WITHHELD
Agency: CIA
Originator: FBI
From: FBI
To: FBI
Document date: 4/8/77
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

!

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY, INFORMATION

AGENCY : CIA

RECORD NUMBER

: 104-10103-10174

RECORD

SERIES

JFK

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

: 80T01357A

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

AGENCY ORIGINATOR :

FBI

FROM : FBI

TO : FBI

TITLE : WITHHELD

DATE

: 04/08/1977

PAGES

:

30

SUBJECTS

: INTELLIGENCE

VECIANA

INTERVIEWS

DOCUMENT TYPE

: PAPER

CLASSIFICATION

RESTRICTIONS

TOR B ICE

1B 1C

CURRENT STATUS

: RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

COMMENTS

our 02102-16102

: JFK36 : F29 : 1993.07.22.09:51:41:870530 : THIS IS A

UP OF 104-10102-10198. THE DOCUMENT CONSISTS OF TWC

FBI REPORTS: 23 PAGES DATED 8 APRIL 77,

AND 7 PAGES

DATED 12 APRIL 77. Page count is correct, Pa.

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

104-10103-10174

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TOP SECRET

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

WASHINGTON, D. C.

CUBAN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

Two reports of interviews at San Juan, Puerto Rico,

on April 8 and 11, 1977, with an individual in recent contact

with the Cuban Intelligence Service are attached. This

individual is of continuing operational interest to the FBI

and it is requested that FBI concurrence be obtained prior

to initiating any action based on

this information.

Warning Notice - Sensitive Source and Methods involved.

No foreign dissemination.

Extraction of information

controlled by originator.

TOP SECRET

Classified by 5182

Exempt from GDS,

2, and 4

Date of Declassification, Indefinite

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FEDERAL DUDEAU OF INVESTIGATIO

TOP SECRET

Dole of transcription.:

4/8/77

On April 8, 1997, FELIX ZABALA MAS, also known as

juto, a resident

at 350 Lerida, Urbanization Valencia,

Rio Fiedras, Puerto Rico, was advised of the identity of the

interviewing Agents, and he furnished the following informa-

tion:

FELIX ZABALA advised that he was a member of Alpha 66

from 1961 to 1965:

He is currently a member of Circulo Cubana,

a large Cuban exile social group in Puerto Rico, and beyond

this belongs to no other political or social group in Puerto

He stated that he is not a member of Frente Liberacion

Nacional de Cuba (Cuban National Liberation Front) or the

Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations (CORU) . He

stated that on April 3, 1977, he attended a meeting which

concerned itself with human rights and was presided over by

one FRANKLIN DELINO LOPEZ who was interested in

sending five

Cuban axile individuals to washington, D. C., and present a

case to the United States Department of State to tell President

CARTER how to deal with the Cubans.

He stated

that their main

concern here was the political prisoners and the system of

Connunism under CASTRO.

ZABALA stated that he participated

in

no other similar activities.

that he does have a

close relationshio with a very collateri individual, eminun

NUNez, who is the editor of Replica Magazine in San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

ZABALA advised that his sister, AMALIA ANGELINA

ZABALA MAS and his mother, ANGELINA MAS, came to Fuerto Rico

from Cuba on Decenber 23, 1976, for a vacation in Puerto Rico.

ZABALA stated that his mother has a six month. visa which

от " кан

expires in June, 1977, and that she is currently attempting

to stay three months longer in Puerto Rico and is awaiting

word from Cuban asthorities through her daughter who has since

returned to Cuba to secure a Cuban government OK to remain in

Puerto Rico.

Upo: receipt of that OK from the Cuban guvernment,

the subject's mother will then apply to the United States

Immigration and Naturalization Service

(USINS) for a three

month extention of her visa to visit Puerto Rico.

ZABALA'S

sister, AMALIA, was in Puerto Rico froth December

23, 1976,

until January 17, 1977, at which time she returned to Cuba.

Classified by 2072 IDS 2. 3. & 4, Indefinite

Thia, loceman conleins neiter recommendaione nil condusions wo the E8l lin he proper el the her and is looned to your aganer!.

lars 11s contento pre not lo be distributed atsido pour agoniy.

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Tur acuited Mindinis

SJ 65-514

2

FELIX ZABALA Stated that AMALIA is married to JULIO CESAR

MAS MARTIN, who is a medical doctor who has a very good

practice in Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, Cuba.

ZABALA stated that AMALIA's husband is not a political-type

person and he is not considered to be a Communist.

He

stated that JULIO. CESAR MAS MARTIN iS happY living under

the Cuban system of government because he is a doctor and

therefore lives extremely well. ZABALA stated that the

latter's brother, LUIS MAS MARIIN is crIently living

outside Havana assigned to an agricultural project.

ZABALA

stated that IUIS MAS

MARTIN, Who is appioximately 50 years old. is

currently having a severe arinking problem.

ZABALA believes

that he is vorking with the agriculture project in the

vicinity of Matanzas, Cuba.

ZABALA termed LUIS MARTIN a

Communist and an anti-Batistite.

ZABALA added that his

sister's recent trip

to Puerto Rico was her first

trip ever

to this country.

He stated that he last saw her in 1965 in

Cuba.

ZABALA reported that he vent to Jamaica and mer his

sister and

his mother on December 21, 1975, and assisted in

their travel to: Puerto Rico by helping. them to a hotel in

Kingston, Jamaic:, and then to the

to secure a visa

to visit Puerto Rico. He stated that since

t Puerto

United States Embassy there

1965 he had only talked to his

sister on the telephone

approximately every

six months.

LABALA stated that he rarely writes to any friends

or fanily members in Cube..

He stated that his brother,

DOMINGO BABAL, also known as Nino, is currently an athletic

promoter and he works in a group known as the instituto

Nacional Decorte: Pevolucionario in Cuba.

ZABALA stated that

his father, JOSH I. BABALA, died on November 23, 1954, in

Cuba and that his two sicters, AMALIA and PLENA, currently

live in Cuba.

also known as "PUPE,"

that

his brother,

JOSE LUIS ZAGALA;

DOMINGO, and himself spent various

periods

of time in Cuban jails. He stated that "PEPD" served four

and nine months which bagan in May of 1961.. DOMINGO, who

years

ZABALA termed. a bon-Conmunist, was in jail for 18 months from

September, 1961, to 1963.

BABALA stated that he himself was

in jail

only for seven days which began

in May, 1961.

ZABALA

added

that the reason that the

ahove individuals received jail

terms

had to do with their affiliation with a group which was

going to plant bumbs in or near the waterworis in Havana, Cuba,

in 1061.

LUV DEGREE MATE!

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3

FELIX ZABALA HAS stated that he doesn't know any

individuals who are in FLNC Or CORU.

lie stated that REINOL

RODRIGUEZ is a cood friend of his and they have been

associated since

ZABALA'S affiliation with Alpha 66:

ile

stated that he did not think that REINOL RODRIGUEZ is still™

a member of the latter organization.

He stuted that he has

only belonged to one political group in Cuba and that he was

a member of the Movimiento Revolutionario Pueblo (MRP) and

that that group placed over 100 bombs in and around Havana,

cuba, protesting the CASTRO government.

ZABALA waS questioned about his relationshis with

one ANTONIO VECIANA and he stated that VECIANA is like his

own brother. He added that VECIANA

is his son's Godfather

and is currently a

resident of Miami, Florida: ZABALA

reported that VESTANd and himself were in Alpha 66 and at

one time attempted to form an

Alpha 66 group in San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

Two other individuais,. according to ZABALA,

were in on this enterprise: TONY CUESTA (who is possibly living

now in Miami, Floridal.

ZABALA considered VECIAN? to not only

be his friend, bat his business

partner and added that VECIANA

resides

at Numbe: 811 Northwest

30 Ct: Miami, Florida, 33125.

ZABALA

stated that VECIANA left Alpha 66 in 1966 and

that he

is definitely an:i-Castro and would personally like to kill.

