have been

PUJAL who reported to G-2 on

but in any case he (Subject) didn't

do it. There were others in jail at that time, also, he says, uho

could have told G2 about

BARROSO's revolutionary activities. As

stated,

that question, as did the one on the IV progras, visibly

'upset him so l's not at all sure that we got the trutho

Subject was arrested on 11 October 1901 in a raid as the

Subject was carrying docurentation in alias but almost imediately

he was confronted with Dalia who identified hin to li?. But, the

most irportant euidence is the fact that over the next fen days

and weeks those knonn to Dalia in that organization vere arres:ed;

those

not known to her were not. Although alledgedly arrested

planting a bomb, she was almost immediately released and was soon

alking the street.

lorida and works for the Afl

551-110955

The IV progras - why? It was the first such appearance by

anyo:

arrested that could be called in favor of CAStro.

The ARP had a pact amongst themselves, he clalas, which stated

Th Madrid us i9 don ALV-REZ de la Campa y Sotolongo who defected

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that anyone captured mould not talk for 12 hours, to give those

still free time to change hidding places,

etc, then one would be

permitted, if forced to, to tell minor things, things it was

throught the Go? night already know.

He was taken to a place referred to as POINT X and stripped

naked. He was interrogated almost continuously, lights were kept

on and all sorts of threats were made against hin. He could hear

• Minister of foreign Kelations, but then just a secretary to the

#jinistty of Interior, MALMIERCA was assisted at times by Lt.

ALFONSO (fnu), apparently an assistant to MALMIERCA, who was such

sore intelligent and nuch better trained than MALMIERCA. The

latter did a poor job and got little out of ubject but ALFoNso

did a such better job •

¡After several days he mas told that CASTRO himself mould visit

¡him and: personally conduct the interrogation. He clains

that he

told MALMIERCA that that would do no good for it was CASTRO himself

he helped to teach Subject many years before how to fight the

Commies and prevent their penetration into the labor, movement.

As a result, he says, CASTRO did not come but: RaniTOrVALDEZ didi

VALDEZ told him that the decision had already been made not

to shoot him ( Subject) but that some of most of the military

section people of his organization (MRP) in jail nouldhave to

pay with their lives for what they,

Subject and others of the

MRP had done. The only way he could save them, VALDEZ said, mould

be to go on IV and tell the nation what his organization had been

doing, tell them how useless resistarce to CASIRO mas, and al the

same time conder the US for its complicity in anti-CASTRO efforts.

Non, subject clains that some of this fitted after a fashion into

his own thinking and size up of the seate of things. He claias that

1) he had decided sone time earlier that internat resistance of the

sort the MP mas dorducting was useless, and 2) that it mould be

better to leave the country and fight fros abroad, and 3) tha: he

had proposed just such a sove at a large meeting of MRP leaders

held just a few days before his capture. However, the

workers"

representatives at that meeting did not

move so no

action was taken, then came his oun arrest.

231

An attempt was to have been sade on CASTRO's life, using a

bazooka from a room overlooking a public placa there

CASTRO was

to appear on 4 October 1961, and VALDEZ had found out about thase

plans, through Dalia, Subject assumes. Anyway, Subject clains

that three people were to have gone us to the room, which had been

preperly prepared and an escape route worked out, just pilor to

¡he ceremony. Of the three, one guy, Antoni

cold feet and took off for the States instead. Rau

Mazo mas there but did not fire the neapon, for some reason not

known to Subject,

name he could not

a.e ins..:

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Bell, believing that such resistance activilies were in

that CASIRO would in fact shoot

his men, and believing that he could all alone determire

what was to be said on TV. he decided that to aciept the offer

was the correct thing to do. He could not have the blood of

others on his hand, he said, untess souething very worthwhile

mas being accomplished. He professed to VALDEZ, hoMever, that he

had no authority all by hinself to sake that decision and asked

to discuss it with shree or four MRP leaders there in jail with

him. VALDEZ agreed that he could discuss it withFlernando RUJAS

but with no one else, and that mas done. ROJAS reluctantly

approved.

