Originator: HSCA
From: CIA
Document date: 00/00/0000
Document type: REPORT

# DOCID-32271443

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

2/16/201

AGENCY: HSCA

RECORD NUMBER:

180-10142-10139

RECORD SERIES: CIA SEGREGATED COLLECTION

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

23-15-15

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: HSCA

FROM:

CIA

TO :

TITLE :

Heleased under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1992 (44 USC 2107 Notel. Case#N'W

66000 Date: 11-04-2021

DATE :

00/00/0000

PAGES:

32

SUBJECTS :

DURAN, SILVIA

OSWALD, LEE, POST-RUSSIAN PERIOD, TRAVEL, TRIP TO

MEXICO

GARRO DE PAZ, ELENA

DOCUMENT TYPE: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 1A; 1B

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW:

01/01/2003

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS:

Box 12

v9.1

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On October 5, 1964, liven days ofter the jubliction

f the Waven Commission Reprt, a story alleging bee Harvey

Oswald's presence at a party in Wies City attended lay

Cabar greement pesound came to the attertem f the centel

Intellegenie Agreg. (WX747) P.94, Cutry I 430, CIA It 721;

if tae, sould negate the waver commissin's conclusin that See

Harvey Oswald was the live assassin f John. I Kennedy.

Elena's

Story As Reported October 5, 1964

Eleva Sacro de Pag

and Dela Saiso de Guessers Salon, fust cmsins f Hales,

Raber and stys Duan were invited to a twist party it

the home f Raker Duran in the middle f a week in the

fall 8 1963.

See Haway Oswald was alleged to have been

and did not dance. When Eleva Trid To speak with

the americous, she was shifted" to another room by me

hal mentined which crisin dand not allnued her to

epeck to the meccans) One f levs's crisins told her

at the time that the a she did not kano

who the

at the

Amercians were epeept that Sylver Duean

and

Arater Ducas, had brright them to the party.

The day after the party, class and Deber sour the

thee amicians on the traugates, a main averne in..

Were's city. The savo's claired that they had recogriged

Oswald's photogigh where it sas published ofter the assassinatin.

the Gauri's

Sylvia Duan's arrest "undelined. "Hai

painty" that - the

man had been bes Housey Oswald, (ibid)

Dels added that Iyur and one f the Duran brothers

had made trigue to teas hal!

She adided that, ever though

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according diver

the Decan brothers had always been four befre the assassication,

they were bock dining expensive new cars. (iled)

The souce f the mens was a within?

Contral Intellegece

witting

Agency asset tunn by the cypenyu LOOKie I whore the

onimittee identified as June Colt Shaup while

shity for the an i

LICOOKIES. file.

Ws. Call was sent to steads horse, for a feed days, by a

mutual friend, Costa Rican winter Eunice Odis

580-583; WX-7241, Entry $427, P.92, CiA # 719) While Wear alertes

at Bless hnese?

ms Cles pressed interest in the Kennely

assassivitini. One night Cleris sister Deba who was visiting

till the wale stay

got dunk and the stay woot

". Cibed) claiming to be

a clA agent, Cobb suggaded that clers

and Deba go to Texas

to tell their story. Libid) Whene

ker suggestem was ryestid,

Cott stated that she would arrange a mething with the CIA

Station Chief. I Winsto Scoll was the Mete's City Statem

chif in 19647. The meeting did not reces because Wis. Colt

was asked to leave the Sairo house cordantly because

she kicked Chase's cat. I CIANOS 580-583; WX 7241, Entry t

427, p.92, CIAS714) a notation on the mano sage that l41

(SiCookie I) never regained contact will Eleva starso de Pay.

(2x724), p. 94, Cutry #430, CIA $ 121; Blind Mener deled

10/5/64, CIA #5767

The Ii Carkie memo was not inserted in either

Elena Garro or

• The coumitter bearsed

about the memo fume WX-7241, a chinelopeand history

& the Oswald case prepared by anne. Alpasture for

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 3

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the ciA in 1976) The mens was found in December,

Wielso free

here all to determine to pre

the messa a

margind solation on WX Ta41 says," Why was this not

sent to Headquaters??' (pi87, CIA t Tit).

that pete emmete

as nst been able to dstemune okt octeris woe take

raded to headquarters shortly thereafte

woke

the mono fact it Decenter 1965.

Biography

The stay was bonted

Elena Garro de Paz was born of Spanish parents in

retion culled

repared b

Puebla, Mexico on December 11, 1917.

Elanetas

Thomas

the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later

did graduate work at Berkley in California and at the

University of Paris. In 1963, Elena had long been married

to Octavio Paz, a career diplomat who is also one of

Mexico's finest poets and leading intellectuals. When

Octavio

named Mexican Ambassador to India, the couple

separated

by mutual consent. Elena's daughter, also

named

Elena, has always resided with her mother.

Since Elena spent

seventeen years of her early

life in Europe she had a rather un-Mexican objectivity

about her native land and had a reputation for being one

if its more articulate detractors. At the same time, Elena

was considered emotionally committed to many aspects of

Mexican life and made an important contribution to its

artistic development.

In the 1960's Elena became a significant writer.

Hogar Solido, El Rey Mago, La Senora en su Balcon, Ventura

Allende, Andaise por las Ramas, Parada Empresa, and El Viaje

are plays that

have had appreciative audiences in Europe,

where they

were translated into German, as well as in Mexico.

Ms. Garro's short stories are collected

in a volume called

La Semana de Colores.

