Document date: 04/17/2018
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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Ao Ho Belmont

So Bo Donahoe

ANTI-FIDEL CASTRO ACTIVITIES

INTERNAI SECURITY • CUBA

October 20, 1959

1 - HT. DORChAS

• Hit. Detoach

• Mr. Tolson

• #to Belmant

1 - Ht. D.E.Hoote

MObillye teapective renourers concert Сива зітчївот..

Meno has been prepared to present conclue ploture of altualton end

дром Витети рояіtіот.

MENO IS bPOKER dONN AB JOLLONS JOY TOGLY TEJATENOR.

do

20

Events leading Up to irrent tuban situation

SUTRAN MOtIOn LEgUTdING FOdTO Dies I373z

Intilal INDBLUEMERI OY lOX LaTa

Do

possibility of Cleres Iron Dominioon Repubilo

Co

Dissemination and Presentation of Case

do

€o

State Departaent and Department of Juetice Requests

SUbSEqUeNt DISClOSUTES Of DiAS LONE

lo Investigation of Statements by Diaz Lans

30

40

Efforts of Castro to Create Incidents Disorediting U.S.

Bureau Coverage of liban Revolutionary Actiotties

Сво

Intelligence Corerage

Do

Registration Act

reutrality Statutes

lEfforts to Get concurrent seizure Powers with

Custons to Seize Arns in These Cases)

So Possibility of Appest of Extradition of Pedro Diar Long

8-1566-

ACTION:

For information.

NOT RECORDED

101 lead

1959

12

15

16

19

09-584

- 105-22630 (Pedto Dias Lans)

• 109-12-210 (Foreign Political Matters"- Cuba

SaD: tw

6

06402 6 151

SulvEnClosures

w. Room

10-26-77

2,3,00

MAil RO0.0

Page

ORIGINAL COPY FILED

#109-5864

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Burecu Aotion Regarding Pedro Luis Dias Lona

Initial Involvement o1 Dica Lona

Pedro Luis Diaa Lana is former Chies of

Cuban Air Force under Castro who defeoted 6/29/59,

escaped to florida by boat on 2/1/59 and was paroled

into U. Sa

by Inmigration and Naturalization Service.

He has publioly and before Senate Internal Security

Subcommittee denounced Castro regime as communiet:

Be

was highly cooperative with Bureou after arrival.

Bosed on press report 10/22/59 that leaflets

dropped by plane on Havane on 10/21/59 were signed by

Dia Lonz, the Miami Office instituted immediate inguiry

to get fects as to whether violation under FBI jurisdiction

had occurred.

Liomi learned from Charles William Hormel,

potential oriminal informants that he had received informa-

tion a a-25 plane, serial number 98760, piloted by Diaz londo

departed Bemmert Warner Airport, Pompano, Floridas at 5 Dolog

10/21/59, ond returned at 9 pom. same date.

Dias Lane was interviewed by Mioni agents on

20/22/59

After being advised of his rights, Dida Lona

satd he piloted this plane, departed, Pompano at 4 p•M.y

arrived Havana 5:20 p.me and departed Having 5:30 p.M.g

returning to Pompano.

He said he dropped 250,000 leaflets

over Rovone and emphatically stated he carried no bombs nor

any other type of weapons. He was unaware of being fined

on from air or ground and said hiswas only plane on misaton.

He aänitted being accompanied by one or more persons, would

not name them and stated he preferred to accept full

if any. He furnished several copies of

reasons pitted it spanians futitled "open letter to the

People of Cuba from Commandant Pedro Luis Dioa Lana,

Ex-Chief of Cuban Air Force," and dated October, 1959.

vealed rook castro to task for his procommunist porteres

me accused him of being traitor to Legionate revolution

He said he made flight on behalf of July 26 Anti-Communist

Movement of which he is founder and leader.

He said this

flight was not coordinated with ony oots of terrorism inside

Cuba.

He said his movement not cooperating with any persons

prominent in former Batista government, He advised

Major Hubert Motos, who was arrested by Castro in Cuba,:

was member of his movement, was scheduled to have set up

resistance group in Cuba next month and his arrest was

unfortunate. He timed his flight with convention of travel

solute

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agente for psycnologtcal reasons. He had agreement with

members of his group in Guba to provide propagando against

Castro, exposing his procommunist and anti-U. S, policles.

He said his movement is growing organization composed

largely of men inside Cuban arned forces, with no records

kept of membership.

possibilitu of Planes from Dominicon Republic

Miomt Offlee also aduised of interview on

10/22/59 with Alotdo de los Reyes, physician, naturallaed

oitiaen of Cuban birth, who resides in Miani, Plorida.

His identity must be concealed. Reyes is widely acquainted

with anti-Castro element, has furnished rellable data in

past and said he leorned reliably that Diat Lana piloted

plane dropping leaflets on Havang 10/21/59. He had no

other detat ls.

Reyes said, however, a plan of sabotage and

terroristio activittes had been approved by General Jose

Pedroad, leader of anti-Castro group in Dominicon Republie,

endorsed by Dominican Diotator Irujillo.

