PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE OF THE CUBAN AND SOVIET DIPLOMATIC
Agency: CIA
Originator: CIA
Document date: 01/01/0000
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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T104-10428-1017

PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE OF THE CUBAN AND SOVIET DIPLOMATIC

INSTALLATIONS

During the period when OSWALD was in Mexico City -

27 September to 2 October 1963 - there were three bases

set up

to photograph visitors entering and leaving the

Cuban and Sovéet diplomatic installations. Two bases -

LIMITED and LILYRIC - were targetted against the main

entrance into the Soviet compound; one base - LIONION -

was targetted against the entrance to the Cuban Embassy.

A second base to cover the street entrance to the Cuban

Consulate was being established on 27 September. Until

the 27th the entrance to the Cuban Consulate had

never been covered; in fact, the door had been closed from

November 1962 until 7 August 1963 as a result of an incident

in 1962 directed against the Cuban Embassy.

Although records exist on the three above operations,

the records are incomplete and are only consistent only in

their inconsistency. It is, for example, impossible to re-

concile operational reporting with operational activity as

shown ing the logs covering photographic surveillance of

the Cuban and Soviet installations.

SOVIET EMBASSY AND CONSULATE

In 1963, the Soviet Embassy and Consulate were located

(and still are) located at Calle Calzada Tabcucaya 204,

Mexico City. A twenty-four guard protected the entrance to

the compound. According to Agency records, the Embassy and

Consulate were not open to the public; offices in the Soviet

compound sould be visited by appointment only. Visitors rang

the bell at the main entrance at all hours. Russian-speaking

visitors were permitted to enter at any time; others were

usually turned away by the guard after normal working houss.

Normal working hours during September 1963, when Lee Harvey

OSWALD visited the Soviet Consulate, were from 0900 to 1800.

Later, the hours for Mondays and Fridays were changed to

0900 to 1400 hours.

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[Memorandum for J. Lee RANKIN, 17 September 1964; subject:

Hours of Work at Cuban and Soviet Consulates; Procedures

and Regulations for Issuance of Cuban Visas; Mexican Con-

trol of U.S. Citizens' Travel to and from Cuba. FOIA No.

846-362. Memorandum for 3. Lee RANKIN, 19 May 1964;

subject: same as above. See also MEXI-9332 (IN 77522),

6 May 1964. FOIA No. 683-291.]

(Unilateral

PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

Two, camerashases, known as LILYRIC and LIMITED, were tar-

setted against the minuitrand to the Soviet compound. A

third camera, LICALLA, was targetted against the lared behind the

Embassy.

According to HMMA-15979 dated 18 November 1960 the

LEMY objectives of that operation were to collect opera-

tional information pertaining to LIMERICK personnel and phy.-

sical facilities through the use of photographic base

houses (surveillance]. Together with their extensive photo-

graphic coverage of the LIMERICK target, the photographic

bases also contributed other types of operational information:

a. LIMITED - This base compiled daily logs

indicating all arrivals, departures, and, where possible,

identities of every person visiting or working at the

LIMERICK target. This information was particularly

useful in keeping track of LIMERICK personnel and assis-

ting with the identification of visitors to the installa-

tion. Also, LIMITED maintained a summary attendance

list of LIMERICK employees on a daily basis; this enabled

the Station to ascertain quickly the presence or absence

of an employee on any given day. Finally, one other sig-

nificant service is nerformed by this base, the radio

• dispatching of the LIEMBRACE surveillance. team on LIM-

ERICK personnel and targets of opportunity. LIMITED'S

photographic coverage was concentrated on visitors, as

opposed to employees, to the LIMERICK installation. 1]

b. LILYRIC - This base's output of high-quality

clandestine photokraphs was in about the same quantity

as the year before. In addition, the base operntor

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prepared weekly reports on LIMERICK employees and

their wives. LILYRIC also performed the assignment

of noting and reporting the license plate numbers of al

all cars bringing visitors to the

LIMERICK Installa-

tion. LILYRIC photographs also were concentrated on

visitors to the target, as onposed to employees.