He wrote the presentation he as to give on IV and he siad

no substantive changes were made by the Cubans. He constructed

it, he saido

to l) tell them as much as possible what they

wanted tohear without doing any real harm,

still at large, and 3) give away as little senstitive information

as possible. He said he realized fully what he nas doing, that

he would do it açain if caught in the same situation, and that

he takes full responsibility now as then for uhat he

said and still feels it nas the only logical think he could

do. Again, this nas not a subject he enjoyed discussing; he appear.

ed in fact a bit embarassed by 18 all, but he knew it would be

coming at some point.

8. Why didn't the Cubans release him after the ransom was paid

hem? Because he would not sign a paper in effect saying bexua

orry and asking CASTRO's forgiveness. He beet with AlONsoVPiJO

and three G-2 military officers to discuss the relea se and the

conditions of the release one day after the ransom had been paid,

and when he refused the G-2's conditions PUJOL

took a piece of

paper out and scribbled on it an agreement, which said Subject

would cbligate hinself not to become involved again in anti-

CASTRO activities if released, and he agreed to sign that. In

fact, he did sign it. Pwol then handed it to the military officess

but

they said the Cuban lout could not accept it. It mas after

that that the noney was reutrned.

15335E

a good briend of CASTRO and other high Cuban leaders and of Subject

and his wife.

Subect's wife and GARCIA's wife are particularly

close, as are GARCIA's wife and Subject's children.

10. Subject's mife had contacted, many people, promient people in

an effort to bring about Subject

the GARCIA's vent to mork'on

it. In early November (he thirks) of

1977 GARCIA and Mife visited Cuba and spent sonetime with CASTRO.

GARCIA's wife allegedly told CASTRO that

she had one important

favor to ask of him, to release a good firend of theirs who had by

then held for many years. CISTRO promised to do it immediately.

betel or receive one ect or ill not ve and CONcTA, of hio

• Haware

receive some

sort of literary

see shar he could fi Previo

out. He talked first

..itin- it

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Carlos Rafael

RODRIGUEZ, WHO RElayed the word to CASTRO and

the latter went to see GARCIA at his hotel room. He told

GAPCIA that he mas sorry that he had not been able to release

Subject when pronised but that there were many in the top

echelon of gout that mere opposed to his release and that it

took him some time tob ring then around. However, he called

or spoke to AbRANES, uno was with hin at that tine, and told

his to find Subject and have him brought to G-2 offices the

next morning at 1000 hours. That was done and in fact a u-2

colonel drove Subject to the airporte ,2 Decenber in the

obtained his passport,

etc, and he set off at 1700 hours on

ase plane with CAPCIA. The Grifplonel who drove his to

be airport was; colonel Manue.

• nho nas generally.

referred to a Malo. Several of our other subjects had contact

with this guy and most found his reasonable, intelligent and

very nilitary.

11." CONZALES, who spoke only in Spanish, although understands

some English

and undrubtedly speaks some, is a member of the

comiftee which helped to negotiate the release of political

¡prisoners with CASTRO, and he will continue to do all in his

poser, he says, to accon plish that objective. He has been

to Jasades once to neggtiate with Cuban

authorities, and once

¡to Havana. My teas sember will cover those activities in his

report.

12. Subject is working for hirself and has been for sometive,

he is in the used clothes business, and expects to rent a place

for his business

on 8th Street, Sw, in the 5600 block, 1

believe, at an early date. He expects to cater pretty much

to Latin Americans traveling to the US, hopefully mostly

Venezuelans and Brazilians for they are the ones with the

most spending money. He's already sold to many of then, ras

a 9ood many rIleras and contacis in Venezuela, and believes

•that he'll get a lot of business fron Latin America. He has

a friend who is prepared to make a $10,000 loan, and & bank

has agreed to finance him to the tune of $20,000 and it'll

take about $30,000 to stock his business adquately, He can

and will get short tere credit from some of his suppliers but

will probably be limited to 60 to 90 days. He's very optizistic

about the ruture, appears in good health, although somewhat over

reight, and his wife norks. The sorks in

the office for a puerto

Rican backing company.