CASTRO.

He did not know VECIANA to be affiliated with any

political groups at this time.

ZABALd staied that four or

five vears ago that MECIANA, ENPIQUE NUNEZ, aNd MANOLO RAY

went to costa Rica and forned a revolutionary party (anti-

CASTROl, which hid the same ideals of Alpha 6o.

He added that

this groun which was known as Partido Revolutionario Del Pueblo,

Lasted perhaps eight months.

FELIX HABALA MAS revealed that on October 28, 1976,.

he left San Juan, Puerto Rico, and traveled to Kingston,

Jamaica, for the

purpose of seeing an entertainment promotes,

VELIX SMITH, about putting on the Chinese Circus Review fron

Taiwan. He

addec that he met no one other than PELIX SMITH

during his stay in Jamaica. He insisted that he had met no one

1OP SECRET

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SJ 65-514

4

who could be a representative of any foreign government,

particularly from Cuba.

FELIX ZABALA MAS reported that

November 8, 1976, he traveled

on

to Miami and

then on to

Kingston, Jamaica.

He stated that he went there to see the

promoter, FELIX SMITH, and

discuss problems on how to get

money out of Jamaica if ZABALA were to bring the Chinese

Circus Review from Taivan to Jamaica.

ZABALA added that

this was approxinately one month prior to the popular

elections and there is always a problen bringing money out

of jamaica.

ZABALA again stated

that he had contacted no

one other

than FELIX SMITH.

ZABALA advised that he traveled to Jamaica again

on November 30, 1976, and returned

to Puerto Rico via Miami

on

December 2, 1976.

He stated

that at that time he again

visited FELIX SMITH.

ZABALA stated that he traveled alone

to Montego Bay and another cou, ocro

Rios, in Jamaica,

visited

and

theaters where he couid

possibly present the Chinese

Circus.

He addel that he stayed in the Sheraton Hotel when

he was in Kinaston on this occasion. He stated that he had

seel no

fanily members or anvone who could be possibly

considered a

seP"esentative of a foreign government.

added that while in Jamaica he traveled

He

by public automobiles

which are used as taxis or buses.

ZABALA MAS

advised that he had rented the "llappy

Center Bar" which is located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, for

the period between December, 1374, and July, 1976. he

ne gave up this line of business in that he

122 in°

stated

was not making it

financially.

He added that at the moment he is

not in

financial straights and that he has been receiving current

income

from his promotion of the Taivan Circus Group and two

professional price fighters (both Dominicans), HECTOR JULIO

MEDINA

and ADRIANO MARRERO, also known as

Nane. He stated

that the latter to individuals are under his control as he

is their manager and receives approximately 33 percent of any

purse for

setting up their

fights.

ZABALA stated that he would like to go back to Cuba

if CASTRO and the Conmunist system of government was out of

Cuba.

He added that he personally believes in a system of

1 Socialism and Denocracy.

ZABALA reported that his

family

here does not lile the Commist form of government and that

his brother, DOMINGO (NINO), does not like the current Cubon

System.

ZAbAld vas not

sure if his sister, AlAila, likes the

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5

CASTRO or Communist system.

He added that she told a friend,

HUGO PEREZ, a Cuban exile who is about 50 years old and

resides in Floral Park, Puerto Rico, that if

she could get

out of cuba with her four chiidren, she would leave.

reportedly told PEREZ, that her husband, JULIO CESAR MAS

MARTIN likes the good style of living that he currently

enjoys in Havana, Cuba, as a ranking medical doctor.

added that HUGO PEREZ sent alot of clothing back to Cuba

with his sister, AMALIA, fOI HUGO PEREZ' father.

ZABALA advised that as far as his future travel

plans are concerned, he interds to go to Los Angeles,

California, abou: the 15th of April and there, prepare

theatrical

arran tements.

He stated that this

would take

approximately. tw or three days.

He added that he has to

go to santo Domingo at some future date for the theatrical

presentation of the Chinese Circus Review from Taiwan.

Ile

stated that this would probably be in May, 1977.

He added

at this point that VECIAl, supra, and he

set up all the

Chinese Circus Review from Taiwan's engagements.

He added

that he might possibly be in Chicago and New York City,

New York, after May, 1977.

The interviewing Agents reminded ZABALA that he at

one time in 1966

vas

interviewed and polygraphed by a United

States Government official.

ZABALA, Who

stated that he did

not know the results of that interview or the polygraph,

stated that he remembered taking the test and being interviewed

at a hotel room in the Miramar Hotel, Miramar, Puerto Rico,

but that. he did rot know who or what organization was behind

it.

lle stated trat an Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investi-

gation (FBI) at that

time had set up the interview and the

examination. He stated that at that time he was asted about

going to cuba and

moring for

the United States Government

for intelligence reasons.

He could not furnish any details

about any of the

individuals, approximately three of four,

who

were in the.room

at that time.

The interviewing Agents questioned ZABALA about.

a possible trip to Panana which was made on January 10, 1977.

He was confionted with information that revealed that he had

traveled with Pan

Anerican Airlines, flight 585, to Panama

on January 10, 1977, United States Passport number 32494541,

10F Z0RNET

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SJ 65-514

6

tourist card number 745643, and that he returned to the

United States ou January 11, 1977, on another Pan American

Airlines flight, number 586.

ZABALA Stated that he was in

Panama for one right and thereafter traveled to Miami,

Florida, and West Palm Beach, where he spent one night in

the company of JoSe PRADOS HERRERO, who currently resides

in Puerto Rico (telephone number 783-4367). He stated that

he went to panama on this occasion for foxing business and

that he saw LUIS ESPADA, a boxing promoter, and. DI. RODIGO

SANCHEZ, Of the World Boxing Association.

He stated that ho

only contacted these two persons and one radio commentator,

while he was in Panama on this occasion. le

adder that one

of his fighters, HECTOR JULIO MEDINA, was supposed to fight

RORERTO DURAN and that ZABALA called

MEDINA. (a

resident of

Santo Domingo) fron Panama

and the fighter advised

ZABALA

that he was cut of shape

and therefore could not fight: DUPAN.

•ZABALA added that he has

exclusive permission to sign a

contract re MeDIun.

He stated that he discussed the possible

Fight with the aforementioned radio commentator.

The interviewing Agents again requested that ZABALZ

be perfectly honest with thea about any possible contact of

foreign agent, or other

government represontatives while on

the above trips outside puerto Rico.

lie strongly advised that

the intervieving Agents had his word that he never contacted

anyone fron a forign government, embassy official, consular

official, foreign attache, or intelligence officer.

ZABALA stated that on the above mentioned dates,

January 10, Januiry 1l, 1077, he

was supposed to do to Houston

and San

Antonio, Texas, and other places in the United States

to acrange for a presentation of the Chinese rizeus.

stated, though, soon arrival at Miami, there was

convention

of managers of aditoriums from throüghout the United States

(these are individuals who could present the Chinese Circus!.

ZABALA stated fos this reason he did not have to go to Texas

as the managers

that he wished to see were there in Miami,

particularly at

the Ramada Inn Hotel around January 11, 1977.

In light of the subject's current probation regula

tions with Unitel States Probation Office, he was questioned

as to whether he had gotten the permission of his probation

officer to crave! to

panana during lamary of 1977. lle statel

that te

had this

permission.

TEN STORT

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7

ZABALA was asked if he had ever been requested to

bring anything back to puerto rico from. any of his above

mentioned travels and he stated that he never broucht back

any money other than business money. He stated that in

August, 1976, he brought back to puerto Rico from Santo

Domingo approximately $800.00 as this was the result of a

prize fight there.

lle added that he recently brought back

to Puerto Rico

some checks which were from the Chinese Circus

presentations.

le stated that he had $300.00 in addition to

these checks which represented box office receipts.

placed these checks in an account at Banco Obrero, Hato Rey,

Puerto Rico, in the account of Promoter Antillana, which is

a trade name.

