BRANDT CONTACT REPORT
Agency: CIA
Originator: CIA
Document date: 11/15/1960
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JEK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : CIA

RECORD NUMBER: 104-10102-10090

RECORD SERIES : JFK

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

80T01357A

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Released under the John'

F. Kennedu

issassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel.

Case#:NW 53294 Date:

06-13-2017

AGENCY ORIGINATOR : CIA

TITLE : BRANDI CONTACT REPORT

11/15/1960

SUBJECTS : AMPARO

DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER

CULT AVE ELEGED IN PART NUBLIC - RELATED DENH SPLETIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

: 07/19/93

JFK34: F18: 1993.07.19.18:07:08:710270:

IRI - ITEM

IS

RESTRICTED

104-10102-10090

174 53294

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BRAND

November 15/60

On August 5/60, at 7a.i., Brand made contact with Emilio Rodriguez. Brand

told E.R.

wantod to see imparo (Plinio's wifa), in order to debrier hor

on the actual situation of Od's groups. That same afternoon. Brand saw imparo.

Amparo informed Brand of all the arrests that had taken place after Plinio's

escape from El Escambray. In regard to la's groups in Havana, Amparo told

that Efren Rodriguez, member of the Executive Commitee of the Od, was in a safe

and was the ran who could brief Brand on Da's situation.

On August 6/60,

Brand saw Efren Rodriguez. Ifren informed Brand that,

account of Abay and Penola's asylum at the

Embassy of Brasil, contacts had been

lost with the action groups of OA. Efren was completely out

of money. Erand gav

sim $130.00 and instructed his to establish contact with OA's action grouss. El

to do this.

Brand had. to remain in his safe house for the next ten days, because no glus

or moustaches had been sent to him, and ha had no materials for his disguise.

Neanwhils, Plinio had arrived to Havana, and had established contact with 3fren

and other

members of the underground.

Emilio Rodriguez gave Brand

to be used as a driver or as a cut-out..

This man is named Montes. After receiving the disguise materials,

contact with Jesus Iglesias, former member of Triple A,

and brand's

for nany years. Iglesias owned a 50 ft. yacht. Brand asked Iglesia's help to us

his yacht to smuggle weapons into Cuba. Iglesias was in very low

spirits. He sa

that it was useless for the cubans to fight fidel, since

Fidel had a powerful

fron the Soviet Union, and that unless the ü.3. decided

to do something about i

our efforts were doomed to failure. In short, Iglesias refused to help.

Next, Brand established contact with Casar Lancis Bravo. Cesar agreed to be?

Brand instructed Cesar to start looking for D.23. and LoZs. Besides, Cesar wa3

start organizing laborers in the dirferent Unions, and to try to gather informa

from all of them. Cesar also volunteered to wake contacts with policemen in the

patrol cars, in order to find out the codes they were using in their radio

coumunications. He also promised to start a search for sale houses and store ho

and to start checläng Fidel through the members of the sindicato Gastronomico.

that first meeting,

Brand gave Cesar one thousand pesos,, to be used for expense

for the renting of houses.

Brand madecontact with Benito Fernandez. Berito said that he was eager

helo and

that all of us had to give sur beat to overcome our country's situatio

Benito offered his efforts to try fo find Dous. and L.Zs. Besides, he voluntser

to do some recruiting. Benito informed brand that no bad an action grous of aio

fifteen men, already

Contact was made with Dr. Helio Nerdo Baaz. Nardo informed brand that he had

already

been agroached by people fron MaR and by Lomberto Diaz, acting the latt

as representative from Tony Varona's group: Nardo had rofused to work vit them

Brand asked Nardo

to tako cars of the Province of Pinar del Rio as a leader of

new underground group, of which he is going to be one

of the 'laaders.

to this, and promised

to start looking for D.Z3. and L.ls. and also promissa to

take

care of the recruiting

of peope in the Province of Pinar del Mio..

that he

had a friend who had been a lieutenent in the rebel army, and who lad

his position becauso of the communis! tendencies of the dogernment, he told tra

that this ex-lieutonent could beconela valuable asset it von to our sido.

Fa 3*

he vas

going to try to bring this pan to talk vith srand. brand gars Nardo Pis

pests, for expanaes.