Reyes said plon

called for daily bombing attacks on specific Cuban

targets: 10/20/59 through 10/30/59. Reyes sate he learned

from Dominicon representative in Miant that success/ul

bombing 20/20/59 of sugar plant in Canaquey Province

and torget for 20/22/59 was Cubon Presidential Palace,

Reportedly, plone that dropped bomb missed target and

bomb fell in streets injuring severcl. Reyes said plane

flight of Diaz Lans 10/21/59 was coincidental and unrelated.

He said that while it would be denied planes participating

in bombing missions are coming from base in or near

Dominiean Republic and not from U. S. bases.

Dissemination.and Presentation of Case

Above data, recelved by teletype on right of

•20/22/59 was disseminated by letter 10/23/59 to

State Department with copies to central intelligence Agency,

Customs, Tederal

Aviation Ageney and intelligence agencies

of arned serutoes.

This written dissemination followed

oral advice to W. L. Jessop of stave bepartment ou

Liaison Agent 0. 1. Bartlett on morning of 10/23/59 as

to nature of admissions by Diaa lans in view of widespread

reports bombs involved.

SECRET - 4-

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Federal Aviation Agency: (FAA) although it woe not known.

whether they

Belmont called

SA

Frank Smith of Miant Office and instruoted date

be given Custome and FAA. At some time Belmont

instructed Miami Office to interview Long again to

determine his pions, particularly as to future flights.

Miami Office was also instructed, in view of interest

of State and Justice Department, to conduct further

inguiry to pin doun and vertfy story given by Dias Lana

and particularly ony guns or bombs: Involved to resolve:

as far as possible all the facts.

At 4:30 pom., 20/24/59, Assistant Secretary

of state Roy R. Rubottom, Jro called bratson Agens be te

Bartlette

Rubottom sald State Department guite concerned

over activities of Cuban exiles in U. s., told of report

surveillance or arrest and then announce it to press..

Rubotton said State was not requesting Flute place

Dias Lane under surveillance or arrests but would

ltie

to have Val consider going to Dia. Lone and asking him

either to come to FBI or Chief of Police in lion ond

put himself into their austody for twenty-four hours so

it could be announced and Cubans would know li plane

flew over to would not be Dias Long.

Bartlett told

Rubottom entire matter presented to Department as to

any violation and in absence of response, FBI could

called Rubottom and reaffirned FBI could take no action

pursuant to State's suggestion in absence of ruing. ou

Justice Department that violation had taken place.

Rubottom was also advised he might desire to consult

Customs and Federal Aviation Ageney concerning controle:

and restrictions on port of this cuban exile.

At 6340 pomo, 10/24/59, Departmenta: Attorney

Kenney called SA I. J. O'Connor, who was on duty and

inquired about availability and willingness to bestify

of informant (Charles Wi12lam Hormel) who gave date in

our 20/23/59 letter about departure and return of plane

of Dias Lanz. At 6:45 p.m. Kenney inguired as to

availability of informant (Aloido de los Reyea) who

This information was

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requested of Miant by teletype 20/24/59.

miant teletyse

20/25/59 advised Hormel was available and would testify

but only had hearsay he had gotten from night watonmen

Hormel has orrest record and under indict-

ment himself for illegally transporting arme. Reyes

unavailable and unwilling to testify as fears reprisala

against sister, uno is in prison in cube, anc moshery

uno 13 in hiding in Havana. SA l. 1. Nosea aduised

Assistant Attorney General Yeagley on 20/25/59 of

availability of Hormel, referred him to background of

Hormel which is available to Department and told hin

on unavailability of other informant (Reyes).

On afternoon of 10/24/59 Department requested

copy of leaflet which Dida Lanz dropped on Cuba for its

consideration in connection with violation aspeets of

actions 01 0103 L0n8.

Leaflet was in Spenish and

transtation secured by teletype from Miam 10/24/59

(original sent to Director) two autostats of uniah

furntshed Departmental Attorney at 10:50 pome, 20/24/59.

on evening of 10/24/59 Departmental Attorney

Kenney asked if any previous referenges in Bureau files

to July 26 Anti-Communist Movement mentioned by Diae Lona

in his 20/22/59 interutew with Bureau Agents. Kenney

was advised, after check of files, we had no prior date.

Subsequent Disolosures of Dies Lona

Mitamt Office teletype 20/25/59 advisad of

interviews on evening of 10/24/59 with Pedro Diaz Lona:

his brother, Marcos Diaa Tonay former Inspector General

in Cuban Air Porce; Ricardo Lorie Valls, former July 26

Movement underground leader in Miami; Crank Anthony

Sturgis, also known as Frank. Florint, former underground

member of July 26 Movement in Miami; and Carlos Echogoyen,

former member of Ouban Air Force. July 26 Movement

mentioned here is old Castro group prior to revolution

and all of these men used to be Castro adherents. 421 of

these men were informed of their rights at outset of

interolews.