The Literacy Supplement of the London

Times has called her novel, Los Recuerdos de Porvenir, "a

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 4

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(4)

EJL First Draft

Page 2

splendid success." Critics have said of her: "For

Elena Garro, there is no frontier between reality and

fantasy; in any case, the latter is a second reality--

perhaps more intense-- to which one may penetrate without

passport or forewarning, thanks to the effectiveness of

a literature fired with passion, flavor and life." &

Many

people who knew Elena have asserted that the frontier

between reality and fantasy is also difficult for her to

distinguish in real life. [Biography Data Form pilentasy an

pespared by Charles Thomas ]

Ms. Garro, for many years, was an active worker in

the Confederacion Nacional Campesina (CNC), the agrarian

arm of the Partido Reformista (PRI). Because Ms. Garro

was a tireless propagandist and agitator on behalf of the

poorer Mexican peasants, she was on close personal terms

with and enjoyed the respect of peasant leaders from all

over the country. (ibid)

Elena was considered a witty, urbane and opinionated

woman with an unflagging sense of humor. Her forthright

opinions and sharp wit tended on occasion to ruffle feathers

in Mexico, but her important social, literacy, and political

connections rendered her fairly immune from serious counter-

attack until 1968. Then, Ms. Garro was forced to flee the

country with her daughter, Elenita and her sister, Deba

Guerrero de Galvan, in the midst of the student strikes.

The House Select Committee On. Assassinations has been unable to

determine the exact reason MisiGarro had In fleeing Mexico.

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 5

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EJL First Draft

Page 3

Before her disappearance from Mexico, Elena was

well disposed toward the United States and had been

friendly with Embassy officers. Her broad range of signifi-

cant personal friends, the views of many important to the

American Embassy, made her a useful Embassy target. Through-

out the early 1960's she was carried as a target in the

Embassy's Youth Program.

American Embassy employees dealing with Elena

believed that despite her access to the underground happenings

in Mexico, including peasant mest, sinee she hadne tendency

while shereported, frequently

to romanticize developments in reporting on them made it

evaluate her

overall credibility.

difficult at times to determine what degree of exedence

to place on what might truly be useful and concrete information.

is a person deemed important because

enough by American Emboley officials to merit

frequent

contact,

either witting of unwitting,

tos, th American Embassy officials?

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 6

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October 1a, 1964 CIA MEMO FOR THE RECORD

Om.10/12/64 the chief of Covert Actioni,

Flannery, wrote a men for the record regioing that

Eleva Harso de Pay had told her story. to

Eunue Odio

I The Concittee has not been able to diterm

Eleva

the story

reliter to

Haws told Wo. oder pusmally or if Ms. Cott told Wis.

Odie what Cleve had tll her. I who relayed it to

Ion 10/9/64. 210/12/64 mener, CIA #596; WX 7241, P.87, CIA

#714]

The story is not as detailed as the 10/5/64 version.

There is no mention of Deba Garro Guerrero Galvan.

The

story, perhaps because it is third hand, differs from the

previous story

in two areas: The party was at the Cuban

Embassy not at Ruben Duran's: Elena talked to a Cuban

Embassy official not one of her cousins about the three

Americans.

attached to the mines was a note. from Flannery

to the chif & Statin, Winston Scott, which und,

"Do you want me to sand the gest f this to Head quarters.

seatt replied "yes, but we shrld follow up fust."

Flaveney there wrote: "Nocking further." bell then

noted that the mener should be filed. The file

indicatives shoor that the memo went into the Oswald

"P" file and the Clina Harro "p" file. Cibid)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 7

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•NovEMBER 24, 1964

CrA. lafriment Regort.

One Nember 24,1964 a Condent Intellegence Agency

Infrement b The Huse Select Committer has been renable

to ditesmins the infrisent's ilently regret infrintation

Enemo fram Winton Seatto to lhe filed, re: june Coot,.

1125/64, CIA Nos. 592-593; WX 2241, 8.88, Entry ate 404, CIA H

LICHANt Is file iche Commithes determered chat the che

ansils be name was haried Calvells, The day following

the assassinter I John 7. Kennedy Calico sacroit bac

and her daughter to the Vermont Hill for putton; See also

Ascember 25,1965 to for more infirmatio de blarin Callo?

The informant asseted that June Call, was an "Americans

Communest"

who rented a room from Eleva Harro. I Wen

from. Winstone Scott to the files, re frame Call, "125/44, CIA

Nas. 592-593; WX-7241, 8.88, Entry #404, CA. No.715] Ihe infrimant

alco. stated that Eleva tred to lack to Robect Kerredy where"

the was in weries beccuse she had mid Oswald "and to

fiends (Cabares

at i party at Inacio Duran's house. (rbid)

for. addition, the informant caused that Elevis woo told her

stery to are American Special, at the Embassy, who carried

to represent the Warren Commersio. Libil The chef f station.

noted That he hard asked the informant to quisee the

atony (iled), hut there is not indicaten that SICHANT I.

ever-complied. with the reguest I HSCA Revisio f Chiissful.

I A Documents ]

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 8

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=

NOVEMBER 24, 1964 ELENA MEGTING WITH MEXIÇO CITY

_ LEGAL ATTACHE OFFIERS.

and bee bargeter

Elena

Is the that story to the wesses aty.