13. Suvtject u as sost appreciative for the offer of a physical

exasination, and he knows that he has no money on escron with

the Agency.

Nevertheless,

he probably is expecting sone firaancial.

compensation for his time

in prison,

although this was never

sentioned soecifically. Tidbits of info provided by him on pcople

on the long list, as well as on others and other subjects will

be or has been included in other reports.

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üritten by Carl jenkins on basis of intervious dones

Dabrietina Report: 17 & 24 May 1979

subject, Roinol CONZALFZ Gonzalez ('ar lares "Artonio"

DPO3s 24 Apr 32, Manquito, "atanzas, Cus

Biograplical Data, Historical infornation:

Address (25 May 79) :

7512 S.t. 96th Court, Hiami,

Florida 33173 (Tel: 305/586-4097)

Parentss RaBillO G:ZELE. Parez and

Prudencia SO:IzR.E7. Pena (Both deceased when

Subject was an Infant.

He was reared as an

orphan, prirarily hy the Catholic Church.)

siblings: None

•Mites Teresita ALVARES Fernandez, 20 Aug 34, Sagua In

Grande, Las Villas, Cubi

Children: twing.

Reinol A. COY2Ai.P% Alvarez, and

Cecilia Marla GillALIZ Alvarez (born

20 Oct 61, Miami, Florida.

completing 12th grace 1979.)

Contact infomation on tife, temsita: secretary for

Savoy Packina Co. Sales nefice, 144 BriCiell Averue,

Hiani, Florida.

(Tel: 315) 374-7071)

In 1959, subject was a labor union leader in the bark

workers' section of the Union of Christian 'Yorkers (UTC)• In

November 1959, Cormunists toor control of the Cuban Imbor

Confederation (CTC). subject opposed that nove and was one of

tha founders of the Acelon Derocratica Revolucionala lass.

a catholle ants-atro group alona with antonio fERNANDa

NUEVO, DE, AnOTeS VALDESPIiO, /ev/ Antonió aNsARRICA, and

POSi ANURTO FIALID. Subject fest nate contact with the Agency

+4-267-137758

In 1959 through Rev. Enrique OSIr, nho introduced Subject to

11-201.25444e

PrOfESSOr Janés D''AILIA ("Pepe") of villanueva Univergity

an Agency representative. "Pepe" offered econonie help and

arms for the antí-Castro labor novement.

The ADR began anti-

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GONZALEZ Gonzalez, reinoi

tage i

Castro activities by Jan/feb 61, Subject dealt with "Pepe" on

behalf of the ADR. The ADR was ahsorhed into the IRP When 1t

was organized in Octoher 1969. Me MRP leaders were all former

GoC officials who had broken with Castro. subject was

Coordinator of Labor Activities for the MRP.

In Septenber 1950, Subject decired to go to Miant to

30934-607439

confer with Manuel ARTILE. Ruesa, the external representative

of the MRR. He told "Pape", who arranged a vlaa for subject

•In four hours. In Miani, Subject met at the PanAmerican Forel

with "Mr. Jin SMith" (actually Jim Bro, a Miand Case Offices)

In a private meeting. Subject told "Smith" money was not

needed In Cuba, they needed arms and materials. Subject told

• nobody he was going to Miani. He went first to puerto Rico

to a lahor meeting for cover, then to Hianl. Back in Cuba,

Subject arranged three supply drops through "Pepe" in Dec 60/

Jan 61. Tro fell into security hands, and one went to a MRP.

group in the Escanbray. "Pepe" lived in liranar and stayed in

Cuba until about Dee 61. Subject was in touch with bin urtil

subject's arrest in oct 61. Suhtect also knen fose pwor

Mederos (possibly PUJAIS) as an agent trained by the Agensy

in the U.s., who worked with the imp and the small Un group.