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-2-

It the first meeting with Benito Fernandez,

also our Nelson Islesias,

University student,

and son of Jesus Iglesias, Brand

instructed belson to star

making sore recruitings at the University. Brand also instructed Nelson Iglesi

to make the necessary arrangementa so brand could have a meeting with Jose Far.

Planas and Eddy Crews, members of the Catholic Youth,

students at the Universi

Havana and

members ot MRR (Artine's faction). Brand gave Nelson one hundred pe

for expenses.

I week after their first meeting, Brand

saw Gesar Lancis again. Cesar said

had been making somo contacts with different unions. He also explained that up

that time he had been worling with Jony Varone's group, named "Rascate". He ex

his concern about the double role he was playing, working with Rescata at the

time that he witking with Brand. Lancis said that in due course he could bring

friends in Rescate to Brand's organization. Brand

no results had been attained and

- are as at

said that a week had

that he wanted results. Lancis said that ho wi

going to have results for the next mosting.

Through Nelson Iglesias, Brand had a mesting with Jose Fernandez Planas and

Eddy Crows. The moeting

took place at fernanion Plape's home in Vedado, Havara.

Brand asked Fernandez Plana's help in order to get Dols. and L.jo, and safe ir

Though Fernandez Planas agreed to help, he was a little bit reluctant because i

connactions with MRR. He said ho was going to talk things over vith his friend:

promised to give me an ansver in a few days. Nevertheless, he accaptad four hur

pesos to be used

in the renting of safe houses. Brand also asked about the posa

of creating some disturbances at havana University on the 50th of September,

anniversary of Trajo's death. They said their chances were slight, because they

could not burn the people they had at the University in that kind

of action. He

said that in the event of a riot at the University, they would be

cormurists and militia, already wall trained, equioped and organized.

In his next mosting with Brand, Nardo brought along a man by the name of

Francisco Bobama Dominguoz, ex-lieutenont of

the Rebel Army. Robayna had been

mender of the American Army, at fort Dix, New Jersey. He had been to Europe aa

member of the American army. He deserted to

ão to cuba and join the forces figh

Batista. He became a member of Faurs Chann's guerrillas in

Villas.

Robayne said that he was willing to join lardo and Brand's efforts. He

that he had alroady been working in the recruiting of people. He assured

he could count with a force of 150 men. He also

said that he as going

Robayne was to work under the orders of Nardo.

In his next mesting with Brand, Fernandez Planas returned the four nundrea e

he had previously received. He said he could not take care of the renting or sa

houses, because the peoplo they could use for

that, were needed at the iRa. lley

since Grand had promised him weapons, he said

L.Zs. He said he wanted to see. Brand

he would keep trying to get D.23.

Benito Fernandez saw

Srand again. He said that he had talked with his brothe

iho had been a Mayor in Santiago de Cuba. He had also talked vith Luis Casero e

wro nad also been a layor in Santiago do Cuba, They both promiadd him to start

searching

for D.Z3. and LoZ3. in the southern coast of the Province of Orients,

Brand

also sair Nelson Iglesias again. He said it had been difficult to recr

people at the University,

because everyona seemed to belong already to one orga

or another, ievertheless, he said, le had a group of around ten students ino we

willing to

work vith him,

though soms of them already belonged to Rescato. He i

in contact with a boy named Solis, Who was heading Rescate's group

at the Unive

dourd these daja, Jos, a member of the Jumpany nom Erand had net in lashia

cans to visit

Brand at Brand's safenouse. He said that they weren't interested

anymore in setting people out of cuba to be properly trained. Ra propised to di

Brand some contacts which ould holy Brand in his activitios. These promises te

Lept, and Erard sade sons contacts waich vill be referred

to in due course.

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Brand had been asking to see Plinio. Plinio also had been astilay do see ja

imparo inat about one of Brand's safehouses.

She came one day and

Plinio nesded to see him. Next day, Brand went to see Plinio. it Plinio's sale

Srand also net a man named Juan Mendez, also known as

George the Pilot or Jose

Casanova. Mendez was the head of o group named ina (Moviziento inticonunista

cionario). Plinio told brand of his efforts

and how pleased he was with

things were going on. Plinio also talked about. his plans for the inmediais

and the meetings he was especting to have in the days to come. In return,

said that he was

also pleasedwith the way things were developing.