It

should be noted that LILYRIC onerated during the hours

from daylight to 1400 hours each day of the week except

Sunday. The LIMITED base maintained photographic

coverage from 1400 hours to darkness each day except

Sunday. [Comment: An earlier statement in February

1957 indicated that the two bases operated at staggered

hours without the knowledge of the other. - HMMA-6074,

6 February_ 1957.J

C. LICALLA - The LICALLA base contiibuted to the

collection of operational information through photo-

graphic coverage of LIMERICK employees and their

families. Also, the base operator supplied extremely

worthwhile information pertaining to the apparent

positions

and jobs of the target employees. He accom-

plished this objective by careful observation and

analysis. LICALLA also maintained a daily attendance

roster of all LIMERICK employees. LICALLA coverage of

the target, both photographic and physical observations,

enabled the Station to keep abreast of LIMERICK per-

sonnel changes, a vital contribution to the Station's

counterespionage effort.

[HMMA- 15979, 18 November 1960 - 50-06-74/11

The objectives of the three bases described above re-

mained valid until at least 1964. Later project renewals

usually referred to the 1960 dispatch in which the functions

of the three bases were described in detail.

(See HMMA-20052, 18 October 1962; HMMA-22387, 25 October 1963;

HIIA-24650, 29 October 1964. - 50-06-74/11

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According to operational reporting, LIMITED operated

from 1200 to 1800 or dary (as the daily situation dictated)

on weekdays and 0900 to 1400 Saturdays. (These hours were

subject to change to fit Station requirements.) Special

coverage was

arranged on a need basis; however, past ex-

perience had shown regular coverage of Saturday afternoons

and Sundays was not rewarding.

[HMMA-23343, 30 April 1964 - 50-06-74/3)

The LILYRIC basehouse generally operated from 0900

to 1400 or 1500 on weekdays. This statement, however, does

not coincide the record. LILYRIC records for the period

in question do not exist. The logs for the LIMITED opera-

tion indicate that LIMITED operated during the morning

hours. On 27 September 1963, the log shows that the camera

was operative from 1018 to 1146. On 30 September 1963 the

camera was not operative, no reason given. And on I October 2?

1963, the camera took only one photograph at 1251.

On 24 September 1964, the Station received information

from Headquarters that an LIEMPTY project photograph, one of

several

supplied to the Warren Commission in November 1963,

was to be published in the Warren Commission's final report.

Since LIMERICK officials would undoubtedly be able to re-

cognize the individual in the photographs as a visitor to

their installation and with a view towards the attendant

possible security problems, the LICALLA, LILYRIC, and LIMITED

operations were suspended on 26 and 27 September and all

photographic and other compromising equipment was removed

from these basehouses.

All. basehouse personnel were briefed

in general on the situation and specifically on how to cope

with any possible inquiries from government officials or

LIMERICK inspired or prompted newsmen. Upon receipt by the

Station of a copy of the photograph, it was determined that

the LIMITED basehouse had provided the photograph in question.

This consideration, linked with further analysis of the limi-

tations upon any counteractions available to LIMERICK offi-

cials, allowed the sation to re-activate the LICALLA and

LILYRIC bases on a phased basis in early October 1964.

IMMA -24650, 29 detober 1964: encle $ 4-50-06-79/11

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CUBAN EMBASSY AND CONSULATE

In 1963, the Cuban Embassy and Consulate were located

in their own compound at Calle Francisco Marquez 160. These

installations had their own separate entrances. Visitors

were able to enter the Cuban Consulate from 1000 to 1400,

Monday through Friday. Embassy office hours were 0900 to

1700 on the same days. Visttors to the Embassy, however,

usually appeared before 1400. Consulate hours are confirmed

by a plaque beside the Consulate's street entrance. (See

photograph of Consulate entrance.] and by Silvia DURAN (see

her interrogation in Commission Exhibit 2121, P. 38, and

Commission Exhibit 2123, p. 671, volume XXIV]; she added

that a

also worked from 1600 to 1800.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

Civilatial

The photographic surveillance operation (known as LI-

ONION) was set up in 1962 86 (1) furnish photogranhic coverage

during daylight hours of the entrances of the target installa-

tion, (2)"dispatch physical surveillance teams against per-

sons associated with the target, and (3)

Keep in readiness a

listening post for the monitoring and recording of eventual-

technical penetration operations of the target. Until Sep-

tember 1963, the operation used one camera covering the main

entrance to the Cuban Embassy compound.