In late 1960, an internal Eight broke out in the MRp.

The MRP had been sending us$30, on per month from pesos collected

and changed in Cuba on the black market to Miani to pay for

arns.

the are people in manl rept the money and the agency

AT 21-224598 Girled

supplied the arms. Subject had put manuel RAY, Ip leader,

on a boat at Varadero to Yiani. Subject was then handling

Inf11/exf11 and supply drops. Ray left Rogelto 15..RoS%3

Internal :IP coordinator. Ray failed to straighten out the

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GONZALEZ Gonzalez, Reinol

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ness in liard and the internal MRP expelled him, recognizing as

their representatives Imaelo MrIMOzA' in Miami, and Antonio

PERVADES Ruevo, Jose PRINZE, and Gustavo SODOY. Subjes

tried to stay out of internal flahts and continued working

directly with "pepe". In March 1961, Cisneros wont to l1ans

in an effort to get more arms for the Mip, and never came back.

Subject was named Internal coordinator until his arrest in

October 1961.

In Inte 1960, there was a series of meetings designed to

unify the opposition to Castro. Subject net at one time or

another with the following people:

Alberto CRUz' of the Rescate Organization (aird of cancor)

David saryADOR of the 30 Now lovement

+41 201-93435

ctalio BARROSO GoMez, the only credible leader of th

Brall UR group. He was shot after being arrested and

tortared.

Juan TALCOT o! the MRR

Alberto" suLler of the DRy

subject proposed to dissolve all existing organizationa

and for one new one to lear the fight. No agreement was

ever reached, not even for unified military action or unified

political action. The IRa/DRE had the nost numbers and refused

to cooperate, saying they had all they needed and could do

ne job themselyes.

Their spokesman fron Miani was a DRE

201-210721

member, Jullo #FRilliDE? Rojo.

Altor the invasion Pujal sent Aeredo AQUInEl who rad

worked for hin, to the los. In the U.S., Alfredo did not

represent Pajol, but clained hinself to be chief of the HIRP/UR

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:C0:1z81".2 Gonzalez, Peinoi

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group. On his return to subs, Alfredo claimed to be appointed

by Hashington as overall resistance chiof for all of Cuba.

Subject and Pujol refused to cooperate with hir.

Arrest, Investication:

On 30 Sep 61, an MRP nember naned Dalla:

"JORGE was arrested

putting & bonh in the Rabana Sears store. Ten days later, on

12 Oct 61, Subject sas arrested. Subjact belloves she may

have been a G? penetration, or she nay just have been recruited

by them. Everybody she knew was arrested, the ones she didn't

know vere not. At a fr2 confrontation, she identified Subject

by true name and personal data, along with other MRP members.

After a trial, she was freed and married a G2 officer, name

anknom. They were latey divorced and she narried Carlos

1261-116925

RUBIERA, nepher of Vicente "RUMIRRA, a former leader of the

Cuban Telephone Horkers' Union, nor in Miami as AFI/CIO rep

resentative

Other Map menhers arrested jere Fernando Hours,

Rector zend LOPEZ' (now in "land), Raul PERlANDEd RIVeRO (noN

In Caracas), and Roberto JI'F.NF.Z.

+ 261-9495167

Then G2 officer (now Foreian Minister) Isidoro MAILIURCA,

assisted by & Lleutenant "Alfonso", who did most of the

questioning, interrogated Subject and the MRP group. They

were the only ones to work on subject, hut lsed many sessions

and long hours. They said Pidel Castro wanted to talk to

Subject. Pidel never came, but Raniro Valdez did. Subject

agreed to make a IV Interview (7 Nov 61) in return for the

lives of the people in his grou.