Legal Actache. I the segal attacke in 1944 was Clack

Anderson]. They reinended the pame stony beverly. gren to

Hooked I. The date f the forty was given as september

30, octlent or Octbur 2,1963(881 105-825555 Regent, Des.

i, 196d entitled hee Haney Oswall, P.lI The agent inho

write the report I

I. moled that i See Harvey

Oswald could not have been identtend wich the Ameccan

allegedly obsced big this. Pang at the party if this gotly

will on

the

+61 105-825555 Rigot, Dec. M, 1964 erotottes

Octobe/n. October 2,1963.8

76 e purestegater

f the gla 7. Kenned,

assassination had established that Hee Howvey Oscald

had depaded heret City by bus at 8:30 a.m. on

Octobe 2,1963 when Wa. Pay stated that she saw See

Haway Oswald maching on besiegentes. Cited p.53

Elena was questioned regarding the identity of other

persons attending the party at the Ruben Duran home who

might have been in a position to observe the three Americans.

Elena stated that in the course of the party her daughter

met a sount peg maned "alejandro" at the party and danced

with him.

He was apparently quite smitten with the

daughter and tried to call her on several occasions after

the party.

The daughter did not take the calls and as

a result "Alejandro" wrote several letters to the daughter.

Ms. Garro exhibited two of the letters, as well as a

business card which identified the young man as Ario Alejandro

Lavagnini Stenius. (IBIDP3)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 9

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por

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The letter which Ms. Garro said was the first

written by the young man to her daughter bore the date

September 1, 1963 and the Mexico City Post Office

postmark

September 2, 1963. When Ms. Garro was told this she

commented that Probably the Communists have facilities

for falsifying postcards. (IBID)

Io further) investigate Ms. Garro's story,,the Federal

Bureau interviewed Ario Alejandro Lavagnini Stenius on

November 27, 1964. (IBID!) Lavagnini recalled that there

were approximately thirty people at the Ruban Duran party,

few of whom he knew.

He recalled having met a Mexican girl

who had recently returned from living in France. He was

unable to fix the date of the party, but felt it was

probably early in September because of a heavy rain which

occurred as they were leaving the party about 2:00 a.m.

(IBID. p. 4)

tavagnini noted no Americans present at this party.

He was familiar with the appearance of Lee Harvey Oswald

because of publicity following the assassination of President

Kennedy but otherwise had no knowledge of him and had never

seen him except for news photographs following

we assassina-

There is no indication on the document that this

information was given to the Central Intelligence Agency's

Mexico City Station.

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 11

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## Page 12

Charles Thomas

First Mecting

W.th

LEE

HARUEY

on 12/10/65 Charles Thomas, a political officer

at the American Embassy, wrote a memorandum about a

conversation with Elena Garro de Paz. (CIA #586-587,

WX-7241 Entry No. 425, p. 91, CIA No. 718.) The meeting

with Elena had been about other matters but she mentioned

knowing Oswald. Thomas noted that she was reluctant to

talk but did. (bid)

Elena's story reported here is the same, but with

dated 10/5/cy

nore details, as that given in the LICOOKIE Memo.

She

Jose sesos

said that General Clark Flores, Silvia Duran,

Eusebio

(Cabar Consol in Mexico (its)

Ca pre-Commonist worterfriend ef

the Dorans)

Azcue, Emilio Carballido, and a Latin American Negro man

with red hair unidentified

were at the party. A marginal

comment by this

entry in WX-7241 says; "How did Elena know

about a red-haired

Negro?" Elena also told Thomas that she had later learned

that Silvia Duran had been "Oswald's mistress while he

was there." (A note by this entry in WX-7241 says "HOw

dia Elena Garro know about silvia being the mistress of

Oswald?? This is 1965.

esus aty Stden did not hear

abut the Osuld-Decan "affin matil july 190% the acid

was

arital wack that had kauntedge

but sylice duan n tee Hawey Darned?

Elena told Thomas that she and her daughter had

gone to the Cuban Embassy on November 1963m Onesenstae

the gates they shouted "assasins" and

other insults at

ICIA # 586-587, WX 7241, Entry No-elZ5, p.91, CHA No.7187

the Embassy employees.

shortly after this incident a

same

de y

friend, Manuel Calvillo, an official in the Gobernacion,

took her and her daughter

to a small hotel in the center

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 12

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## Page 13

(ibid)

of Mexico City.

They were kept there for eight days

under the pretext that they were in danger.

(abid)

claimed to have told Calvillo that she wanted to tell

her story to the American Embassy.

(rbid)

Calvillo dissuaded

her by telling her that the American Embassy was full

of Communist spies.

(•bid)

Elena said that some

of the other

people who had been at the party were taken to Veracruz

Committee was

Cas' allegatim]

She said that Ruben Duran, reportedly "protected" by

General Clark Flores, was very prosperous and was driving

a big car. fCiA d 586-587, N8-7249, EntryNa 425, 8.98, COANO. 118}

Elena also claimed

bot Robon

D-ran

told her menthe

the t we

assassinition (Jadh

we steal a can

and that

am able

Th here sit

concratle on ass

carsications has not ben able to determine

I whichen taken actedly 'she can alint the

sassentin.

Ruben Decan clains he had no rasm to]

Chales thimas

the stinto frailed

indicter

I CoSe Charles Thomas momenten

in the

determenade

the copy o the the

25,1965. See below

carton. grin to Deember

The COS wrote a note on the memo which says: "What

an imagination she has!?! Should we

send to Headquarters?"

The Officer replied, "Suggest sending.