In his next neeting with Brand, Robayna brought a map pointing out a D.1.

was the first D.Z. that Brand got. Brand gave Robayra a lensatic compass so 20

could give the exact location of the next Dols. he was trying to get. Robayna

enthusiasm with the outcome of his efforts. All his men were anxious t

into battle. Robayns gave brand an estimate of the weapons he needed for his 1

That list of weasons was given to the Company in Havana. Robayna also informed

that in the Province of Pinar del Rio, a majority of the population vas in fav

an uprising

against Castro.

_ It should be said by now that all the meetingsheld by Brand were reported

the Company in Harana, alsost innediately after they took place. Brand had beei

instructed in lashington to give a report each week. ictually, reports were gi:

in many ocadsions twice and thrice a rook. -

this time,.

Brand had met with Eiren Rodriguez in several occasions. Efrar

Rodriguez was contacting and organizing action groups to be used in Havana, in

Sity as well as in the Provinco. A man by the name of Rutilio Ramos had been oc

This man was to lead the men we vere planning to use in an attemot agai

Fidal's life. Efren Rodriguez hed also net benple who gave him detailed informa

on the lovernment forces in Isle of Pines. Rutilio Ramos also made some regorts

this. Contacts were made by Efren Rodriguez with action groups in San Jose de 1

Joe sent Brand some instructions that enabled brand to make contact with

Alberto Jorge Losada Fernandez, who worked at the Compania de Electricia

This Losada was one of the leaders of an organization called

"Resistencia Agran

Though they had: men all around the island, their man force seemed to be in tho

oi Pinar del Rio. ind what seemed most important of all,

they had a zi

of fifty men already in the nountains in Pinar dol Rio, in a place named Rio Fo

first meeting with Losada, Brand gave him 500 pesos to be used in tra

purchase of supplies for the men already in the mountains. Brand also instructe

to try to organize groups at the Compania de Electricidad, These groups

to be used in sabotage at the Electric Company. Losada agreed to send word to tr

leader of the group at the mountains to come to Havana to have a meeting vita

also agreed to try to find some Dols. or Lols. From that day

on, Losada

meetings with brand would take place in two houses he indicated, and which

Brand gromptly approved.

Jos sent Brand some instructions that enabled Brand

to make contact with a di

naded Vidal Morales, who was to provido the goons that were promisad to

Jin Bondin. Brand instructed Vidal to organize his non and have them read? for

action to be used when required. Brand also instructed Vidal to

Garlos Rafael Rodriguez, a well known communist, and also to give all

he could gather about the top communista: in Cuba. Vidal agreed

In a meeting vith Losada, he informed Brand that the leader

a can by

the nans of hazaro Santos brou,

had been killed in his vay

see Brand. Brand then told Losada to make arrangementa 30 brand could

nare a mosting with the san tino- had substituted lazaro

Brand nau a meeting with Desar Lancis and Losada,

so both nen would got in ti

and nile tarathan

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instrucied Losada not to talk with Lancis

about the people in the sountains.

to talk vith bancis

only about the laborses aù the Electric Company, basauge

wanted Lancis to organize the labor section of Juba Libre.

In his next nesting with brand, bancis refused to have anything to do vich

He gave Brand a written

report about Losada

and bosada's broüber; also vortin

Electric Company. The report said that Losada had been a vell known batistiani

that he had been

suspected of being an informer for Batista's security forces.

rabort also

said that

Losada was suspected of being a fairy. The same report

that Losada's brother vas a drug addict

and a "busher". Grand then ascod Lanci

there were any doubts about Losada's attitude against the preseni Cuban jover:

Lancis said. that Losada and his brother were considered Fidel's enemias, wi ins

question. Lancis informed Brand that a former major ot the army, named Manual

Jesus Hernandez, had been commisioned by Lancis to establish a net of informer

Lancis also said that he had received several thousand pesos from Rescats and

he was willing

to return: the thousand pesos that Brand had given him. fo this

Brand answered

nothing.