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GOiERLEZ sOnzalez, Reinoi

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Prisone Intellicence, Information:

In late 1969, a committee of prisoners at guanajay, con

posed of subject, Alerto duller, In remanded, antonio

Copado, "1lgoel' Garcia Armengol, not with a representative oi

the Ministry o! the Interlor, Leutenant Mariano Rodriguez and

the Guanajay Director, Ileutenant Cosne. The parpose was to

work out a work-rehabilitation plan without political indoo

trination. They had three formal and several inforral

neetings while visiting proposed work sites for schools,

ply farms, etc. The Progressive Plan fron the Ministry of

the Interior cane in February 1971 as a result of these dis-

cussions. The plan was essentially that proposed by the

prisoners, but the GOC added a provian to "attend discussions

of political matters. " About 100 prisoners agreed, others

refused. The Ministry people explained it would consist only

of listening to soC officials reading llarxist parphlets. The

prisoners still refused. The Ministry finally struck that

point and pablished the plan, uithout reference to political

natters. The work-rehabilitation progran then began about

late 1970 or early 1971.

In 1970, a Soviet General, advisor to the linistry of

the Interior, made an inspection of guanajay, with 8 or 10

other soviets. Their escort was a latit, nou a llajor (name

unknor, Fre the Ministry, Me prisoners nade a big racket

In the messhall, hanging plates, ete.

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...

GOZALEZ Gonzaloz, linci.

P2.+9

€

• CONFIDENTIAL

subject has no knouledre of Cubans in Vietnam.

# 221-994322

subject's cousin, Rene DIA? Gonzales, served in Angola-

for 12 nonths in 1975-76 as a Platoon Corporal in the notorizad

Infantry. He was wounded in the right leg in an arbush by a

nine. His unit was isolated in the operations area and sur-

vived on a supply of condensed milk they had with them. Diaz

nomally works as an electrician ip a bus factory at Jiron in

lavana. Subject also met Lazarn ITRIANDEZ, a Cuban negro

soldier, who was ordered to put on a local uniform and try to

pass as an

Angolan to mix with the locals and gather infornation. Hernandez

refused, was arrested, sent back to Santa Amelia army camp

near Habana for trial and sentencino.

Ranson and Release

In/Rugust°Igi8, before the ranson money for subject was

padd, GuillerTo ALONSO Pujol' and 2 Cuban Military officere

talked to Subject at 62 las about a ranson deal Alonso was

handling. They wanted hin to agree to a political indoctri-

nation rehabilitation progran, which Subject rejected. Alonso

proposed that Subject sion a letter renouncing any further

political activities, but the GoC representatives rejected

that deal. Subject went baci: to Guanajay prison.

About Aug. 70, after the ranson money was paid, 3 or 4

GoC officers cane to Subject bringino unacceptable conditions

for his release. Re refused to (1) sign a document apologizing

for his past actions; (2) sion a document that, at the time he

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CONZALEZ Gonzalez, ResCRIDENTIAL

Page

7.

was captured and interrogated, Subject had tried to mislead

and give false infornation, (3) Subject would agree to work

as an agent for the roc wherever they needed him. Subject

refused. Fidel Castro sent hack the ransom noney, and Subjert

again went back to Guanajay.

Subject was told on llDec77 that he would be released

the next day. This vas a result of a carpalon by his wife.

Teresita, through an old fanfly friend, Gabriel CARCIA Marquez,

and his vife. Garcia is à Mexican pro-ilarxist novelist and

journalist with high-level influence in Cuba. His wife,

Mercedes, Is a close friend of Teresita and the twing. FrOm

late 1976, Teresita stayed in contact with the Garcias on

behalf of Subject. In the Fall of 1977, Gabriel and Mercedos

went to Cuba to ask fidel Castro to release Subject. On the

way from the airport in his car, Mercedes told Fidel she had

one difficult request for him, which was to release Subject.