He stated that this account is administered

by himself and VECIANA.

He added that in December of 1976

he brought back to fuerto Rico from Jamaica approximately

$400.00 when he vas accompanied by his mother and sister from

Cuba on their journey to Puerto Pico.

The interviewing Agents questioned FELIX ZABALA

MAS about his relationship with one GABRIEI, FIGUERDA and a

possible $10,000 advertising problem he has with this

individual.

ZABALA Stated that

PIqUEro" is the owner of

an advertising firm, Communications Arts, and war responsible

for advertising the Chinese Circus in Los Angeles, San Diego,

ronica, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino,

California, while the Chinese. Circus was recently there.

stated that FIGUROA, who is a resident of Miami, Florida,

sent the ads to various newspapers in California fron Miami

that BABALA

protested the advertising in that the weint

was too small in the advertisement for people to read.

added. that he

ani VaNCIANA complained to FIGUEROA and had

paid FIGUEROA $3, 400.00 for the

advertising.

PIGUERO? told

the latter individuals that they ove hin approximately $15,000.00

for the advertising.

ZABALA stated

that. cn February 19, 1977,

he sent FIGUEROd a check for 510, 000.00 via a delivery adency,

Espasas Advertising, Incorporated, 596 De liostos Avenue,

Urbanization Ballirich, lato Rey,

Puerto Rico

00919.

reportedly made che delivery to FIGURiOs and then immediately

advised BABALA to send a cashiers check from his bank in

Puerto Rico to FIGUERON inasmuch as the first check would not

be cleared by a

tiami, Florida, bank for approximotely two

ZABALA Scated

that on March 2, 1977, he sant the

104 PE

11100

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SJ 65-514

8

cashiers check via Espasas Advertising, Incorporated, to

FIGUEROA. and that the first check, which should not have been

deposited in light of the second check, was placed in an

unknown bank and

when it finally reached Puerto Rico there

were insufficient funds to cover it. BABALA stated that both

checks were made out to Communications Arts.

FELIX ZABALA advised that his brother, PEPE (JOSE

LUIS ZABALA), his sister ELVIRA, and he, paid an organization

which handles

the paperwork for cubans who wish to visit

outside Cuba, Alnacen Espanol, approximately $1,200.00 to

secure the financial aspect of his mother and sister's

Leaving Cuba.

He stated that hi, brother, PEPE, filed the

necessary applications regarding his mother and

sister to

Almacen Espanol in Miami.

le stated that approximately half

of the money vent into an account in kingston, Jamaica, to

render

secure

that

his sister and mother would not be a

financial burden to the Jamaican Government and that they

would have money to leave that country.

Ile added that PEPE,

ELVIRA, or himself had nothing to do with his mother's and

sister's leaving Cuba other than sending the necessary

application pape:s

to Almacen Espanol in Miami, Florida. He

added that he vent to jamaica on December 21, 1976, to help

his sister and his mother and that after they landed from

Cuba he took then to the sheraton Hotel and later on to the

United States Embassy to secure the necessary visas.

The interviewing Agents questioned ZABALA about his

recent source of income and he stated that he earned approxi-

mately $3,000.00 from a prize fight which was

held in hayanon,

Puerto Rico, on September 10, 1976, between ESTEBAN DE JESUS

and HECTOR JULIO MEDINA.

He added

that he earned approximately

$1,200.00 from his presentation of the Chinese Circus in Miami

Beach, Florida, between October 5 and 10, 1976. He stated

that he got approximately $2,000.00 on or about December 18,

1976, as a reit of his

selling his rights and contract to the

fighter, HECTOR CULIO MEDINA. ZABALA stated, however, that he

to pay this money back to promoter DON KING and Pantalones

santiago as his fighter backed out of the deal and it fell

through. ZABALA advised that between February 9, and March 6,

1977, he earned approximately $3,800.00 from the

performances

TOP SPONGT

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SJ 65-314

9

of the Chinese Circus in San Juan, Mayaguez, and Ponce,

Puerto Rico.

FELIX RABALA MAS, WhO häd been Furnished by the

intervieving Agents a Spanish copy of the Alvice of Rights

form which he

said he understood

and signed, was presented

a reading of the statutes having to do with

foreign govern-

ment agents and the Foreign Agents Registration Aot of 1938.

The Advice of Rights

forn: was furnished to FELIX LABALA MAS

prior to the aforementioned discussion of his travel outside

of Puerto Rico in the last six months. BABALA was sternly

advised

that he jad been asked to tell the truth in all the

above matters and that any discrepancy in his account could

possibly be a

vislation of his

current federal probation

which extends

to January 29, 1973.

At

thi: point, FELIX ZABALA MAS advised the inter-

viewing Agents that he had no idea how the FBI had gotten

all the

facts

about him and that the

seems to know

everythiny. about him.

He stated that ho is not a Communist

and

that anything political that he vould do would be against.

FIDEL, CASTRO. A: this point,

ZABALA LiSS stated that he had

waited for a lom time for this moment and that he is now

willing to tell

the intervieving Agents everything.

CABALA

MAG

stated that the following accounts are only kroom by

hinself

and his lend, ANTONIO VECIZNA.

ile stated that

VECTANA recently had

some problens with a thited States

Goverment assascination connittee which was looking into

tha assassination of TOMN FITUGERAID

KENNEDY. He stated that

VECIANA had to appear on approximately three occasions in

Washington, D. C, the last of which was around December

10 г

1976.

ZABALA Stuted

that approximately one month before

JOAN P. KENNEDY was shot in pallas, Texas, VECIANA and an

individual

who

XiBAlA falt was associated with United States

Central

Intelligence Mency (CIA), He. BISHOP," not with

LET HARVEY OSWALD in Dallas, Pexas. BABALA stated that

"Me. BISHOP' know VESIANA since 1961, He added that BISHOP

had handled an assassination attonpt against FIDEL CASTPO

while CASTRO was in Chile in 1971.

&ABAld stated that vEClAN?

went to Bolivia to work for the United States Government. around

1967. He stated that

VECIANA

and he went to Chile in 1.971

10P SENNET

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10

to set up an operation to kill CASTRO: He stated that to

expedite this, false Venezuelan passports were made, the

necessary guns vere brought in in the diplomatic pouches,

hand grenades were picked up in Bolivia, and a United States

diplomatic car carried that paraphenalia from Bolivia

Chile. ZABALA stated that the plan was prepared in Miami,

Florida, and at that tire VECIANA was still working for

the United States Embassy in Bolivia. He added that he and

VECIANA rented the room in Santiago, Chile, and stayed there

for two or three days.

stated that

• JUAN DOMINGUEZ,

and MARCO: RODRICUEZ (Cuban exiles not further identified)

thereafter tool. over that room and

eniolled in an approximately

six month course in photograph. and television in Santiago.

The purpose of

the endeavor vas to place a gun inside one o

the cameres which would be used by DOMINGUEZ or RODRIGUer and

when FIDEL CASTRO made his appearance before members of the

press, he would be shot by one of these individuals.

added

that a high official in the chilean govermient secured

the necessary press permits for these individuals

to come in

the pioximity

or casTRo when he arrived in Chile in 1971.

He stated that the operation was not successful as DOMINGUEZ

and

RODRIGUEZ failed, by sone means, to shoot CASTRO: on the

first day

that he was

presented before the members of the

press. and that on the second day one of those individuals

that he mist go to the hospital as his appendix was

bothering him.

The other individual

stated that someone in

CASTRO's vicinity identified him and thereafter, that potential

assassin left Chile and was later seen

in Bolivia.

ZABALA reported that ANTONIO VECIANA prepared a

letter

for the benefit of FIDEL CASTRO in Cuba in which he

signed the

nickname of his (VECIANA's) secretary, MARGARITA.