There have been

stories around town about all this, and Thomas is

only person she has talked to...If memory

serves me, didn't

LICOOKIE refer to Oswald and the local leftists and Cubans

in one of her squibs?" (CIA No. 588, note from

sw to cos.)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 13

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Ile blessis City Stale called the infresentim

in Ihomas 12/10/15 menorandia f enversatini to cAtalquarter,

(Cable from sessio City to the Duector, Weti 5021, date.

ent of miy cory; cod NoS. 584-585)

The cable

Maid that Elena's

story would be checked with LICHANT/1, against the pro-

duction from the Cuban surveillance operation "and other

Winston

sources.". (IBID.)

Scott wrote, next to the routing

indications on the cable, "Please ask Charles Thomas

Canne Gorkpastine

if he'll "follow-up". Get questions from Anne G. Please

let's discuss. Thanks."

After the December 10 memorandur conversations,

Winston Scott (Chief/Station) and Nathan Ferris. (Legal

Attache) called C. Thomas for a meeting. They asked him

to get a more detailed replay of Ms. Garro's story. At

this meeting Winston Scott made it clear that the FBI

had full responsibility for any further investigation in

the Oswald case. (State Dept: letter from Charles Thomas

to William P. Rogers, July 25, 1969, JFK DoC. #

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## Page 15

Charles

Themas Meeting WIth ElENA GARRO

DECEMBER 25, 1965

Elena

Thomas met with Elena again on December 25, 1965.

The

same date he wrote a memorandum of conversation which

provided a much more detailed a

restatement of

Ms. Garro's alleged encounter with Lee Harvey Oswald and:

subsequent developments. (CIA Nos. 580-583; WX-7241, Entry

#427, p. 92, CIA #719)

Elena admitted that she had spoken to two men at pe

the Embassy "(presumably

from

The meeting

occurred

N0v.24,19c%

the Legal Attache's Office). " Cibid:

She

said

that she

did not tell them the

whole story

because

"the Embassy officers did

not give much credence

to anything she and

Elenita

said.

"Cine ClA Nos. 580-583;

wx-

7241,

Entry #427,

p. 92,

home. ibish

She stated that the party had been at Ruben Duran's

She was unclear about the date of the party.

was a few days before the Soviet Astronaut, Gagarin,

visited Mexico; she thought that this would put the party

around September 2 or 3, 1963 (h:d)

She believed that the party

was

a Monday or Tuesday because it was

night for

a party.

Thermemo

- noted

ateseptemb

indee

• Elena could

not check her

calender to refresh her memory at the time of the interview

because the calender was in a desk that had been stored

away. (rbid)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 15

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During the conversation Elena described Oswald

(119118).

and his companions.

The man who she thought was Oswald

(1310)

wore a black sweater.

She said he was quiet "and

stared a

lot at the floor "(ia.s)

One of his companions "was very tall

and slender and had long blond hair which hung across his

forehead."

He had a gaunt face and a rather long

protruding

chin. "'bid,

The other companion was also tall, with

short,

light brown hair and no really distinguishing characteristics.(bid)

The three Americans did not dance or mix with the other

guests hid

Elena saw the same three men

on the street the

next day. (IBID.)

Elena was certain that Eusebio Azcue, Horacio Duran,

SIlvia Duran, Lydia Duran, Deba Guerrero, General Clark

Flores and his mistress, a doctor from Dalinde Hospital,

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 16

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## Page 17

EJL First Draft

Par-

a young American couple who were honeymooning in Mexico,

and several other people were at the party! bis)

She said

that Ricardo Guerra, whom she claims converted Horatio

Duran to Communism, and his wife, Rosario Castellanos,

were supposed to be

at the party but did not attemp.

(IBID.)

alleged

Eleny stated that.

The red-haired man and Emilio Carballido were not

at the party that Oswald attended but at another party

where Carballido and Azcue got into a heated argument

about President Kennedy.

"They came to the conclusion

that the only solution was to kill him." (IBID.) Elena

was not clear on whether this party was before or after

he party where she met Oswald. (bid) The House Select Commottee

has been unable

confirm

Biend said that Cabandonis a

insebio decuestated that it did not occer

iS baldnown Castro

agent in Mexico."(b.d)

After the assassination he spent a year

in Cuba. "bil)

He then got a job teaching at Rutgers University

reiterated that

The incident at the Cuban Embassy, where Elena and

her daughter shouted "assassins", etc., at the Embassy

employees, occured on November 23rd at or about 3:00

(ibid)

Elena and Elenita were driven to the Cuban Embassy

by Elena's brother who was embarrassed by their behavior. (bd

This occured before they had seen photographs of Oswald. (.bid)

Ms. Garro claimed that

Later, that day

sthetwere visited by Manuel Calvillo

who told them that they were in serious danger from the

Communists and that he would take them to a small hotel,

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 17

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## Page 18

EJL Firstbraft

Rage

6

(bid)

where they would be safe, for a few days.

Elena

said

she trusted and believed Calvillo because he was

known undercover agent for the Gebemacion.

Merenceton Me was

also a friend of Noe PalomareSthe Minister f Immigratin),"

anas. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz.Libid)

Cal villo also told Elena and her daughter that Silvia

Duran had been arrested.

Duran's arrest was not public

on Navenber 23,1463

information at the time.

(i bid)

Elena could not remember the name of the hotel so that same

day filerks) she took Thomas to the section of Mexico City where she

thought it was.'b',

They found the hotel lift was the Vermont

Hotel, Calle Vermont 29 161)

Elena said that she

assumed

that Calvillo had registered them as relatives or friends.(b.d

They

stayed at the hotel until the following Friday, Nov.