Pedro Diaa Lens confirmed data previously

furnished 10/22/59. He said leaflet-dropping episode

of 20/21/59 was joint enterprise of above persons under

his leadership on benalt of July 26 Anti-Communist

Movement but without its Inowledge. He planned incident.

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3•

Afforts of Contre to Greate Incidents Discrediting Has.

By teletype 20/25/59, Miami Office has furnished

information fron Mu 639.S (Hourd Kenneth Davis, a well-placed

source who has been in close touch with both pro-Gastro and

arti-Castro forces) which clearly reveals the hypocrisy

of Castro's accusations as well as the Castro regime's

readiness to stoop to any means to discredit the Us. and

make it appear that this country is to blome for all of

Castro's troubles.

This information has not been disseminated

no not been

as yet in order to afford Director an opportunity to review

it prior to dissemination. It is, however, being furnished

to the Attorney General by letter today (10/26/59) and will

De made available to State and other interested agenotes

immediately thereafter.

Informant odvised that from 9/28-20/59, he met

in Havona with sergeant Fernando Fuentes Coba and Chief of

Police tyigento Almeijelras of Cubon National Police.

Almeljetras propositioned informant to take part in deal

to set trap for anti-Castro forces in U.S. He suggested

informant organize o 100-mon expedition in U.S. which ne

would lead in invoston of Cuba at a prearranged spot and

which would be ambushed by wetting Castro forces.

Almetjetrose

and informant subsequently discussed this idea with Roul Castro

who approved plan and furnished our source with Havona address

to be used as mall drop.

On 10/20/59 informant met with Almeijetras in

navana and latter reiterated his desire to have it 639-5

organize invasion of Cuba fron U.S.

The source indicated he

would consider the matter further but gave no definite reply.

Informant conferred with Almeijeiras and Coba again

on 10/23/59 and was offered nother assigment. Almeijeiras

proposed that source approach Rolando Hasferrer, prominent

anti-Castro leader in Miant, or some other leading anti-Castro

leoder in U.s. and volunteer to undertake bonbing attack

against Havono. from the U.S.

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According to plan outlined by Almeijeires, informent

would procure bombs with U.S. Government markings and would

deliver them to Almijeiras after landing at prearranged

landing strip outside lavand. It was inaicated that cuban.

authorities would then issue press release claiming that

Miami-based plane had dropped bombs on Cuba, offering es

proof one or more of the bombs with loss markings unich

supposedly had failed to explode as well as iragments from

other bombs which Cubans would explode. Almeijeiros told

informant this hoax would enable the Castro regime to

propagandise against the U.s. State Department in order to

force U.so action against anti-Castro elements in this

Almeijeiras said he vanted this ruse to take place

on 10/26/59 and described the operation as "highly important"

the Cuban Goverment.:

Informant will endeavor to develop

additional information concerning this proposed plot.

Public disclosure of the above information could

very well place the informant's life in jeopardy and, accordingly.

informotion is being classified Confidential.

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4.

Bureau Coverage of Cubon Revolutionaru Activittes

Intelligence Coverage

Bureau has investigative responsibility, in two specifto

types of cases unich frequently involve Latin-American nationals

in U.s. Registration Act and Neutrality matters.

"As will be)

detailed in paragraphs 1. and c., unere these statutes are diseussed

in some detail, both nave definite limitacions and me nave not confined

our interest or investigations regarding Latin-American revolutionary

octivities to narrow jurisdictionol ltnes. This hos been particularly

true in connection with recent developments in Cuba. Since January,

1959, Bureau has put greatly increased emphasis on Cuban matters

and has acted aggressively in effort to collect all available data

in the u.s. beering on the political, economic and military situation

in that country as well us neighboring Caribbean countrtes.

Among

other things, we have (1) interulewed inconing refugees and defectors,

such as Dies lonz, for any information of interest they might have;

(2) initiated investigations of all leading Cuban exiles and factions

in U.s. even though in many instances no charges of unlawful activities

or other jurisdiction existed

(3) pressed fleid, and espectally key

offices of Miami, New Vork onc Havana, to improve their infomment

coverage in this field;

4) placed technical coverage with Attorneyl

Generals approvaleton cuban Embassy sunshington, P.

and

Cuban

consulates at Miche

and New York City.

possible,

In addition, we have made increased efforts, wherever

to correlate or "pockage" the results of numerous individual

investigations and disseminate summary-type reports to other agencies

affording them a better insight into significont trends and a

comprehensive picture of developments.

that since April, 1959, no less than nine issues of our weekly

Current Intelligence Analysis (CIVL) letter have been devoted

unole or part to Latin-American motters,

chiefly Cuban developments.

We have also put stress on keeping high-level and policy making

officials of the Government advised of significont developments

concerning Cube.

In addition to our regular dissemination to the

working levels at State, Central Intelligence Agency and the military

agencies, on a number of occasions in the post year we hove furnished

the Unite House, Vice President Nixon, the Secretary of state.

the Attorney General special reports summarizing significont trends

25222222

and

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