CONTACT REPORT ON AUGUST 5/60 AT 7 A.M. BRAND MADE CONTACT WITH
Originator: CIA
Document date: 1960-11-15 00:00:00
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

# DOCID-32356993

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JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : CIA

RECORD NUMBER : 104-10103-10128

RECORD SERIES

: JEK

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 80T01357A

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

AGENCY ORIGINATOR : CIA

FROM

TO

TITLE

:CONTACT REPORT ON AUGUST 5/60 AT 7 A.M. BRAND MADE

CONTACT WITH

DATE

PAGES

:

11/15/1960

SUBJECTS : WITHHELD

BRAND

DOCUMENT TYPE :

PAPER

CLASSIFICATION UNCLASSIFIED

RESTRICTIONS

CURRENT STATUS : RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

: 07/21/93

COMMENTS

:JFK36

: F25

: 1993.07.21.19:32:20:620590

1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#:NW

65924 Date: 10-25-2021

[R] - ITEM IS

RESTRICTED

104-10103-10128

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BRAND

November 15/60.

On August 5/60, at 78.1., Brand mada contact with Emilio Rodriguez. Brand

told E.R. that he

wanted to see Amparo (Plinio's wife), in order to debrief her

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

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

escape from El Escambray. In regard to On's groups in Havana,

Amparo told Brand

that Efren Rodriguez, membar of the Executive Commitee of the OA, was in a safe

house in lavana, and was the man who could brief Brand on Da's situation.

On August 6/60, Brand saw

Efren Rodriguez. Efren informed Brand that, on

account of Abay and Penola's asylum at the Embassy of Brasil, contacts had been

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

him $130.00 and instructed him to establish contact with On's action

groups, bfr

agreed to do this.

Brand had to renain in his safe house for the next ten days,

because no glue

or moustaches had been

sent to him, and he had no materials for his disguise.

Meanwhile, Plinio had arrived to Havana, and had established contact with Efren

and other members of the underground.

Emilio Rodriguez gave Brand a man

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

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

contact with Jesus Iglesias, former member of Triplo A, and Brand's fellow consp

for many years, Iglesias owned a 50 ft. yacht. Brand asked Iglesials help to use

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

that it was useless for the cubans to fight Fidel, since Fidel. had a powerful ba

from the Soviet Union, and that unless the U.S, decided to do something about it

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

Next, Brand established contact wiüh Cesar Lancis Bravo. Cesar agreed to help

Brand instructed Cesar to start looking for D.Z3. and L.Zs, Besides, Cesar was t

start organizing laborers in the different Unions, and to try to gather informat

from all of them. Cesar also voluntered to make contacts with policemen in the

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

conmunications. He also promised to start a search for safe houses and store hou

and to start checking Fidel through the members of the Sindicato Gastronomico. I

that first meeting, Brand gave Cesar one thousand pesos,, to be used for expenses

for the renting of houses.

Next, Brand mad contact with Benito Fernardez. Benito said that he was

eager

help and that all of us had to give dur best to overcome our country's situation

Benito offered his efforts to try fo find D.Zs. and L.Zs. Besides; he volunteere

to do some recruiting. Benito informed Erand thai he had an action group of abou

fifteen men, already armed,

Contact was made with Dr. Helio Nurdo Baez. Nardo informed Brand that he had

already been aproached by people fron tRa and by Lomberto Diaz, acting the latte

as representative from Tony Varona's group: Nardo had refused to work with them.

Brand asked Nardo to take care of the Province of Pinar del Rio as a leadar of a

new undesground group, of which he wis going to be one of the leaders. Nardo agr

to this, and promised to start looking for D.Is. and L.is. and also promised to

take care of the recruiting of peope in the Province of Pinar del Rio. He mentio

that he had a friond who had been a

lieutenent in the rebel army, and who had qu

his position becauso of the communist

tendencies of the Government. He told Bran

that this ex-lieutonent could become

a valuable asset if won to our side. He sai

NW 65924 Doctal 236993 Page te try to bring this man

to talk with Brand, Brand gave Nardo five

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At the first meeting with Benito Fernandez, Brand also saw Nelson Iglesias,

University student, and son of Jesua Iglesias. Brand instructed Nelson to start

making some recruitings at the University. Brand also instructed Nelson Iglesiai

to make the necessary arrangements so Brand could have a meeting with Jose Fern:

Planas and Eddy Crews, members of the Catholic Youth, students at the Üniversit

Havana and members ot

MRR (Artime's faction). Brand gave Nelson one hundred pess

for expenses.

A week after their first meeting, Brand saw Cesar Lancis again, Cesar said ti

had been making some contactswith different unions. He also exolained that up ti

that time he had been working with lony Varona's group, named "Rescate"

• He expi

concern about the double role he was playing, working with Rescate at the a!

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

friends in Rescate to Brand's organization. Brand said that a weak had elapsed i

no results had been attained and that he wanted results. Lancis said that he wa:

going to have results for the next meeting.