(MARGARITA iS

HIlDA CAo, who is currently a resident of

San Juan, Puerto Rico, an employee of the United States

Government in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

She was VECIANA'S

secretary while

"e was

in Cuba and hile he was in Puerto Rico

from 1961 to 1967, and associated with Alpha 66). That letter

contalned information concerning ANTONIO VECIANA's connection.

with the United States Central Intelligence Agency and his

attempt to kill CASTRo in Chile in 1971. ZABALA stated

that

the information

in the letter was known to no other individuals

NGP SERICT

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and VECIANA had requested BABALA to transmit that letter to

his sister, AMALIA, in Cuba for personal delivery to FIDEL

CASTRO.

ZABALA stated that the letter inferred that

VECIANA's secretary was dissatisfied

with VECIANA and that

VECIANA wanted a large amount of publicity due to his

appearance before a United States Government group which

dealt with the assassination of JoIN f. KENNEDY.

This letter.

was submitted to Cuba via ZABALA's sister, on or about

September 11, 1976, ZABAIN stated that he then received a

call from his

sister, AMALIA,

in Cube, and she stated that

she wanted to se: him in Jamaica

on October 28, 1976. He

added that he re ponded to his sister's request and was in

Jamaica on October: 23, 1976, and

was met there by his sister.

He stated that

h? was

staying at the Sheraton Hotel in

Kingston, Jamaici, and on his

first night there he met a

Cuban

by

the nam

of CARLOS.

He added that CARLOS, ZAPALA'S

sister, and he, vent to a large hotel lone or two level

cabana

style, possibly outside

Kingoton, Jamaica.

ZARAIA

decorined CARoS as a white male, five

• feet six inches tail,

weighing 160 pounds (over weight), having dark eyes, darl:

hair, with grey

streals in the sides.

CARLOS was further

described as being approximately 40 years old and that he wore

no glasses or hai no other destinguishing physical characteristios.

CARLOS described linself

tO ZABALA aG ?

person who was high

up in the cuban covermment intelligence.

CARLOS carried with

him at all times

& businessman's attache case which contained

a pistol. ZABAL. did not see the pistol at any time.

In addition

to meeting CARLOS, supra, ZABALA mot

the driver of the automobile which took

ZABALA,

BABALA'S

sister, and CARLOS to the hotel.

this individual was the

vice-consul of

tro Cuban Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, JUAN

CARBONELL.

RaBATA described CARBONELl as beid a white male,

weighing

170 pourde, five

feet eleven inches

tall, having

black hair, dark eyes, and wearing glasses with dark plastic

frames.

No ocher distinguishing characteristics vere noted

by ZABAIN:

Upon arriving at the hotel, ZAbALA vas questioned

by CARLOS and JUAN CARBONeLl, in the presence of his sister,

AMALIA, and they wanted to know current information concerning

TO 4990E3

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12

ORLANDO BOSCH, CORU, REINOI RODRIGUES, FRANK CASTRO, ANTONIO

VECIANA, and other members of anti-CASTRO groups.

In response

to VECIANA's latter to FIDEI, CASTRO, CARLOS and CARBONELL

felt that VECIANA'S

secretary disliked VECIANA and

they

requested that ZABALA tell the secrotary that they will

broadcast the information presented in "her" letter over

Radio Havana in about a week's time. ZABALA stated that

inasmuch as he was responsible for forwarding the supposed

letter from VOCIANA's secretary, the Cubans

believed

that

ZABALA greatly disliked VECIANA

also.

ZABALA Stated that no

such broadcast was ever made according to ANTONIO VECIANA.

ZABALA reported that in the course of the above-

mentioned contact with CARLOS and CARBONEL, the latter

stated that they would get in contact with him through his

sister, AMALIA.

They asked ZABALA if he needed

any money and

he replied negatively.

LABALA HAS reported that he returned to Jamaica

around November , 1976, and stayed at the Sheraton Hotel.

During his first evening

there; a strange voice telephoned

his roomn and

advised him to go outside.

He went down am

stood by the hotel swinning, pool and inen saw CARios, supra.

and was again taten by CARLOS and JOAN CARBONELT to the

hotel where he previously net these individuals.

BABALA

stated that the

side from the Sheraton. Hotel in Kingston,

Jamaica, to the other hotel takes approximately thirty

minutes. by car and this hotel is located near the sea. Upon

entering

this hotel, BABALA as introduced to "The General."

(At one time during

the intervier with "The General" the

latter was refersed to as JORGE.)

ZABALA stated that ho

also carried a bisinessman's attache case which ZABALA

suspected could carry a gun.

ZABALA Stated that during

course of this contact the entire conversation was taped on

a tape player in the room. LABALA described the "Ceneral"

as a

white male, five feet seven inches tall, wcighing 160

pounds, approximately 36 vears of age, and from Cien Fuegos,

Cuba. ..ZADALA stited that

"The General;" looked like a tell

built, firm milisary type.

He stated that this individual

had dark hair wish slight traces of acey on the side.. the

"General" had dack eyes and no other distinguishing physical

characteristics.

1007 SERVAT

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13

ZABALA stated that in the course of this contact the three

Cuban individuals wanted to know about the bomb on a Cuban

plane which hal recently destroyed the plane and cent it

plunging into the sea.

They wanted him to invite REINOL

RODRIGUEZ, FRANK CASURO, and

"BEBO" (Last name possibly

FRANCO, and

the oner of a sporting goods store which is

located at Plagler and 18th Avenue, Miami, Floridal to

Jamaica for reasons of placing bonbs against pro-Cuban

schools in Jamaisa.

The Cuban individuals could ther

arrange

for the jamaican authorities to arrest RODRIGUEZ,

CASTRO, ang "BEDS" and lator these could be given over to

the Cubans. In

addition to the above, the Cubans wanted an

"up date"

on pictures of about thirty individuals. These

individuals were all current suspected anti-CASTRO type

persons and inclided

ENRIOUS NUNEZ.

On November 9, 1976,

according to BABILA, they gave him $500.00 for plane tickets

and expenses.

Trey wanted him to go to venezuela to find

out about the above mentioned Cuban plane bonbing:

PALIX BABALA MAS advised that November 29, 1976,

he returned to Jamaica and this time went to a place which

is known

Little. Pub," in the city of ocho rios.

ZABALA stated thit approximately 9:00 p.m. that evening,

three men came in to

"the "Little Pub."

Ile stated that these

individuals were the

"General," CARLOS, and a third Cuban

whom he had not previously met. He described this individual

as a white male, six feet three inches tall, weighing 220

pounds, having short, dark hair, approximately 38 vears of

age, and having heavy prescription qlasses.

This latter

individual inforned ZABAlA that he had been working in the

Cuban

Enbassy in Chile during 1971.

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65-514

1.4

ZABALA staled that VECIANA bad, in preparation

for his November 29 anticipated meeting in Jamaica, given

him information to furnish to the Cubans. ZABALA said that

VECIANA furnished him with information concerning the

bombing of the Air Cubana Airliner stating that the infor-

mation would appear to be good and was true, however, it

was well known

within the anti-Castro Cuban Communits and

he did not believe it would harm anybody.

• ZABALA said

that VECIANA told hin that ORLANDO GARCIA, who was an

employee of the Government of Venezucla, and former CIA

employee, had gone to Santo Domirgo in 1976 and met with

ORLANDO BOSCH and FRANK CASTRO. VECIANA further advised

that there was also present at the meeting a representative

from Brigade 2503; name unknown. VECIANA said that at this

time, BOSCH, CASTRO: GARCIA and the representative fròm

Brigade 2506 planned a bombing of a Cubana airliner. At

some

time foliowing this

BOSCH went to Venezuela to take

command

of the operation.

Upon arrival in Venezuela BOSCH

was met

by "MONO""

MORALES, & Cuban

exile living in Venezuela.

VECIANA

said that MORALES was the individual who had

testified in a Federal trial against BOSCH a few vears

prior to this

tine.