Fidel said that was no probler, that he would do it. The

Garcias waited a few days, but nothing happened, and they went

back to lexico.

About 6 weeks later, In early Dec77, Gabriel Garcia went

through Habana to Spain to receive a journalism award. He

called Carlos Rafael Rodriguez and said he was irritated with

Fidel because he had broken his worr? aud not released subject.

Later that day, Pidel went to Gahriel's hotel room and Gabriel

told hin the sane thing. Pidel appeared not to be avare that

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GONZALEZ Gonzalez, Reinol

Page

over and told him, "Find Subject and bring his here." within

6 hours, Subject was out of jail, had a passport and exit

Visa, and was ready to leave.

Subject was on pass, visitina relatives in Habana that

day, I1Dec77. A "G2 officer" phoned Subject and told hin not

to leave the house until flirther notice. Subject was afraid

because he was just then in the mile of en escape plan, with

CEPEROS and the son of Jose (DPI) RIOS, who had been

studying In Cuba. Subject had sent a note to his wife for

"Pepe" (O'Mailia), now retired and living in Miant, to arrange

for a boat to pick them up at a beach Subject had designated.

Young Del Rios had been arrested 3 days before and Subject was

afraid he had talked about the exfiltration plan.

Subject stayed at the house until a 52 officer case,

showed his ID card, and told subject to be at a specific spot

on the street about 10 blocks away at exactly 10:00 the follow

Ing norning, that an official of the Ministry of Interior

wanted to see him. As subject walked toward the spot the next

morning, about 3 or 4 blocks avay a white auto cane by, stopped,

and 3 or 4 men grabbed Subject and put him in the car, which

want at high speed to G2 lgs. On the way, the driver told

Sabject that Fidel Castro had ordered his release as a result

of Gabriel's Intervention. At Has, the "driver" turned out

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• . .

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CONZALEZ conzalez, refoNFIDENTIAL

Pago 9

Eo Do "Colonal Manyo" (ape) SEACO Fernandaz), secure

Director for Prisons, and a man with whom Subject had conspired

against Batista years befors. Manyo took Subject to the plane

about 3 or 4 hours later and put him on the flight with Gabriel.

Also on board was Carlos Rafael Podriquez, who was in First

class, but cane back and asked subject about Fernando (DE) ROJAS

Pinochet, a friend of subject fron Accion Catollea and the laRP.

Prisoner Release leantiationa

12Dec77, on the plane from Mabana to Hadrid, Carlos

Rafael Rodriguez told Subject he had a generally favorable

attitude toward the release of political prisonerss he thought

the SOC was ready to discuss it and nayte something could be

worked out. Subject talked to fahriel about the prospects on

the plane and later in Spain. Then subject got to the U.s..

he wrote letters about prisoner release to friends in Venezu-

ela in COPRI. This went on through llay, June, and into July

1978. Through Gabriel Sarcia in l'exico, Subject sent a nessage

to Sergio Del Valle, Minister of the Interior, saying Subject

wanted to talk to somebody outside Cuba about prisoner release.

The answer was that the GOC was rearly, and Subject could come

to Cuba in July 1978. Subject refused to go back to Cuba at

that time, and suggested kingston. The GOC accepted.

Prior to this tine, a "Mr. Pisher" fron the Agency had

cone to Miant to talk with Subject, who nou sent a letter to

"SI. Pescador" via the P.O. Box of Catherine Hardy in Washing-

ton. Subject tried to indicate what he was up to and hoped to

get somebody down to Milani to talk with, so subject Could

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explair. What dis haupening. He got so response.