Around the Pittantis of September,

Brand thought he had noticed certain un

things around Potin's building, where

Brand's safehouse was locatad. One day,

when Brand was entering the building, he heard a man asking about the people

living at the penthouse of the building. This confirmed Brand's suspicions tha:

something wrong was going on. Brand loft the building and never cans back. It

until three weeks later that Brand found out, through Augusto Casamayor,,

the :

who had provided the safe house, that a tennant of the penthouse, who lived in :

of Brand's apartment, had been the victim of nextortion. This had been the uni

atmosphere that brand had noticed around the building, becauss that tenant bai

surveillance by the people who submitted him to extortion.

Brand ient to live for some days at Juan Mendez's place. it this salahouse,

net a man ramed Jorze Espino,

who worked

with Mendez at NIR. Brand

put Espino i

with Nardo;

so Ispino's peoplo in Pinar del Rio would work under the sui

oi Pobayna, Espino's military chief in ?inar del Rio was a young nan by the nau

Brand met Barrios and introduced him to. Robayna. From then on,

in contact with Robayna, and working under his command.

Around these days, Brand heard that Mendez as going to have an interview i

Priest named Las Horas. Brand went to that meeting and asked this prisst

to go

Artemiss, in the Province of Pinar del Rio, and contact Nardo, so he would aror

Nardo with all the help that the priesthood could afford to give in the provine

Pinar del Rio. Brand saw: Nardo and arrangeuents vere made in such a way that li

did see Father Las Heras. From then on, 1t

was their busineas to kass in touch.

it the moting with Father Las Heras, Brand not a physician named Dr. Leon Lewu

identified himself as a delegate from Organizacion Occidental inticomunista (Co

A few days later,

Brand introduced Nardo to Dr. Leon Lemus, so leon would help

in the Province of Pinar del Rio. Later on, Brand introduced Leon Lemus to Roba

O0d's military chief in the Province of Pinar del Fio was a young nan humed Cru:

Ihis Cruz Blanco was introduced to Robajna by

Leon Lamus.

From-then on, Cruz $1

was to work under the orders of Robama. It is on account of all these

contacts

vers given to Robeyna, that in the last message that Robayna sent to Brand

taro!

Nardo, he claimed

to have six hundred son under his cormand. And he said

that t

was &

conservative figurs. Nardo commented that in order to make

this figure no:

conservative, ho

would say that Robayna had five hundred men under his commend.

figurs is

accepted by Brand as good.

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By the first days of September Brand had met De. Rodolzo Genriquaz Lauraneo

a we1l known Cuban dontist. This dentist lont his house many times so thai it

be used for Brand's meetings with Benito Fernandez. Brand also used Henriquez :

Brand received money from the Company, he took it to Henri

in order to avoid a heavy loss of money if brand las captured. In one of the

with senito Fernandez, Brand met a man named Jose Cabarets, Who had been a staci

at the Cooperativa de Omnibus Aliados, This Cabañas had hunüreds of friends azi

conductors of busses in Havana. Cabañas promised to get safenousas

storehouses. He also promised to organize groups asong the drivera and conduct.

Havana. He also said that he was going to give Brand a driver. Brand gave Cabai

620 pesos.

be a

courageous, dedicated and faithful companion.

In a new meeting with Jose Fernandez Planas, Brand

anselmo. In this meeting they said they had found a D.Z. and that they were goi

sive brand a nap pointing out the exact location of the placo, They asked which

weapons could Brand provide. Brand mentioned all the weapons' he he had been or:

and commited himself to deliver certain amount of those weapons fifteen days af

the may had reached his hands. The boys promised to zive the may in short notic

These boys also wanted to establish contact with Brand's people in Pinar del Pa

Some days later Brand received a very

coast of the Province of Pinar

del Rio. It was sent to the Company

By this time Robaynas had sent Brand the location of another D.Z. By then ,

kept asking

about the weapons, and he kept saying that his men wers anxious to

the equipment and start fighting.