Elena claimed that

30, 1963 hardly leaving their rooms. (bid) (Se legenity rent)

Elene t Elemita

~While ther

were at the hotel they saw the photos

of Oswald and

realized that he had been the man at Ruben

cob:d)

Duran's party.

When Calvillo visited them at the hotel

Elena told him that she wanted to report it

howeyer,

American Embassy,

Calvillo dissuaded her by stating

(bid) Elena stated that

that the American Embassy was full of Communists.

Flea returned tomber home, guards were posted outside.(.bd)

The suese select car

cable to

the

Elena alleged lifter she returned home hiera saw her sister,

who

Deba Guerrera, Deba had independeatly

also come to the same conclusion.

independently of Elena.

Deba was "terrified

i because

Approximately

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## Page 19

EJL, First Draft

Fage 15

two months after the assassination two "communists" had

personally

warned

visited Deba and threatened her never

to reveal that

(1b.2)

she had been to a party with Oswald.

Deba, consequently,

would not accompany Elena to the American Embassy to tell

her story on Now. 24,196%. (bid)

Elena said that a few days after the assassination

Emilio Carballido took the Duran's to Jalapa, Veracruz and

"kept them out of the way until the initial shock of the

assassination

confirm

"wore off." The House Scleet Committee has been unable to

Elena also

Aid that shortly after the assassination

an American named June Cobb spent several days in her

Gobid the said that

house:

Ms.

Cobb had been sent to Elena by a mutual friend,

Eunice Odio.

(abid)

e-Odtorwas a Costa Rican who had. been

yasqueze

s-mistress

"When Amaral was with the Rockefeller

Roundation.

mand

Odiowere roommates.

class that

while Ms. Cobb was at elena's house she expressed

a.?!

an interest

(bid)

Eters one nignt,

visiting

in the Kennedy

assassination.

Deba,

got drunk one night

and told Ms. Cobb the entire story (s.)

Ms. Cobb wanted them

cubic)

to go to the American authorities.

Claiming to be a CIA

agent Come

adrised against going to the Amer

Embassy .

She suggested that Elena and Deba go to Texas to tell their

(1b.5)

story

When her suggestion was rejected, Cobb said that

she would arrange a meeting with the CIA Station Chief.

The meeting did not occur because Ms. Cobb was asked to

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 19

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## Page 20

18

EJL frost pegit

Rage 16

leave the Garro house;

evidently because she kicked

Elena's cat. (rbid)

this on Assasters has determored

That June Cubb Sharp Was a Cid asset in 1964. (spra p. 3..)

Elena clair Ruben Duran visited Blena arouna the end of

it CerA NoS. 582-583; Wx-7241, Entry t427, P.92, CIA #719

January, 1964.

He was worried that Oswald's visit to

his home might be discovered and that he might lose

his Mexican citizenship(ibs)

Ruben told Elena that it had

been Silvia who had gotten him involved with Oswald.ubd)

Ruben added that he was not really a communist and

had opposed the assassination. (bid Fe wait denied the story. tses dalenes

3 Ruke Dulena saia that she had told her story to Noe

Palomares of the Gobernacion about six months after the

assassination(ba)

He advised against going to the American

Embassy and told her that if she did anything at all

should

(bid » The Committee spok

merely wa te an anonymous

Letter use a interniem of Nue Pal-moris

, JEK De.

plena stated that it was "common

knowledge"

ICIA No5. 580-583; 0x7246, Entry

that Silvia had been Oswald's mistress.

When asked who

could verify the allegation she coula only remember one

person who had told her this. 'tis lem damed

That person was Victor

Rico calan a "Pro-castro, journalist " liget

In Rico Gelár

is dead.

a degat: I Syler Dueen dence

During these conversations Elena also said that

she "understood" that Oswald had been in Mexico more

than once. Nates)

(b.1)

the allegatim, Unetheles, LIRING 3

the pane story an 1967.

cIA asset regate,

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## Page 21

• Select. Corm. tre-unable

EThastassinations

the Is i water

Subsequent to December 25, 1965, Thomas wrote

the Dec. 25, 1965 memo that Elena had found her calendar

and had reconstructed the date of the party. lEntya, pa5440797

l++ 205-580-5863

September not early September.

When Thomas went to

Ferris' office and informed him, Ferris replied that

Elena had given the late September date when she had

¿FBI Report,

originally reported her story at the American Embassy.

PP. 3.4, JFK Doc. N. 3/

However, Mr. Ferris explained that someone who had been

at the farty had stated that there were no Americans

tell Mr. Thumas

Mr. Ferris did not reveal that Ario Alejandro

in 1964.

Lavagnini Stenius Ferris had provided this information (supra p. )

Mr. Ferris suggested that it was not necessary for Thomas

to pursue the matter since he considered the Oswald

case

[FBI Report,

9/30/69, 8p.3-4, 5EK DSC.NS

7

closed and had heard all the rumors before.

Д.)

The state department forwardel & the score bang

A copy f the charles Thomas memorarden.

the steen

Centrel Intellegace Agencys Were City Staten to aid in their

indigtim f the John I tennely assessication. To the sues

page f the menerandum f coversalim wisten Scoth intle

'Shandha't we sand to Headfusters?' somene recgruded

"Of " IciANOs 581-583; 447246, ENTREAT, P92, CASES

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## Page 22

DECEMBER 27, 1465

The

UNITED STAES

AMBASSARDOR

LEGAL ATTACHE MEMO TO

Re

Reed elena Garro.