Subject and his wife, Teresita, went to Jamaica in Ju178,

where they met Col. Manyo, with Justo' PTA!COURT Ge, described

by Subject as a dangerous Cuban Intelligence agent and former

Consul in Spain. They told subject to check in at the Sheraton

and wait. In about a half-hour, they called Subject and vife

to the restaurant. Cuban Embassy wives took Teresita on a

tour, while subject settled in with Manyo, Betancourt, and

Ranon DE LA CRUZ, Vice-Consul, in a suite where they talked

until 03:00 the next norning (Saturday night and Sunday norning.)

Subject had a list of 12 people to discuss for initial

releases else, 2an01s

Paula GRAU - (The GOC representatives said OK, provided

"Monchy" Grau, who owns the A-C

Stationery Store in liari, would deal directly

with then.

He did, and they released ber

duf((soon thereafter.)

Pernando; DE) ROJAS

Etirigue CEPERO

iX duf

Antonio

COPADO

dus

Raul FERNANDEZ RiverO

LUIS GARCIA MenoCat

Arturo MARZINEZ Pagarday

27 ä51. 154640

Santiago ECHMANDIA Orgini, M.D.

Nelson CASTELLAYOS Menendex

79 30421070l

JulLO HERVADEZ ROjoeS

and 3 other names not remembered at time of intervieu.

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The GoC representatives made the following points:

(1) They didn't want some of the names included, but did want

sore others to be added.

(2) They wanted more prisoners included, not so few;

(3) They wanted a carpaign to convince the U.S.. to improve

relations.

(4) They wanted the U.S. blockade dropped.

(5) They wanted to stop violent action against Cuba by refugees.

(6) Thay wanted pressure groups of refugeas going to Washington

to influence the USG along the lines abova.

subject said he had no control over any of those things,

that he had gone on a personal, huanitarian sission but the

GOC wanted to raise the talks to a higher, more political

level, and apparently wanted them in Habana. The coc repre-

sentatives

asked Subject to suggest some names for a prisener

release commission. Subject said he could, but they would be

people of his arn convictions, 1.c. with humanitarian, not

political, Interests Subject put forth the nanes of

Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal, of Miami

ev. Enrique OSLE, a Puerto Rican Jesuit, now in Miau

REY. Guillerno ARIAS, a Cuban Jesult, nou in Mant, who

coaches at Belen High school.

Eduardo CARCIA MOUX?! 3

a Cuban exile in Venezuela who 18

ABst-Sey of the Confederation of latineAnerican Forkers.

Pernanão PENA, a former prisoner released in 1970 when his

term was complete, and now living in Miani.

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officer, sent a Telex to Habana about midnight and got back

an approval nessage in a couple of hours. The CoC repleses-

tatives invited subjec:. and wife to a Sunday afternoon dinner

party on the rooftop of the Pegasa fotel, next to the speraton.

The entire Cuban delegation, about 15 officials, was there,

but only 3 or 4 wives. There was an orchestra with violins.

Col. Manyo had gone to the market to buy spray deodorant for

hinself and gifts for the children of subject and his wife.

On Honday, Subject and his wife returned to Miari.

Several weeks later, Subject received a nessage, though

a phone call frou Gabriel Garcia and another call fron

Carbonell in kingston, that the first prisoners would come

out in September 1978 (they actually came in October), dad

that some of the people on his list, particularly De Rojas

and Echemendia, would be included. subject was invited to

go to Habana and core back with the released prisoners. Ee

got the nares of others invited to go the first trip fron

Bernardo BElES, a banker in Miani. The fOC had sent the

nanes to hind A meeting of the group vas called at the bone

of Ortando PADRCH in MiamI.

Espinoza is a GOC agent who has political commitments in Cuba

and speaks highly of Pidel Castro.. Subject told Benes that,

If Espinoza went, Subject would not. Subject said he would

work on a humanitarian operation, not on a political one.

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Benes had already accepted Espinoza. Subject still refused.