MORALES is supposed to have told

BOSCH that he wished fca all past differences to be forgotten

and for them to unite in this act, as all good Cubaus should!

try to get rid or CAStRo. •At this time MORALES gave BOSCI!

a machine gun and offered a car and driver as well as the

use of

an

apartment thai he (MORALES) stated that he had

arranged for BOSSIl: VECIANA said that BOSCIl still did not

trust

MORALES and instead went to the apartment of ALFREDO

AGUJAR; another cuban

exile in Caracas.

BOSCH supposedly

staved

at that apartment and during this time was

in contact

with

in old Cuban revolutionary named "PEP"

as well as a forner CIA operative named "RICO." RICO was

described as being a Cuban exile also. RICO supposedly

gave BOSCH 52,00) during this time in order to support

the

intended operation against the Cubana Airlines. BUSCH

was also in controt with à Cuban exile attorney while in

Venezuela, name unknown, hovever, it was stated that BOSCH

vas arrested in aracas

at the hone of this attorney

following the bonbing.

TICIANA further told ZARALA

that

when the bomb weat off, it was such a tragedy that the

CORU group was afraid to claim credit for it. VECIANA

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15

7OP SECRET

further advised that the Government of Venezuela had

previously had knowledge of the plans for this bombing,

however,

they also became very nervous when the bomb went

off with the plane in the ait.

VECIANA tOld ZABALA that

the plan had been for the bomb to go off while the plane

was on the runway in Barbados,

avoiding serious loss of

lives, however, the plane departed early and thus the bomb

went off while the plane was

in the air.

ZABALA reiterated that VECIANA had given him this

information to furnish as he (VECIANA) stated that most of

this

information

had been hinted at in the newspapers and

that he felt that ZABALA could impress the Cubans with this

information as well as utilizing this information to cover

for the fact that ZABALA had actually not gone to venezuela

as previously requested by the Cuban Intelligence Agents.

ZABALA Said that he furnished this information

to the Cuban Intelligence Agents during the November 29, 1976.

meeting and they appeared very pleased with the information.

ZABALA said that he also, as previously directed by VECIANI,

told the Cuban Agents that VECIANA had been involved in some

sort of testimony regarding the KENNEDY assassination. ZABALA

said that he did

not furnishten with any details other than

telling

him that VECIANA bad

traveled to

Washington using

a travel voucher issued under the name of Senator SCHWIEKER.

ZABALA said that he did not know why VECIANA wanted this

information given to the Cubans unless it was to further

convince him that he (ZABALA) was furnishing them with good

information in the hopes that they would utilize the

previously furnished information and give VECIANA the

publicity he desired on radio Havana.

Following the November 29; 1977, meeting which was

taped by the Cubans, ZABALA said that he was instructed to

meet CARLOS in Panama on January 10, 1977, being instructed

to go to the Panama lilton Hotel and be standing

in the

parking lot at 9 p.m.

He was told that somebody would pick

him up.

ZABALA added that he was given $700 at the

conclusion

of this meeting by the Cubans, which was to

provide expenses for the trip he was supposed to have taken

Venezuela as vell as the trip for the November 29, 1977,

meeting.

ZABALA said at the conclusion of the meeting he

asked the Cu's to help in getting his mother and sister

out of Cuba for a Christmas

vacation in Puerto Rico and

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they told him that they would help him. ZABALA at this

time stated that he also recalled that during this meeting

they requestod that he get any information possible in

reference to COFU and "Condor,

" which ZABALA described

as

a cover name for CORU. He stated that they were also in

need of information as to who had placed a recent bomb

in the Cubana Airline Office in Madrid.

They told him

that they had

some information which led them to believe

that a black male, who was from Puerto Rico, had placed

the bomb:

They further said that this black male resembled

an Indian in appearance.

ZABALA added that at this meeting

he had also given them nine papers which he

had written

out concerning old bombings in Fuerto Rico.

ZABALA said

that these papels were false and had to do with bombings

four and five years old which the Cubans believed were

conducted by anti-Castro groups.

ZABALA said that he now

recalls that during that meering they

also gave hin the

Embassy phone number in Jamaica, with

instructions to call

if he needed to contact them and ast, "It the visa is ready

FOI JUAN CASTILLO."

LABALA said he was told that if he

needed to contact them to follow the procedure and then

automatically go the following night at 9 o'clock to the

Little Pub Night Club in Ocho kios, Jamaica, where he would

be met.: ZABALA said that he never did have occasion to

use this procedure.

ZABALA said that the next contact he had with

any of the Cuban Intelligence Officers was an accidental

contact on Decemper 21, 1976, when he was in Jamaica to

neet the Cubana Airline plane with his sister and mothei.

ZABALA said

that he saw "CARLOS" getting off of the same

flight and nodded to him.

ZABALA said that that evening

he, his sister. aid his mother vere staving at the Sheraton

Hotel in Jamaica when he was contacted oy CARLOS.

ZABALA

sald that CARLOS contacted him verv briefly at his room

and told ZABALA chat he (CARLOS) was just passing through

Kingston, Jamaie., enroute to participating in the opening

of a

new Embassy in Mexico City;

At this time CARLOS gave

ZABALA $300 which represented

the portion of the money

that

ZABALA himsolf had placed with AIMACEN ESPANOL in Miami

in order to help get his

sister and mother out of Cuba.

TOD SEGMET

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i17

ZABALA said that the next contact was on January 10.

197%.,

in lanama.

CABALA said that he flew ciom Miami to

Panama

curing the day of danuary 10, 1917, arriving in Panama

at 8:15 p.m.

21BAlil said he immediately proceeded to the

Panama

Milton and checked in, and then went to the parking

lot at 9 p.m. RABALA said that he was met

at the parking

lot by CARlOS: who walked up and then said, "Let's go for

a walk." ZABALA said they walked two or three blocks and

as they were walking a car pulled up alongside and CARLOS

directed him

to get into the car. ZABALA said

he did not

the face of the driver of the car.

The driver drove

only a short distance and stopped. ZABALA said that at

this time they left the car and the driver and entered an

apartment

building where they proceeded to an apartment.

said that when

and CARLOS entered the apartment,

"The General" was already in the apartment with his tape

recorder

set up,

ZABALA said that at this time he gave

them telephone books from San Juan as well as Miami telephone

books fron the Cuban

section of Miami as they had previously

requested these

telephone books. ZABALA said that he did

not have any other information to give them and they

again requested

that he obtain general information concerning

the activities of

Miami.

anti-Castro. groups in Puerto Rico and

ZABALA suid that during this meeting they gave

him §800 for expenses.

ZABALA said that they arranged

another contact in Mexico City, with the contact scheduled

for Naïch 0, 1577. ZABALA said at this time he was given

a leather tipe key holder which had a slin of paper inside

which was to be a contact telephone number for him to call

in Mexico City:

This telephone

number was furnished in

case ZABALA needed to make contact with the Cuban Intelligence

Officers.

LABAL) said that he was furnished the

new code

word which was

"is the visa of Dr. SALGADO ready." ZABALA

said that he was also told that if he called the Embassy

in Mexico City he was simply to ask this question and hang

up and then proceed the next night to a store called Gigante,

which was near the Embassy in Mexico City.

He was to stand

in front of the Gigante

at 6

p.m. and would be met. He

was furnished with a code phrase which would serve

identify the Cuon Agent.

to

The phrase was,

"DO YOU

see inly

taxis

around here," and

ZABALA was told to answer,

"I san

one but it is broken," which would identify one to the other.

TOP SEGRET

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18

ZABAL said that following this meeting lie became

very involved with the promotion of the laiwan Circus and

was doing extensive

traveling.

ZABALA Said that he did

not make the March 6, 1977, meeting in Mexico City as he

was in California with the

Taiwan Circus and due to.

business reasons was not able to go to Mexico City.

ZABALA

said that during this period of time that he and VECIANA

were having financial problems with the Taiwan Circus and

needed money rather desperately.