The operation pro-

daved photographs of persons associated withrthe Cuban Embassy,

both staff and visitors. Within hours of the arrival of a new

embassy staff member; his photograph was in the hands of the

Station. In addition to the identification of staff personnel

and visitors, the photographs (accompanied by a log maintained

by the LIONION agents) revealed patterns of action (arrivals and

departures) and details of personal associations which were of

great value to the Station in nounting operations against the

target.

[HMMA-25110, 6 January 1965: 50-06-122/4)

LIONION covered the Cuban Embassy entrance from 0912 to

1355 on 27 September (24 photographs - first one at 0930; the

last one at 1330); from 0915 to 1350 on 30 September (18

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photographs - first taken at 0920; the last one at 1130);

from 0905 to 1400 on 1 October (27 photogranhs - the first

taken at 0945; the last one taken at 1355).

Although Agency records indicate

that photographic cove-

rage of the Cuban Embassy did not include the

Cuban Consulate

until October [MEXI-7098 (IN 69127), 27 November 1963 -

FOIA No. 164-69], the Station had made the decision on 23

September 1963 to cover the Cuban Consulate street entrance

(which had been closed from November 1962 to August 1963 as

a result of an incident directed against the Embassy in 1962.)

[See LIONION logs for 19 November 1962 and 7 August 1963.]

[HMMA-22307, 18 October 1963 - 50-6-18]

During the morning of 27 September, a Station officer

installed a VLS-2 Trigger Device at the LIERODE (sic - LIONION)

basehouse and used the 500mm lens issued with this system, one

400mm Telyt, one reflex housing to be used with the Telyt adap-

ted to fit the Robot Star camera, one Robot Star camera, one

solenoid release for mounting and triggering the Robot Star

camera, one Kodak K-100 adapted for single or burst type ex-

posure, one solenoid release to be used with the K-100 (when

this item was tested, the arm of the solenoid which attaches

to the K-100 exposure lever did not fit properly and would

stick when

triggered by the solenoid.. This was corrected by

remachining the screw position of the lever of the solenoid),

one 152mm f/4 Cine Ektar lens, and two additional tripods.

The base agent was requested to test the Robot Star camera

for four days and the K-100 for another four days.

[HMMA-22307, 18 October - 50-06-18]

In November 1963, the Station reported that during the

first two weeks of operation, the VLS-2 would trigger traffic

entering and leaving the target entrance. Concerned with the

consumption of film and the necessity of reloading the camera

twice daily, the base agent devised a system whereby the VIS-2

would only photograph people leaving but not entering the tar-

get building. His system worked about 80 percent of the time,

cutting film consumption considerably.

The base agent used the K-100 with a 152mm lens for one

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day, turning in 10 feet of 16mm film. The Robot Star and

the Telyt 400mm lens were being used with the VLS-2. The

Robot Star camera given

to the base

agent broke down after

four days of photographing. This camera was replaced by

another Robot Star which also broke down five days later.

[HMMA-22433, 7 November 1963 -50-06-32/6 & 50-06-181

The Station later decided to install a different type

6f camera. During the morning of 17 December 1963, a 35mm

pulse camera and the VLS-2 trigger device. Although the

had been

Cuban Consulate door has closed to the public for a period

of six days for unknown reasons, tests were made using the

pulse camera photographing people walking past the Consulate

entrance. On the morning of 18 December 1963, the base agent

reported that the Consulate door had been opened that day to

the public and was receiving visitors as of 1010. The camera

worked well and was photographing people entering and leaving

the target.

[HMMA-22726, 16 January 1964 - 50-06-18)

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