Benes called Carbonell in Jamaica, who tried to talk subject

Into going. Subject vas adamant. Carbonell said he would

check with Habana. About 2 hourslater, Carbonell called

Benes at Padron's house and said they could drop Espinoza,.

but to he sure and send Subject. lIo Subject, this is nore.

evidence that Espinoza is a controlled agent and the COC can

afford to aacrifice hin 1f necessary.)

Betancourt net the Oct78 flight, along with other COC

officials, and the group was treated as though they were

diplomats. The next day, a message case to the guest house

that fidel _Castro wanted to see then. He came and net with

the group alone. There was nobody else fron the Sac and no

apparent taping or other records kept. They talked about 2 hours

A on prisoner release. Then reporters cane in, Including George

"VolskY Of REPLICA and the NEW YORK TI'IS, Relga Stiva and

sonne Anderson of the MIANI RERALD. landerson's father had

been shot in Caba by Castro and she wanted to visit his

torb. On the third trip, the was alloved to do so.)

In the 2 hour reeting, Fidel and the 5 people on the

cormittee agreed on ground rules. In an exchange with Fidel,

subjoct made the point that, in this sitation, everybody at

the table would be winners if it worked, but all would be

losers 1f it falled. Pidel would gain in International

stature, while the cornittre would gain the prisoners"

release and make a start toward reunification of the Cuban

family. The others in his group vere a little shocked and

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afraid at Subject's frank statement, but fidel agreed with him.

When Pidel cane in, Benes took him around naking Introduc

tions. When they cane to subject, Fidel said, "Yes, we are

old friends," At a coffee break, Magy. Bosquet vas the only

one to hear the following exchange. Fidel told Subject that

he would have heen released much sooner except that many people

18 tha GOC opposed 1t because Subject had burned the El Encanto

Department Store on 16 April 1961. Pidel said Subject had done

It as a preliminary "to the invasion that he knew was coning

•the next day. Subject replied that he had not done it, •ard

had known nothing about the invasion'any more than was known

on the strcet at the timo.

The most substantive matters were about prisoner rolease,

the Cuban community In Miami, and about anti-Castro terrorist

activities. Pidel said that if there wore no further such

acts, it would be a sign that the USG had taken proper control

measures, but if terrorism breaks out again, it would mean the

Use had allowed it to happen.

Current Personal Situation

Subject went fron Habana to spain in Dec77, and to

Miami In Jan7%. for about 3 nonths, he worked as an account-

ant in a clothing factory, then he switched to the VIASA

airline until Oct78. He quit to form his own small company.

and because the job with VIASA left too little tine free to

work on prisoner exchange. Subject has tried to put together

an import-export business in clothing, but has too small a

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capital base. Currently, he is working out of his car

selling clothing, particularly to visitina foreioners such

as Venezuelans. Subject is nerotiating to rent for $200 a

month for 5 vears a hi-fi store between 5th and 6th Avenues

on S.11. 8th Street in liani. Me would change it Into a

clothing store, so his wife could nork with hin and try to

build up their clientele of wealthy Venezuelan and other

s181tors.

The twins are completing high schoofhoth kids have

behaved well, worked hard, and made outstanding grades. Me

boy has been accepted at Tulane University to study dentistry

and has reccived a financial grant in ald. The girl is

accepted at the International Fine Arts Collego in M1ani to

study interior decorating and is applying for a grant in aid -

not yet received. Subject's fanily has been receiving $350

per month as dependency paynents. Subject says there are no

najor fanily problers.

Corments from Rafael Ouintero and Javier Souto:

Subject was friendly with Andres Cao and Santiago

1 Echemendia in prison. They say he agreed to the il interview

In 1961 in return for an agreement not to kill any people in

hig group Subject negotiated on prisoner release with fidel

Castro, and Is now a member of the Cormittee of 75 (prisoner

release group.) Subject has gone back to cuba to pick uo

returning prisoners, and was with the first group in Oct78.

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201-275849

+19-777-5363

пʼнні

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