ZAbALA said

that VICIANA

was able to obtain a 515,000 loan to help continue their

tour of the Taiwan Circus and that he (ZABAlA was able

to borrow $20, 000 from his cousin in Puerto Rico, who lad

a short time before won the Puerto Rican lottery in the

amount of $100,000. ZABALA said that due to promotional

difficulties they continued to have money problems and that

at this time VECIANA suggested that ZABALA try to

contact

the Cubans in Mesico City and see if they would give him

ZABALA Said that on March 18, 1977, he called

Mexico City from Los Angeles utilizing the

phone number

he had been

give: on January 10, 1077, and used the code

phrase, "Is the visa oi DI. SALGADO ready,: when the

Embassy answercy:

LABALA Said that as previously instructed

he then

hung up and on the morning of March 19, 1977, he

flew to Mexico City. ZABALA said that he went to the

appointed place it 6 p.m., horever, nobody showed up.

ZABALA said. that

this was never explained.

ZABALA said from Mexico City he returned to

San Juan on March 20, 1977, via Mexicona Airlines..

On

March 22, 1977, CABALA said that he again called the

number in Mesico city and save the code nord..

ZABALA

said that he the fler to Miami on March 22, 1977, and

proceeded to. Mex. co City from Miami.

ZABALA Said that

on March 22, 197?

be went to the parking lot in the

Gigante store arca

and a man came up and gave the proper

code word.

ZABAld described this man as a Cuban male,

approximate age.

30, 5'5"

tall: heavy build, weighing

approximately 17l pounds, long straight black hair and

as having a very sound face.

ZABALA said

that the man

cold him he was iron the Embassy and that they walked

a very short way down the street into a restaurant.

ZABALA

was unable to recall the name of the restaurant..

ZARALA

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said

at this time he gave this man a sealed package containing

"Replica" newspapers from San Juan and Miami and told the man

that inasmuch as he had been away from Puerto Rico with a tour

group he did not häve much new information. ZABALA said that

the man appeared to be content with this and told ZABALA

that he would deliver the package to CARLOS. ZABALA said

that unbeknownst to this man, he had also enclosed. a

sealed letter acdressed to CARLOS in which he asked

CARLOS for $20,000 in order to help him (ZABALA) with his

linancial problems.

ZABALA said that he explained in the

letter to CARLOS that some of the problens had been as a

get him the money that (ZABALA) would continue to work

with him.

ZABAld said that the man from the Embassy then

said that "The Céneral" and CARLOS wanied to meet with

ZABALA during Hay and they agreed upon the date of May 19,

1977.

ZABALA

said he was instructed to go to the Xola

Station of the lexico City Metro System and stand under

the

sign for the subway to Tacuba.

ZABALA said that he

was

to meet at

p.In.

on May 18, 1987, wider the Tacuba

sign. ZABALA said that all of these arrangements were

made without the man knowing that he had

& letter requesting

$20,000, addressed to CARLOS: ZABALA said that he has not

heard from any of the Cubans since that

time and assumes

that he would be expected to make the May 19, 1977, meet.

ZABALA said that during the past week he had

been in Miami

and at this time VECIANA wanted him to go

to the Cle and tell them what had happened and offer to

work with the CIA. ZABALA said he was most hesitant to

do so and bad told VECIANA that he did not wish to do so.

At this time ZABALA stated that he also recalled

another brief contact with Cuban Intelligence Agents which

occursed on Januury 17, 1077, when he flew from San Juan to

Jamaica with his sister wen

she was returning to Cuba.

ZABALA said

that he decided to go to Kingston, Jamaica,

with her at the last minute as she had a large number of

luggage and was imablo to handle all of the lugeage herself.

70P SECUDY

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ZABALA said he also wished to go to. extend the visit with

his sister.

ZABALA said that he went to kingston, Jamica,

and was only there for a few hours, however, he was con-

tacted at the airport bu JUAN CARBONELL. He (ZABALA) gave

CARBONELL a Copy of the JACK ANDERSON newspaper column

which had

to do with the KENNEDY assassination.

ZABALA

said that he had carried

the newspaper article with him

in case he was contacted while in Kingston.

ZABALA said

that the article had to with the KENNEDY assassination and

a mysterious Cuban named "X" who had had some involvement

with the CId and with the kennedy assassination.

ZABALA

said that he believed this "x" to be VECIANA but did not

know how this intormation had gotten to JACK ANDERSON.

ZABALA said that it appeared that his meeting with CARBONELL

was accidental bit he believed that the Cubans were adept

in planning meetings and he assumed that inasmuch as his

sister had

left

che airport. to go to the Cuban Embassy,

that she had told CARBONELL that he (ZABALA) would be in

the airport area waiting to return to san Juan.

At this time ZABALA said that he also recalled

that although his sister did not talk to him at all during

her Christmas visit from Cuba

about intelligence matters,

that during the canuary 10, 1977, meeting

in Panama he

was told by

the General to instruct his sister in San Juan

to contact MANOLO RAT. ZABALA said he was not told why

his sister was to contact RAY, but gave his sister this

message when he returned to San Juan.

ZABALA said he was

worried about his

sister being involved in this matter

so he waited until the day before she was to depart San

juan for Cuba to give her the message:

At this time she

asked him (ZABAL/) to contact RAY and arrange a meeting

which ZABALA stated he had done. ZABALA said that

she

met with Rix the day before she

left for Cuba but lie has

no idea what they talked about. ZABALA described RAY

RAY

as being a former Minister of Public Works in Cuba prior

to the Castro takeover, and said he was currentiy employed

as an Archetictural Engineer with his office being in a new .

building constructed

on Ponce de leon Avenue in san Juan

near the Martin Feno Canal.

ZABALA said that he did not know

RAY well and was not familiar with his politics or leanings,

although he had

supposed him to be

an anti-Castro Cuban.

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ZABALd was questioned concerning the reason why

VECIANA had wanled him to send

CASTRO detailin: VECIANA's activities with the CIA.

VECIANA S

the leiter to Cuban Premier

ZABALA

stated that VECIANA was concerned about his testimony before

the committee irvestigating the KENNEDY assassination

and,

for some unexplined reason, wanted to establish himself in

the U. S. Cuban community as a tormer Cla operative.

VECIANA

said he was certain that CASTRO would broadcast this

information

on ladio Havana as soon as he received it and

as Radio Havana was continually monitored in Miami, these

facts would soon be known among the Cuban community. ZABALA

said that he did

not question VECIANA further as VECIANA

obviously did not wish to talk about it and he (ZABALA)

decided to go along

this somed to be bout of his triend hip for ViCIANA as

the utmost importance to VECIANA.

ZABALA said

that when no broadcast occurred, VECIANA requested

he continue his contacts and urge the Cubans at each meeting

to make the broadcast under

the guise that he (ZABALA)

wished the broadcast in order to embarrass VECIANA as he

(ZABAlA) was supposed to bare had a falling out with VECIANA.

At this time ZABALA stated that he was extremely

glad to have been able to get this off of conscience and

stated that he wis physically and emotionally exhausted.

BABALA expressed great confidence in the FBi

and stated

that he wished to. work with the FBI in

any way possible,

including. turther contacts with the Cuban

Intelligence

Agents or in

any other capacity

in which he could serve.

ZABALA stated. that he was a loyal. Anerican and firmly

against the Communist system and had only become involved

in

contacts. with the Cubans in order to carry out the

wishes of his good friend VECIANA.