On December 27, 1965 the Legal Attache'

her tritten

memo to the Ambassador, regarding hena.

"Memo to the

Ambassador from the Legal Attache, 12/27/65, CIA #578;

WX-7241 Entry #429, p. 94, CIA #721) this 10 one of

the meros the Legal Attache fefers to in the Sept: 30, 1969

* reported that Elena and her

daughter were inter-

viewed on 17 and 24 November 1964k

The memo said that

Elenat her daughter.

they furnished information similar to that in Thomas'

12/10/65 memo bid

furthestated

The Legat memo goes on to say "Inquiries

conducted at that time, (November '64) however, failed to

substantiate the allegations made by Mrs. Garro de Paz and

her daughter. In view of the fact that Mrs. Garro de Paz'

allegations have been previously checked out without

substantiation, no further action is being taken concerning

her recent repetition of those allegations." (IBID.)

The Lege Attache frwarded a copy of the

meresandums to the centeal still ye legend that the try wars,

IThe Horse Select Committer has bon wrable to

detein te hate s

Winsto scott superingised a seate

to Anne tartaster on this mered which read,

"Can

We send in a ront to she guades "diming as cite"

Headpasture responded, "done..

¿Memo

to the Ambassader fron

the Legal Attache, 12/17/45, CIA #578; WX-7241 Entry # 429, P. 94,

CiA t 1217 The cable Winsto Scoll wanted desnuised Was

here 5621 (suprep.

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## Page 23

The next entry in bowald's desertise so a cable

written by Ann Goodpasture Memo from Mexico City to

the Director, 12/29/65, Mexi 5741, CIA #575; WX-7241 Entry

#430, p. 94, CIA #721.

interviewwithElena

he sable report

¡"Ène legat

offices failur

Das

and the failure, to substantiate Elena's story.

The cable promises

to keep Headquarters advised if any

were to

further information

developed. (IBID.)

In the Jade LICOOKIE's 10/5/64 memo is attached to

this cable.. WX-7241 explains this k

sg89 in a

marginal comment, "This document by LICOOKIE was not in

(Oswald's file), but was copied from (a project file)

and attached to Mexi 5741, 29 Dec. 65." (IBID.)

A note attached to this cable by Allen White stated,

"I don't know what FBI did in Nov 64, but the Garro's

have been

talking about this for a long time and she is

said to be extremely bright." Ann Goodpasture wrote that

the FBI had found Elena's allegations unsubstantiated but

that "we will try to confirm or refute Mrs. Garro de Paz's

information and follow up. " Win Scott wrote, "She is also

'nuts'." (IBID; CIA #574)

sentto

steadquarters

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## Page 24

2

CIA INUESTIGATION OF CIENA ALlEGATION

ThAT SHE CREATED A DISTURBANCE AT

ThE CUBAN

EMBASSE

oN

NUEMBER 3, 1963

forwarded

On February 3, 1966. Anne Goodpasture seist Thomas' December 15,1945

memo

to the Cuban section with an attached note asking

them to check whether Elena was "seen creating such a

disturbance as they claimed in front of the Cuban

Embassy. "

(Note from Ann Goodpasture to "Cubans",

2/3/66, CIA No. 579; WX-7241, Entry 428, p. 94, CIA #721.)

One Cuban section officer responded, "No bells

ring with me." Another one wrote "Me neither."

The

third officer wrote "No pictures either." (IBID.) There

is no indication that the penetration agents in the Cuban

Embassy were queried about this.

Elena's allegatin

(IBID;? That there are

no pictures is reasonable since Elena claimed that the

event happened: l.) on a Saturday at 3:00 p.m. when

the Cuban Embassy was not normally photographically

surveilled; and

2.) the "disturbance" occured inside the

Cuban compound. HSCA Examination of the CIA Cuban Embassy

photographic surveillance showed no surveillance on 11/23/63.

(Classified Summary of Staff Review of CIA Documents,

undated, P. 3, CIA #763.1

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 24

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## Page 25

LEGAL Attache 2/23/46 MENO TO The

United States Ambassado ReGARDINE

ElENA GARROS Allegations-

On 2/23/66 the Legal Attache wrote a memo to the

Ambassador regarding the Garros allegations. [Memo from

Legat to Ambassador,

2/23/66, CIA #571; WX-7241 Entry #455,

p. 95, CIA 4722. 1] Ibismemo reports that "extensive investi-

gation" failed to disclose that Oswald had traveled to

Mexico prior to September 26, 1963 and that no information

had developed that would show that he had

not been in

New Orleans in the early part of that month. The memo

•stenbal

repeated that no further action was being taken by the

FBI because her

allegations had not been substantiated. (bid)

Legal

attache fracked a coby to the canted tately ne

agage wetics City Statin. I the Hase solet committe on

assassinations has been unable to determind when the city

was friarted to th c17)5

mades, phae Grodpastice

A marginal comment

Dy this

nest to this

entry in WX-7241 says,

"How can it be ascertained that Oswald did not travel

to Mexico prior to early Sept. 63? There

must be some

basis for Elena's reporting." (IBID; referenced to

Thomas' 12/25/65 memo.)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 25

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## Page 26

7113/66

CHARLES ThOMAS

MEMORANDOM OF CONUERSATION

Re Elena

GARRO.