Through Imilio Rodriguez Brand met an American known as William Webster. Thi

was to put Brand in contact with a group of a friend of Brand who had gono to !

named Mario Massip. Through webster, Brand met a man already known to him for ra

years. This man's name is Simon labre. Simon Yabre was to put Brand in contact

Mario Massip's group. Sy this time Brand had

become a little bit uneasy about t

lack of news from Jin Eowdin, and kept asking Emilio Rodriguez about the deliv=

of weapons. Tnilio Rodriguez always

answered that he knew

nothing about it,

always delivered my reports but could not tell me what the policies of the

were in that respect.

Through lebater,

Brand made contact with a realthy and very well known cuban

silvio da Cardenas. Silvio de Cardenas said that he was one of the leaders of

headed by Jose Ignacio Rivero and intonio Rubio Padilla. He said,

and Brand bal

to bo the exact truth, that they had connections along the whole island with ie

known and respected people. That they could provida fincas and tranaportation.

they wanted was weapons and guidance.

Brand promised

coth. Through the Company,

days later,

five

Silvio de Cardara's provided to Dols, Brand met Silvio de Cardenis

tires

nore. Cardonas gave a list of the weavons

his frionds needed. Brand

hirself to deliver the weanons in due course.

Che day. Brand got word that there vas going to be a neeting at ?linio's sate

People from the Front were supposed to go to that zeating.

Brand was invited to

Brand sent word saying hs saw no reason

why he had

to go that nesting,. but Plin

insisted

on Brand's

attendance, Brand went to the nesting. There he sar Plinio,

Seren Rodriguez,

Jorge Espino,

Francisco Santiago, Juan Mendoz and Joe. Plans :

set to

coordinate the CA and

the Front's efforts

to help Plinio in the sountais

It was established also that brand would

coordinate his men in Pinar dol Rio ni

-the zen the

front could provide.

Through

Eni lio Rodriguez, Brand net a nan named ilerado Isa-uirre Rivas.,

told

trand that he had

been trained in sabotago and that ha had around 200 gen

organized in the City and Province of Havanà.

Brand told hin that in due coust

weapons and

sabotage and

had

incondiary raterials

ould be provided and that all Ia

do was

to keep their nen organized and ready to enter into action inen a

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=S-

By this tive, brand had met a man knorn as Boberto Alvaraz, no nad a red

had been trained in intelligence work, and that he had osen in

for several years.

This man was introduced to Brand by Builio Rodriguez. Rober

was to help Brand in anything Brand would require of hin. Erand found that Rob

was available only after 5 p.n. and

on Saturdays and Sundays. Brand found

Alvarez to be a sensible, educated and calmed individual. Brand

told this can

ho would find southing for him to do.

Cabañas had given by now lour safahouses. These safehouses. iere already ini

but the fanilies living there were to receivo anyone in nsediof a safonouse. I

of those houses Brand lived for two weeks. Another of those houses. was used as

safehouss for meetings.

Through Cabanas and Benito Fernandez, Brand met a man named Oscar Rodrizuez

This man claimed to be one of the leaders of an organizations in the Province

Oriente. They were willing to work provided they vere supplied with reapons.

found the man to be honest, but dunb and unexperienced. Nevertheloss, Brand in

- this nan to keep in touch with Cabañas.

By. this time, Brand had become a little

bit uneasy about his disguise, Durin

perambulations around town, Brand had met by chanes with many old friends, Mon

them recognized brand. One day, however, a boy namod lodal, member of Triploà

saw Brand in a drugstoro and recognized him.. hen

Brand notica

that two men in a car wers watching him. The car went around the block and stai

to follow brand. When the car approached Brand sair Nodal and Silvia

Martinez, :

member of Triplo 1. Silvio called Brand and insisted on having a meeting ith !

Brand was nad to soo how irresponsible and indiscreot these fellows wers. Bran

them an appointment, but Brand didn't attend to 1t. Brand had become uneasy ao

the disguiss becauss, although Bo vas using a second hairpiece, i looked awful

bad, and many friends had warned grand trat the hairpiece looked a falo from a 1

afaro

They also said that the noustache looked too dark. Brand's conclusion ab

this is what follows:l'The disguise nas very good, but hairpieces don't last lo

in Cuba's climats. If one wears them daily,

as Brand did,

"hey ars not good fo

more than twelve or fiftsen days. 2) The disguiss was good a3 Long

as it made

a differont man,

but it was bad because it had too distinctivo featursa, that

that if the police radioad a description of a man with vory dark hair, vory da

moustachs, and a pair of sonehow unusual glasses, it is jurg enougn that Brand

going to be caught. It is Brand's opinion that it a man is to vear a disguiss

a long period of time,

this diszuise should not have distinctive Isatures. It

be difficuli to describe the man in diszuise. This is why from the very first

in September Brand kept zaking Jim to send Karl to Juda.