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

Eddy Grows. The moeting took place at Fernandez Plana's home in Vedado, Havana.

Brand asked Fernandez Plana's help in order to get Dals. and 1,ü5, and

safe chou

Though Fernandez Planas agreed to help, he was a little bit reluctant becausa of

connections with MAR. He said he was going to talk things over with his friends

promised to give me an answer in a few days. Nevertheless, he accepted four hunc

pesos to be used in the renting of safe houses. Brand also asked about the possi

of creating some disturbances at liavana University on the 30th of Septembar,

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

could not burn the people they had at the University in that kind of action, He

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

event do the dad at to

communists

and militia, already well trained, equioped and organized.

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

Francisco Robama Dominguaz, ex-lieutenent of the Rebel Army. Robayna had been a

membes of the American Army, at Fort Dix, New Jeragy, He had been to Europe aa a

member of the American Arny. He deserted to go to Cuba and join the forces fight

Batista. He became a member of Faure Unsion's guerrillas in the mountains of las

Villas. Robayna said that he was willing to join Nardo and Brand's efforts. He s

that he had already been working in the recruiting of peopla. He assured Brand t

he could count with a force of 150 men. He also said that he was going to get Do

Robayna was to work under the orders of Nardo.

In his next meeting with Brand, Fernandez Planas returned the four hundred

pe

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

houses, because the people they could use for that, were needed at the MRR. Neve

since Brand had promised him weapons, he said he

would keen trying to got D.2s.

LoZs. He said he wanted to see Brand

again.

Benito Fernandez saw Brand again. He said that he had talked with his brother

who had been a Mayor in Santiago de Cuba. He had also talked with Luis Casero Gu

who had also been a Mayor in Santiago do Cuba, They both promised him to start

searching for D.Z3. and Lobs. in the southern coast of the Province of Oriente.

Brand also sai Nelson Iglesias again.. He said it had been difficult to récru

people at the University, because everyona seemed to belong already to one organ.

or another. Nevertheless, he said, he had a group of around ten students who wer:

willing to work with him, though some of them already belonged to Rescate. He hai

in contact with a boy naned Solis, who was heading Rescate's group at the Univer:

hround these days, Joe, a member of the Company nom Brand had

met in Washing

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

anynore in getting people out of Cube to be properly trained. He promised to give

Brand some contacts which would help Brand in his activitios. These promises weri

NW 65924 Docid 32356993 pägel made some contacts which will be referred to in due course.

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Brand had been

asking to see Plinio. Plinio also had been asking to see

Amaro knew about one of Brand's safehouses.

She came one day and told frand

Plinio neaded to see him. Next day,

Brand went to see Plinio. At Plinio's safe

Brand also met a man named Juan Mendez, also known as George the Pilot or Jose

Casanova. Mendez was the head of o group named MAR (Movimiento Anticomunista Re

cionario). Plinio told Brand of his efforts and how pleased he was with the way

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

and the meetings he was expesting so have in the days to come. In return, Brand

said that he was also pleasedwith the way things were developing.

In his next meeting with Brand, Robayna brought a map pointing out a D.z. Th

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

could give the exact location of the next D.Zs. he was trying to get Robayna wa.

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

into battle. Robayna gave Brand an estimate of the weapons he needed for his 15

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

that in the Province of Pinar del Rio, a majority of the population was in favo:

an uprising against Castro,

in many ocaasions twice and thrice a weak. --

By this time, Brand had met with Efren Rodriguez in several occasiona. Efren

Rodriguez was contacting and organizing action groups to be used in Havanag in t

Bity as woll as in the Provinco. A man by the name of Rutilio Ramos had been cor

by him. This mon was to lead the men we were planning to use in an attempt agair

Fidel's life. Bfren Rodriguez had also met people wno gave him detailed informat

on the Government forces in Isle of Pines. Rutilio Ramos also made some reports

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

Lajas?

sent Brand some instructions that enabled Brand to make contact with a ma

named Alberto Jorge Losada Fernandez, Who worked at the Compania de Electricidad

This Losada was one of the leaders of an organization called "Resistencia Agramo

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

Province of Pinar del Rio, And what seemed most important of all, they had a gio

of fifty men already in the mountains in Pinar del Rio, in a place named Rio Hon

In the first meeting with Logada, Brand

gave him 500 pesos to be used in the

purchase of supplies for the men

alroady in the mountains. Brand also instructed

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

group's wi

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

leacer of the group at the mountains to cone to Havana to have a neeting with Bri

Losada also agreed to try to find some Dols. or L.2s. From that day on, Losada

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

Brand promptly approved.

Jos sent Brand some instructions that enabled Brand to make contact

named Vidal Morales, who was to provide the goons that were promised

Jim Bowdin. Brand instructed Vidal to organize his nen and have them ready for

action to be used when requirod. Brand also instructed Vidal to start checking

Carlos Rafael Rodriguaz, a well known communist, and also to give all the informs

he could gather about the top communists in Cuba. Vidal agreed to this.