On 713166 Charles Thas wrote a minera dum

I creation rege in that there hid the here.

that she had received an mitation to visit Cabo

fine. Ambaosador Juagein Herandy Arras, (Mencorandum

8 Coversalem 6y Charles Threas, 113144, CIA #565; 608-7241,

Entry 4h0, p. 94, Cit72 Clerk gone shanes thrs batter the

supprt the claim.

She said the litters has been deliverel

to her home by a driver from the Cuban Embassy. (sid) The

enveloge gave her adlaises Versent 38. (bed) Because o her

the Cuban goerment invited Elema Hanso to visit Cobra

due to her great literary talents; see Biography)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 26

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## Page 27

LEGAL ATTACHE

MEMO TO WINSTON SCOTT

Re ElenAS AllELATION MAT SHE HAD STATED

AT THE HOTEL VERMONT FROM The DAR AFTER

THE ASSASSENATION UNTIL NOVEMBER 3 1943.

On 10/13/66 the Legal Attache wrote a memo to

the CIA/COS reporting that a reliable confidential

informant had reported that the records of the Hotel Vermont

disclosed that "Elena Paz, housewife from San Luis Potosi"

had registered at the Hotel Vermont on November 23, 1963.

She left on November 30, 1963.

The memo said that "the

above individual.

Garro de Paz.

(b.d) may or may not be identical with Elena

from Legat to Winston Scott, 10/13/66,

CIA No. 564; WX-7241, Entry #466, p. 98, CIA #725; Thomas'

7/13/66 memo.) The House Select Committee on Assassinations

has been unable to determine why the Elatradad Inteligence Agency

and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

waited until 1966 to

investigate this aspect of Eleme's storyd

Charles Thomas' 12/25/65 memo

statu

said, "She (Elena)

and her daughter did not personally register at the hotel.

She thinks Calvillo registered them as relatives or friends

of his from San Luis Postosi." (Memo of Conversation by

Charles Thomas, 12/25/65, p. 3, CIA #582.)1

(The entry for the 10/13/66 Legat memo in WX-7241

bore the notation "This is what Elena claimed and no one

would believe her." (WX-7241, Entry #466, p. 98, CIA #725.)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 27

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## Page 28

CHARLES ThOMAS SEPT 30, 1969 METTER TO STATE

DEPARTMENT

AND.. LEGAL

ATTACHES RESPONSE

No further reports

on Elena's'

story were generated

until 1969 when Charles Thomas was "selected out."

("Selected out" is a phrase used when an officer is retired

after having been in one grade for the maximum period of

time and is not considered qualified for promotion to

higher grade). Then, he wrote a letter and memorandum

to the secretary of state de, ince lee a emb

"Since I was the Embassy

Officer in Mexico who acquired this intelligence information,

I feel a responsibility for seeing it through to its final

evaluation." (State Dept.: Letter from Charles Thomas to

william Rogers, Secretary of State, July 25, 1969)

To the

Charles Thomas' mentorardum stated that' he got no

eaction frome hathan tevies and Winston bestt"regarding his

memorandum & December 25,1965. (State Deptstment: Setter from

Charles Thomas to Willian Rogers, Secretary & State, July 25, 1969)

te aldition, Thomas irate that the only geeson to speak to

hime about the Dee. 25,1965 menerandam, Clarence Borstia L

Deputy Chief of Mission, State Dept, Chief of Affairs at the time of the

John 7. Kennedy o assaisitation and subsequent Dawall rivalayatin] - told

um that Oscold had not been is Wipes

on thi

state Department: Letter from Charles thames to Willia

Ragers, Secretary loe

see, Sires, act

the party. Thomas riled that ever when he retecated that

Elena had not changed her story hit rother that she had now

genew a more accurate account, Broustra stated that the date was

jury and dissised the entire offair. (ibel)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 28

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## Page 29

(iled)

Nashen terria,

The Merico City Legat's Office, in reply to Thomas'

letter and memocardam, asserted that Thomas' ffice had

been advaid by memoranda tiled December 27, 1965 and

Febway 23, 1966 that since lene tart's allegatenis had

savinisly been investigated without pubstantiation, no further action

was

bakere

For sport, N3/49, 2P3.l, Son DariN

oncerning her

"s recent repettion f those allegatioes.

In their report, the legit's ffice concluled that either the

Counselor for Plitical Offous did set route the memoranda to

Charles Thomas or that Thomas ded not recall receiving theme.

(rbid)

Thomas wirte that where he went to bather Ferre'

ilffice took inform him that Eleva had freed her calendar and

had reconstucted the date f the party as late september, terres

ryleed that Eleva had gren the lite september dale when she"

had irginally ronted her story at the American Erbarsy. I Stitle

Department: Setter from chades Thomas to Willian Rogues; Secrtary 8 State,

July 25, 1969). Thomas noled that Jeries explaned that pomeone

Who had been at the

been avy Amerccaiis."'

Thomas alleged that Ferris suggialed that it

was not necessary for thomas to pursue the sadler since he

crisidered the Orwald case closed and had heard all the

rumoro befre. Crbid)

The Legate Office replied that Mr. Jeriss had not tel

Showas-that someone who was at the party had stuted that there

had not been asy Americans preset. (FBI Report, 930/69, P.4, IFK Dee.