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22

obtained

The following description of FELIX ZABALA MAS waS

through interview and

observation:

Name

Also Krown As

Residence

FRIIX ZABALA PAS

TUTO; FELIX SADALA MAS

350 Lerida

Urbanization Valencia

Rio Piedias, Fuerto Rico

Social Security

Account Number

581-30-5117

Date o: Birth

October. 18, 1937

Place of Birth

Sex

Pinar Del Rio, Cuba

Male

Race

White

Height:

6 feet

weight

218 pounds

Hair

Black

Eyes

BrOwn

Scars/Harks

None

Physical Characteristics Right eye does not focus

on what the left eye is

observing.

ruerto Rico

Driver's License

Father

Hother

Subject's Occupation

wife

Subject's Childron

Subject's

Brothers

NEP 88037

349670

JOSE I. ZABALA

ANGELINA MAG PEROJO

Entertainment promoter

CARMEN REGO (Date of birth

February 17, 1938, at Havana,

Cuba)

BETTY CABALA REGO, born

Hovenber 4, 1960, at

Havana, Cuba:

SUSANA

ZADALA REGO, born

June 9, 1063, at San Juan,

Puerto

Rico;

FELIX GABALA REGO, bOrn

March 14, 1903, at

San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

JOSE LUIS TARALA, also knoun

as "PLPE"

, born Decenbar 4,

1931 (reaident at 105 Martee

Atlantic vion, tale Verdo,

Fronto Ricol

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23

subject's Sisters

DOMINGO ZABALA, also known

as "NINO," age 39 (currently

a resident: of Santiago de

Cuba;

ARiLANDO ZABALA, also known

as

"ARMANDITO, " age 25

(student, Chicago, Illinois)

AMALIA ZABALA, age 50,

resident of Cuba:

HILDA ROSA, agE 48;

resident of peru:

ELVIRA GABALA RUBAYO,

age 46, resident: of

Carolina, Puerto Rico;

ELENA ZABALA MARTIN,

age 42, resident. of Cuba.

TOD SENDET

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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIO

TOP SECRET

Dato of transcriplion_

4/12177

On April. 11, 1977, FELIX ZABALA MAS was interviewed

by Special Agents

(SA5) PAUL M. RUSH ard HARRY B. BRANDON, III,

in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the course of the interview,

ZABALA furnished the following information:

ZABALA advised that during his recent contacts with

Cuban Government intelligence sources, they requested he gather

any information whatsoever concerning Cuba that would appear in

Puerto Rican or Urited States newspapers and magazines.

They

requested that he participate in the anti-CASTRO movement in

Puerto Rico so that he could later advise the Cuban Intelligence

Service (CUIS) of the activities of the Coordinacion de Organi-

zaciones Revolucionarias Unidas (Coordination of United Revolu-

tionary Organizations) (CORU), FRANK CASTRO, REINOL RODRIGUEZ,

10. CAR, At

GUSTAVO CASTILIO, ENRIQUE NUNEZ, MANOLO LEDO, BEBC FRANCO, and

ANTONIO VECIANA.

At this point

ZABALA added

that to the CUIS,

CORU is the same: as Accion Cubana (Cuba! Action)

(AC) and the

Frente. De Liberacion Nacional De Cuba (Cuban National Liberation

Front) (FLNC).

ZABALA Stated that the CUIS was

also interested

in information he could obtain concerning the progress of the

Congressional KENNEDY assassination committee as well as the

mersons responsible for the death of ALdo veri.

They mentioned

that they were of the opinion that CORU did away with VERA due

to internal arguing. According to ZAbAlA, the CUIS showed

an

interest

in VERA as they stated they knew he was in Buenos Aires,

Argentina, when a Cubar Embassy worker wis shot.

ZABALA Stated

thai on the date of his

latest contact with the CUIS he advised

them that he has not been able to gather any pertinent informa-

tion concerning the above-mentioned individuls inasmuch as he

has been totally ocupied with his promotion work. The CUIS

requested that ZAB.lLA determina any information possible

regarding the loca:ion of JASPAR E. JIMENEZ. ZABALA stated that

the CUIS had never asked anything about Puerto Rico other than

their interest in the above-mentioned individuals.

TO! SECRET

Classified by 2072

Exempt fron GDS,

Caregory a, 3, 1,

Date of Declassification:

Indefinite

This locumont conloins soilher rocommondolans nor conclusions of the FBI. ll is tha proporty of the FBl and Is louned lu your ogen:y:

corlanis are nol lo bie alistributed muleide your ogency.

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TOY SICK!

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2

FELIX ZABALA advised that the Cuban Government is

aware of who was responsible

for the killing of several

members of the "Pragmatistas" in Miami, Florida.

The CUIS

told him the names and

at this moment,

ZABALA cannot recall

who they were.

He stated that the CUIS identified them as

members of the

"Fraomatistas."

ZABALA added that the CUIS

has never stated or inferred

that they had any intelligence

agents working in Florida.

In reviewing his äctivities in Chile in 1971,

ZABALA stated that he was recruited for the planned killing

Of CASTRO bY VECIANA in Miami, in 1971. At

this time VECIANA

was & United States Embassy employee in Bolivia. ZABALA

stated that after they

Planned the attack, which was based

Oil

information VECIANA

sald that he had received from a Chilean.

that CASTRO was coming

to Chile in October of 1971, that he

(ZABALA) fler to venezuola and VICIANA vent to. Bolivia.

ZABALA

stated that juan pouInGuna and HARCO RoDRietEd, tuo anti-CASTRO

Cuban exiles from Miami, also went to Venezuela with him to

vegin training in photography and television camera techniquas

the plot involved their posing as cameranen.

ZABALA SA1d

that shortly after he arrived in venezuela, he went to Chile

in February and

ranted

an apartment for

the use of DollINGUR"

and RODRIGUEZ.

He was in Chile for two or three days.

ZABAIA

was unable to recall the location of that apartment.

ZABALA

added that shortly

after this, VECIANA and à Cuban exile nameo

NAPOLI, drove to

Chile from Bolivia with the guns and grenades

to be used in the attempt.

The arms were hidden under the back

seat of a United

states Embassy car VECIANA used to transport

the arms. The arns were later hidden in a closet of the

apartment and NAPOLI and VECIANA retuined to Bolivia.

i'he two

cameramen went to Chile in July to avait CASTRO's arrival.

They had in their possession forded venezuelan and Dominican

passports which ZABALd had prepared.

from indigent Venezuelan and Dominican nationals in venezuela

by telling

them that he could help them enter the United States:

They gave him their passports as he said he would nead then.

ZABALA state!

ine he steamed the pictures off the passports

and replaced them with photographs of RODIGUEz and DOMINGUES.

He then stamped them with bogus Government stamps which VECIANA

had made previously. ZABALA stated that the Federal Bureau of

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5J 65-514

3

Investigation (FLI) had taken these stamps from VECIANA'S

home in Miami in a

subsequent search. ZABALA stated that

when the plot failed, as previously explained, ZABALA stated

that DOMINGUEZ, who said he had been recognized by a cousin

in CASTRO's party, fled to Bolivia and RODRIGUEZ, who had

had an appendicitis attack went to Venezuela. RODRIGUEZ,

who was & federal fugitive at the time, later returned to

Miami where he was arrested on Federal

charges. ZABALA

added that the "General" confirmed that one of CAStRO's

former bodyguards was named DOMINGUEZ and had been in Chile

with Premier CASIRO in 1971. ZABALA added that one of the

persons he knew to be involved in the plot with VECIANA vas

a Chilean senator named REND PARADES, and had a slip of

paper which had his 1971 Santiago telephone number as

62111 (office), and

259598 (home).

ZABATA stated that VECIANA later told him that his

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

contact in this matter was

code name "BISHOP," although ZABALA said he never

actually

not this man. VECTANA

said recently that this was the same

"BISHOP" who was with him

when they talked to LEE HARVeY OSWAlD

in Dallas before President KENNEDY's. death.

ZABALA stated

that VECIANA was the only source of this information concerning

LEE HARVEY OSWALD contact in Dallas one month before that

assassination.

Ila stated that VECIANA nad

put this information

in the supposed letter from VECIANA's secretary to FIDEL CASTRO.

VECIANA had told BABALA that VECIANA, "BISHOP," and OSWALD met

in a downtown Dallas office approximately oue month before the

actual KENNEDY deith.