Brand

wanted

to be di

in a different way. inother thing about disguises: the person

in

disguise snou

always have enough materials at hard. In many occasiona the replacements for mo

took too long to arrive to Cuba. The last ten roustaches were

received in very

shape and vere so bad that Brand thought they had not been nads by karl, or thi

Karl had nado them in a hurry.

3y this time Brand had already not Mario Escoto a known conspirator end oil

friend of Brand. Escoto was Aureliano's representative in Cuba,

and. the nan in

charge of Iriple d. Brand offered

weagons to Escoto, proviied Escoto gave D,23

Escoto said he had to consult

this with Aureliano,

but nevertheless,

he said t

. was going to send Brand a may with the exact location of

Iscoto any noney he bight noed,

coney. He impli

that he had been provided vith

all the coney he needed for his activities.

Ey this time,

Erand had notified the Company that all his nen were to worle

the name of

"Cuba

Libre"

, and that this Organization vas going to be leasy

Benito Fernandez, Joso Cabañas, Relio Mardo, alfredo Icaguirre, and said.

NH

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Through Vidal Morales, Brand not a man named Jaine Comila Porez, Gomila vas or

ot the leaders at the Union Vinatera Nacional,

Brand say Comila three times. comila offered to zet the defection of the Under 3a

of the Treasury (Subsecretario de Hacienda), Dr. Israsl Rodriguez. He also said t

he could get the defection of one of the members of the juarene Court, those nane

Brand does not remember now. Gomila also said. Gomila had also made contacts witi

Captain of the army, stationed in Santiago, navea quintana lena. Inis captain has

a member of the Gol and he wanted to cooperate with the forces fighting lastro. i

instructed Gonila to get intelligence reports from this Captain, and also from ti

Subsecretario de Hacienda and from the lember of the Supreme Court. Gomila ient

Santiago de Cuba to

see the Captain, but Brand does not know the oucome of their

meeting, because Brand didn't

see Gomila

again.

One day Brand went to Fernandez Plana's house to have a meting vita tha milit

chisf of the Frontin the Province of Pinar del Rio, Brand felt he had noticed sor

surveillance around the place.

When Brand told this to Fernandes Plana and his fi

they adopted a sonewhat irs-don't-believe-in-ghosts attitude.

They told Brand that

vere going

to see the man from Pinar del Rio in a different place. They offered

transportation foo Brand. Brand went vith Anselmo, whose cer was paried in front

Fornandez Plane's house, After inselmo had been driving for a while, Erand asked

18 he ya3

looking through the rear mirror,

to see if they had been followed. à fe

seconds after this remark, inseluo said that a car was after them. Brandthendina:

inselmo not to go to the meeting place. They began iriving around town, and the ‹

kept after them. Finally they went to Calizto Garcia's Hospital. Brand vent into

building,

took off his moustache and glasses and went out by the same door he hac

to come

in.

The men who had been following them were there, but it

seems they die

recognized grand, who walked

away.

around these days, while Brand was going to a meeting, he saw in the straots

friand of his,

Fancho Varona,

a follow conspirator against Batista.

Brand invitad

to come into the car. They talked for a few minutes and

sat a date and place for

resting.

Three days after that, Varona met Brand. Varona informed Brand that a fi

days befors an airplane had iroppod equipmont at El Escambray, and that the equi:

had been caught by Fidel's forcos. Brand asked some D.2s. from Vaiona. Varona pre

to get them,

but. he looked

quite skertical about many things. Brand told him,

The next time Brand saw Benito Fernandoz, he said that Plinio's mother had vi:

hia, quite nervous,

saying

that his son had

been captured at 21 Iscanbray, Benit.

her

that that was not true.