I. The rent asseted that Thomas had been bld that

it could not be necessy for his to queue the matter

any fuch since lee's stery had been investigated grevenusly

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 29

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## Page 30

unchet being late ted!' alter the mere stated that

Thomas had been told that clemen's story was crisileces a

closed issue not that the osull orle

as closed. (ibed)

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 30

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## Page 31

EJL First Draft

Page 26

House Select Committee on Assassination

Investigation of Elena Garro's Allegations

The House Select Committee on

Assassinations

investigated Elena Garro's story both through file reviews

and

personal interviews. The Committee requested and

reviewed the CIA's, FBI's and State Departments Files, when

available

they existed, on Elena Garro de Paz, Elenita Garro de Paz,

Manuel Calvillo, Noe W. Palomares, June Cobb Sharp,

Victor Rico Galan, Eunice Odio, Sylvia Duran, Lydia Duran,

Ruben Duran, Betty Serratos, Horatio Duran, Eusebio Azcue,

and Emilio Carballido. Only the Elena Garro de Paz file

contained information on her allegations. Though all the

names listed above played a role in Elena Garro de Paz'

story, not one of their files included

a reference to

Elena Garro de Paz.

Furthermore, the House Select Committee on Assassina-

tions requested and reviewed the Central Intelligence

Agency's LICOOKIE I, LICHANT I, LIRING 3, LIHUFF I and

TICHBORN files.

Once again not one of the files

^ included

amention of Elena Garro's allegations. The House Select

Committee on Assassinations learned that LICOOKIE I was

June Cobb Sharp who first reported Elena's allegation. (Supra

p. 4)

The Committee also learned that LICHANT I was Manuel Calvillo

who hid Elena Garro and her daughter in a hotel the day

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 31

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## Page 32

EJL First Draft

Page 27

following the assassination. (Supra p. 13)

Sylvia Duran had been arrested before it as public

knowledge. (rbis)

Is this fact had beeme

He also told Elena that

Since a file review

increasine

lead newhere, the Committee

decided to arrange interviews in Mexico with Sylvia Duran,

Elena Garro, Elenita Garro, Horacio Duran, Ruben Duran,

Lynn Duran, Emilio Carbillidan Setty Serratos The

Mexican Government informed as that Elena and Elenita

Garro

had disappeared in 1968 during the student uprisings

and

never returned to Mexico. The officials stated

that Elena and her daughter might be scan guise pete that

City Procedural Write-up Trip 1.) Emilio Carballido

(rbid)

could not be found.

The others were interviewed between

June 1 and June 6, 1978. Libid)

Betty Serratos, Lydia Duran, Ruben Duran, and Horatio

Duran all stated that Elena was not the dancing

type and

therefore did not attend any of the twist parties at the

Duran homes. (See: HSCA Staff Interview

of Betty

6/6/78, p. 6, JFK Document No.

serratos,

; HSCA Staff

Interview of Lydia Duran, 6/5/78, p. 6, JFK Document No.

; HSCA Staff Interview of Ruben Duran Návarro,

6/6/78, p. 16, JFK Document No.

; HSCA Staff Inter-

view of Horatio Duran Navarro, 6/5/78, p. 25, JFK Document

No.

When Sylvia Duran was asked if Elena or Elenita Garro

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 32

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## Page 33

EJL First Draft

Page 228

ever

attended twist parties at the Duran homes, she-stated

that she recalled

Elena attending one twist party at

Ruben's home in 1963 when

te he returned to Mexico from

France. (HSCA Staff Interview of Sylvia Triado Bazan,

6/6/70, p. 90, JFK, Document No. / All the Durans

denied

that Lee Harvey Oswald had attended any party at

one of their homes. (String ates)

The Committee next asked the Central Intelligence

mange stabl

agency to provide for

interviews

LICHANT/1 (Manuel

other assets that might help clear the lee Harvey Oswald's

trip to Mexico City. (

The Agency declined to aid the committee thin estate de

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 33

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## Page 34

3...

Indent

Indent

indent

this pentence

to locate June Coll shang and namel chel

esults f the Committce's work. were

as pollins

incomet

a Ma DAD no Mexican governe

ment told the Committee that June Cobb Sharp received a

tourist permit, number 72781, on June 27, 1947 when she

entered Mexico through Nuevo Laredo She asked, but was

denied, permission to represent the magazine, Modern Mexico.

she received a courtesy

On June cheme, the neckin gument explained that as

permit, number

25556.

he disappeared in 1954 and never

returned to

lexico. (See Procedural Writeup

shives that there is a presbility that

Trip 2 Mexico City)

The

Committee knows the information is incorrect.,

Herefile

Mexies Frem

- 196L

through 1966

(CIA

according to ses cll's ClA file she conked for the agery as on arset

in 1964. (superp.

2)

The Mexican government told the Committee that

Manuel Calvillo did not live at Cuahtemoc 877-5 as the

Committee had stated. Their agent in charge had spoken

to the superintendent at the apartments for the past

twenty-five years who said that no Manuel Calvillo had

ever resided there. When Committee staffers gave the

Mexican government Calvillo's pen name, the Mexicans

gave the same answers. (See Procedural Write Mexico City

Trip 2) The Committee is quite certain that Mr. Calvillo

lives at this address since it acquired

the address from

recent CIA document. (C/A Report, 1916, Manuel Calvillo file, 201-

)

Ihe. Connette helenes that there is a gossibubt

greement

that the Merican

received ordes fim the cantial

Intelligate ageny t

ryan tam the fate tigh this argent f its wake.

NW 66000 Docld:32271443 Page 34

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