ZABALA stated that he believed that VECIANA wanted

the letter mentioned above routed to. FIDEL CASTRO so as to

cause strife in enlations which were improving between the

United States and the Cuban Government.

He stated that VECIANA

probably felt that a disclosure such as this concerning CIA

activities and the Chilean plot against CASTRO would cause the

Cuhan Government to break off relations and cause adverse

publicity against the United States: VECIANA Originally wanted

to route

that letter to FIDEL CASTRO via the Czechoslovakian

Embassy in Washin;ton, D.C. .

ZABALA stated that he himself

suggested that he handle it through his sister in Cuba. The

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POP. SECRET

SJ 65-514

letter was subsequently sont by ¿ABALA to his sister

for

routing to FIDEL CASTRO and for this reason BABALA's sister

contacted ZABALA and requested that he come to jamaica.

VACIANA was in favor of

ZABALA making such trips and

contacting the CUIS, and VECIANA paid ZABALA for the

expenses involvei in his irst trip.

At this point, ZABALA

stated that he has advised VECIANA Of all of the results of

his recent trips and contacts with the cuis.

that VECIANA liad placed in the above-mentioned letter the

names Of lI. BISTOP, BLAIR, and KAIL, who VECIANA had reported

were members of the CIA and who

states inbassy in cuba prior to PIDII CASTRO's takeoverit

ZABALA stated

that he has never

been able to determine

VECIANA is himself a CIA Agent.

ZABALA was questioned as to the political sympathy

of a current resident of puerto Rico, MANOLO RAY.

ZABALA

stated that he worked for the CASTRO government as minister

of public

works

affer CASTRO cane

to povor in Cuba

and. by

time of the Eay of Pigs invasion, he was against FIDEL

CASTRO: In 1963 and 1954, MANOLO RAY formed an organization

known as JURE in Puerto rico.

ZABALA advised that RAY has

lived in Puerto Rico

all the time

that he has been out of

cuba.

and ihat around 1974 pAr had

a construction business

'possibly dealing with architecture" in Jamaica. He stated

that RAY had

the business for a two or three

year period and

to leave Janaica due to visa reasons. RAY believed that:

the Cuban Government wanted him out of Jamaica.

considered My to he a social Democrat, politically speaking.

He added that Ray still has his Cuban citizenshio and is

currently in bad financial straights. ZABALA stated that the

"General," on January 11, 1977, in Panama: wanted to have

ZABALA have his sister contact MANOLO. RAY while she was

visiting in Puerto Rico and advised him that the cuban Govern-

ment wanted

to help him get his business visa again in Jamaica.

They wanted, also, to meet him.

ZABALA reported that he

told

his sister, and she sar MANOLO RAY on January 15, 1977, in

San Juan, Puerto Bico, for a period of three to four hours.

ZARALA'S SiStCr LDid BABALA that

RAY had to think about the

Cuban Goverrment's offer. ZABALA'S sister (AMALIA) gave

MANOLO RAY her adiress, number 1140 Nuevo Vedado, Calle 39,

Havana, Cuba.

ZARAid added that for a five minute period

prior to departure of his sister, MANOLO RAY discussed something

briefly with his sister.

DOP SUCRET

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5

ZABALA WaS questioned about the current status of

LUIS MAS MARTIN and ZABALA stated that the information which

was previousy furnished on April 8, 1977, by himself concerning

MARTIN waS the

truth.

ZABALA stated that according to his

sister, MAS MARTIN has a serious drinking problem and is no

longer a high official in the Cuban Government. ZABALA stated

that MAS MARTIN is currently working with a cattle project

around Matansas, Cuba.: He stated that MAS MARTIN was with

CASTRO in the mountains prior to his takeover of the Govertment

in Cuba and that later, MAS MARTIN waS RAUL CASTRO's secretary.

ZABALA added

that HAS MARTIN vas at one time the director of

Radio Havana.

ZABALA stated that in October, 1966, VECIANA and

another individual, a resident of Miami, Florida, and the editor

of Replica Magazine. there, MAX LISNIK, advised

• ZABALA that

ALDREGUIA GALLEGO reportedly got $20,000.00 from the Cuban

Government during 1076, for some unknown

reason.

ZABALA

stated that GALLEGO had been working in miami at a finance

company and that now he is the owner of a pet store.

ZABALA

states

that ha hal told the "General" on November 29, 1976,

this information concerning GALLEGO, and there was no reaction

whatsoever.

ZABALA stated that in his recent contacts with the

CUIS, he had river very little information concerning VECIANA

REINOL RODRICUEZ, GUSTAVO CASTILIO, and FRANK CASTRO.

He

stated that on the times that he was contacted by the CUIS they

showed him pictures and

asked. hin about various people. At the

same time they tajed all of the conversation and offered hin

alcoholic beverages. They had

advised ¿ABALA that they would

very much appreciate if he could get VICIAn outside the

United States.

ZARATA believed that should this occur, the

Cubans would attempt to seize him by some manner.

TABALA stated that the cuban Vice-Consul in Mexico

City, on March 23; 1977, told him that CARLOS and the "General"

wanted to see him in Mexico City on May 19, 1977.

ZABALA

stated that he advises the Cubans that he is on his way to

make a meet by calling the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City and

asking if the visa for Dr. MIRANDA PRADO iS ICady:

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ZABALA stated that he currently has two post office

boxes..

He has

ar old box which is located in Old San

Juan,

General. Post Office Box 4073. He stated that he acquired

new. Post Office hox at the Manillas Station, Santurce,

Puerto Rico

(zit code 00901), and

this is Post Office Box

Number: 40237. Both boxes are under his full name.

He stated

that the Cubans know of his postal box in Santurce, Puerto Rico.

The CUIS at one time vanted to know how they could contact

ZABALA and he suggested a Post Office box.

ZABALd advised that at this time he is on very good

relations with bis Cuban contacts.

He stated that CARLOS and

the

"General" had mentioned on several occasions that thei

would like him to go to Cuba

for a vacation with them,

ZABALA was questioned about his involvement in an

embezzlement matter in the early 1970's, which involved his

indictment and laser imprisonment and probation.

ZABALA Stated

that his group, which inciuded vECIANA, himself, and four other

Cuban exiles who vere residents of Venezuela:

SECUNDINO ALVARS&,

ANTONIO AROCHIA, AGUSTIN BAPES, and Engineer

LUCILO PENA, wanted

to raise money

• fo: the Chilean operation which is mentioned

above.

He stated that the latter four individuals are probably

still in Venezuela

as he last saw them in 1971 or 1972 there.

ZABALA advised that if the CUIS would want to contact

him for some reason

they could possibly use his sister to

contact him telephonically.

He stated that they could also

possibly contact him through his nev Santurce, Puerto Rico,

postal box.

ZABAlA Stated at this

point that

he did not think

i thing,

that they would use it.

GABALA stated that over the period of the last several

months he had recaived a total of approximately $1,900.00 from

the Cuts for his expenses.

ZABALA stated that his

only source

of income

at this time is

revenue received from his handling

of the Chinese Circus Group.

FELIX ZABALA advised that possibly on Wednesday,

April 13, 1977, he would have to travel to Los Angeles, California,

to handle some

arrangements for the above-mentioned Chinese

Circus Group. He stated he would return to puerto Rico, probably

on Saturday, Aoril 16, 1977.

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ZABALA was questioned as to his method of traveling

to Panama early in January, 1977.

* ZABATA stated

that he

traveled on ronday morning, January 10, 1971, with Eastern

Airlines Flight number 958

to Miami, and immediately went on

to Panana.

stated that he spent one night in Panama and

immediatoly returned to Puerto Rico via Miami.

The interviewing Agents questioned ZABALA as to

polygraph examination as to the truth of all of the facts

mentioned in this intervier and those accounts mentioned in

the latter half of his interviow of April 8, 1977, and he

responded positively without hesitation.

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