Prior to this meeting,

naned Darious Farroso, and another joung man by

thenselves as frienás of Nino Diaz.

Brand offered them help;

and asked them to

their efforts sith brand in the provinco of Pinar dol Rio.

They said that they i

talk those

things with Nino Diaz before making any dalinite arrangement.

They sa

Cruz

was going to Miami to ses Nino Dias.

They wanted brand to establish sona 21

Nino

Diaz so hair night trust Brand. Brand

sent a flash to Jin Bowdin, asking ri

establish

Brand's bona

fide with Nino

Diaz. Many days passed by, and Brand was.

=ole to

continue negotiations, because no answer ever came from jim bondin or ai

senser of the company.

Prior to this meeting with Barroso and Cruz,

Brand had ha

3. first resting with

Barroso. Benito Fernandez knew that Barroso and Oruz had a

hidden weapons

in Harana.

Through Lojada,

Brand

not a wan named Juan Tabrazes.

This nan Tabranes

the leaders of"Resistencia Agravonte", Losada had informed hia of his dealiog

Erand. Go said that in

order to got a final agreement rith

"Outa Libre"

he hat

insore a man caged Rossel,

no is living in the United States. Tabranes looked.:

to come to an agreement with grand.

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By this time, Brand has received

information through Cabanas of the frequent

of Raul Raul Castro to

the irbassy of Checoeslovaguia.

He tried but could not ra

house acroos the street. Brand had instructed Roberto

Alvarez to make a plan ios

casing of the place and also for the lilling. The hands of the professional

seen in the instructions given by: Roberto ilvarez. it last,

we got word that dai

Castro was going to live in Orients, and since we vers not allo to rent the hous

the plan was dropped.

In his last meeting with Brand, Casar Lancis had informed him of the possibil:

of killing Fidel at the National Hotel, where he used to go to have dinner with

employees.

This was also told to Roberto alvarez, who began thinking about plana

regarding the National Hotel and Pekin Restaurant.

Rumors began to soroad around town that Plinio had baen cautured somewhere des

El Escambray mountains.

Meanwhile, Cabañas

had seen brand several times, and had informed him ot tho

recruitings he had made for Cuba Libra wong

the drivers and conductors of Coopera

de Conibus Aliados.

Finally, the newspapers in town suolished some pictures of Plinio Prieto aftar

capture near El Escambray. The summary trials began. The day befor, the

execution,

is, the 1lth of Octocer, Exilio Rodriguez came to see Brand. He informed Brand tha

Juan Mendez'and some other groups were going to start shooting around town in orde

prove the Government that the Cuban People was against the executions, and on the

of the rebols. Imilio Rodriguez asked Brand how many men could he give to start st

around town. Brand answered that he had no men available for that. Emilio Rodrigue

asked if Brand had any men available to try to rescue Plinio. Brand ansered that i

could

give armed men for that purpose. Emilio Rodriguez also

asked about Brand's

possibilities in men to help in an attempt against Fidel's life at Vulgoba. Brand

answered that he could give armed men for that action. The "we-must-o-something"

("tanamos que hacer algo"'), is the worst thing that can happen in a conspiracy. un

Brand realized that all the leaders

in the different groups wanted to start shooti

without plans of any definito purpose, Brand began to have surong doubts about the

seriousnoas or coordination of the sfforts that were under way.

¡iter Plinio's execution, norals cane to an all time low. Brand instructed Ca:

to start sabotago on the bussos in Havans. Brand

sent a flash to Jin Bondin insist

on the urgency of receiving incendiary and demolition materials.

No ansiver. In the

between the 17th and the 24th of October, more than one hundred

Havana by pouring starch or emery in the

radiators.

buases were damage

Benito Fernandoz had informed Brand that Guido Gonzalez Bustamanto had seen Ber

and had inquired about Brand's whereabouts, benito said that Brand was out of Cuba.

Guido then said that viguel Isa Fresneda,

a former friend of trand and presentiy

holding a high position at the Ministerio

de Gobernacion, had inforned Guido thai

was in Havana,

under

disguise, and offering nonsy and weapons to different underg:

organizationg. Isa's

son in law, named Nelson Barroso, was a member of the Judicia

Police in Cuba.

Meanwhile,

Naño slonso, former menber of the iray, and

present zenber of the Fr

in the Province of Pinar del Rio, had sent a message to De. Nardo. In, that me33ag=

Nardo, alonso

have parmitted i

"It is a shams that you refused to work with us at the iront,

Irse deceivod by the man of the hairsiace and the dred

ansivered saying that he had known the man of the hairsince for many veera, and

tha

nan nover tried to daceive anyone.

Brand had

never contactod or sent beasages either to Ñaño alonso or to Miguel :

Fresneda.

One afternoon, around the lóth of October,

whils Brand vas in a sar driven by

Fila Portugal, a

woman employse of the sleetris Cowpany, Brand noticed that thres

policemen in a patrolcar. were insistently staring at him.

Che patroi car reat shes

Basad's sa", and since Brand iras near his saiscouse, he soll out of the car. inan

HH

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Sparen

looked at brand and speeded up the car aound the block, before they could get to

Brand,

Brand had entered into his safehouse, at Hotei Vista al Mar.

Next day, Brand went to one of his salehouses to try to make an appointeent vi

Emilio Rodriguez.

This safehouse was very well located, out Brand nover liked the

way in which Monte, a cuban employee of the Compady, had built up the cover for t!

safehouse. When

Brand reached this apartment, he found that it had been sealed by

the overnment,

35

it had been done with hundreds o. emiy apartments in the city

That didn't prove anything,

except thai the cover had not been well built ly.

Brand mado an appointment with Emilio Rodriguez. Both started walling around ti

city for about two hours. Brand told. Emilio that he had decided to discontinue op

add come to Washington to see Jim Bowdin.

Brand then went to see Alfredo Izaguirrs, and stayed at his place for a weak.

the meantimo, and through Izaguirre's friendgat the Embassy, Brand sont a flash ti

Jim Bowdin, infornig him of Brand's docision to discontinus operations. At the an

of that wesk, Alfredo Izaguirre returned home one night quita upsot and told Eran

that it was better for him to go to live somewhere else.

Through Benito Ferrandez, Brand made contact with a very well known physician :

Ds. Bernardo Milanes. Though Brand had decided to discontinue operations, he recr

Dr. Milanes,

who was willing to bring a group of about 30 of his fellow paysician.

to work wiüh

Cuba Libre.

But then,

Benito Fernandez cano to ses Brand and told him that Nino Diaz vas 1:

jantiago, saking contacts with different groups. Sinco Brand had been told by ale

decidad inmediately to go to Oriente and try to put Nino Diaz in contact with Sor

Marin, becausa Sori Marin had also stated that he had 500 men, and that he could

control 14 kilometers on the southern coast in Orients. Brand went to see Izaguir

and asked him to establish contact with Suri Marin and tell him that Srand ranted

see him, either in Havana or in Oriente. Traguirre then told Brand, quite oluntly

that his friends at the Embassy didn't know who Brand was, and had advised him to

discontinue his contacts with Brand until they could find out vino Bran was. Brand

loit Izaguirre's house in a rago. Ten days had classed from the day Brand

sant th

flash to Jin Zowdin, and, nevertholess, Izaguirre's friends

at the Embassy

didn't

Inor ard had not been ablo to find out, who

Brand was.

Brand then went to see inilio Rodriguez to inquire about the Company's propara

to take Brand out of the country. E.Ro said that he had not received an answer oa

but that they, the people from the company, had

sent Do 5000 pesos.

Benito Fernandez brought Brand a very detailed map pointing out a Dol. at or a

La: Gobernadora, in the northern coast of Pinar del Rio, The may was sent to the

Company

right away. Cabaras infornad Brand that steps had been taen to produca

sabotage at

the main Cigar Factories in Favana.

Brand

then saw Nardo

for the last time. Nardo was highly pleased with the vay

things

wers

going

on in the Province of Pinar

del Rio,

though he informed Brand t

Fobajna was

in despair

because he had not received the vegoons that had been pros

to nin.

Contact were made by

Brand which ventually produced his departure from the

country.

this time, the hairpieco looked arfully bad. ulcost no zlus was lart, and

the last coustaches that had been sont to Brand had each hais pointing in a differ:

direction.

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