In a meeting with Losada, he informed Brand that the leader of the group at

Rio Hondo, a man by the namo of Lazaro Santos Abrou, had been killed in his way t

havana to

gee Brand. Brand then told Losada to make

arrangements. so Brand could

nave a meeting with

the man who had substituted Lazaro Santos.

NW 65924 Docld:32356993 pagemeeting with Cesar Lancis and Losada, so both men would set in tou

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instructed Losada not to talk with lancis about the people in the mountains. H

to talk with Lanois only about the laborers ac the Electric Company, because B:

wanted Lancis to organize the labor section of Cuba Libro.

In his next meting with brand, bancis refused to have anything to do wiüh 1

He gave Brand a written report about Losada and Locada's brother, also working

Electric Company. The report said that Loada had been a well known batistiano:

that he had been suspected of being an informer for Batista's security forces.

report also said that Losada was suspected of being a fairy. The same report st

that Losada's brother was a drug addict and a "pusher". Brand then askad: Lancis

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

Lancis said that losada and his brother were considered fidel's enemias, witho

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

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

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

he was willing to return. the thousand pesos that Brand had given him. lo this

Ground the Filtenth of September, Brand thought he had noticed certain unu

things around Potin's building, where Brand's safehouse was located. One day, a

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

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

something wrong was going on. Brand left the building and never came back. It w

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

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

of Brand's apartment, had been the victin of extortion. This had been the unu

atmosphere that Brand had noticed around the building, because that tennant had:

under surveillance by the people who submitted him to extortion.

Brand went to live for some days at Juan Mendez's place. At this safchouse,

met a man named Jorge Espino,

who worked with Mendez at MAR. Brand put Espino i:

contact with Nardo,

so Espino's people in Pinar del Rio wouldwork under the suic

of Robayna• Espino's military chief in Pinar del Rio was a young man by the name

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

in contact with Robayna, and working under his command.

Around these days, Brand heard that Mendez was going to have an interview wit

Priest named Las Heras. Brand went to that meeting and asked this priest to go t

Artemise, in the Province of finar del Rio, and contact Nardo, so he would provi

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

Pinar del Rio. Brand saw: Nardo and arrangaments were made in such a way that Na

did see Father Las Heras. From then on, it was their busineas to keep in touch.

At the westing with Father Las Feras, Brand net a physician named Dr. Leon Lemus

identified himself as a delegate from Organizacion Occidental Anticomunista (004

A few days later, Brand introduced Nardo to Dr. Leon Lemus, so Leon would help N

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

00d's military chief in the Province of Pinar del Rio was a young man named Cruz

This Cruz. Blanco was introducad to Robayna by Leon Lomus. From then on, Cruz Bla:

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

were given to Robryna, that in the last message that Robeyna sent to Brand throu

Nardo, he claimed to have six hundred men under his cormand. And he said that thi

vas a conservativa figure. Nardo commented that in order to make this figure mor

conservative, he would say that Robayna had five hundred men under his command. :

figure is accepted by Brand as good.

NW 65924 Docld:32356993 Page 5

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-Son

By the first days of September Brand had met Dr. Rodolfo Henriquez Lauranzon,

a well known Cuban dontist. This dentist lont his house many times so that it. cc

be used for Brand's meetings with Benito Fernandez. Brand also used Honriquez as

treasurer, Whenever Brand received money from the Company, he took it to Henriqu

in order to avoid a heavy loss of money if Brand was captured. In one of the mee

with Benito Fernandez, Brand inet a man named Jose Cabalts, who had been a stocki

at the Cooperativa de Omnibus Aliados, This Cabañas had hundreds of friends amor

drivers and conductors of busses in Havana. Cabañas promised to get safehouses a

storehouses. He also promised to organiza groups among the drivera and conductor

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

620 peso3•

A few days later brand met jus Alvarez, a former bus citet, eleakororea a

became Brand's driver. This Luis Alvarez had been recommended by

be a courageous, dedicated and faithful companion.

In a new meeting with Jose Fernandez Planas, Brand met a young physician know

Anselso. In this meeting they said they had found a Doz. and that they ware goin

give Brand a may pointing out the exact location of the place, They askod which

weapons could Brand provide. Brand mentioned all the weapons he hechad been prom

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

the map had reached his hands. The boys promised to give the map in short notice

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

Some days later Brand received a very detailed nap of a l.z. in the southern

coast of the Province of Pinar del Rio, It was sent to the Company right away.

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

kept asking about the weapons, and he kept saying that his men were anxious to r

the equipment and start fighting.

Through Emilio Rodriguez Brand inet an American known as Willian Webster. This

was to put Brand in contact with a group of a friend of Brand who had gone to Mi

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

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

Mario Massip's group. By this time Brand had become a little bit uneasy about th

lack of news fron Jin Bowdin, and kept asking Enilio Rodriguez about the deliver

of weapons. Emilio Rodriguez always answered that he knew nothing about it, that

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

were in that respect.

Through webster, Brand made contact with a wealthy and very well known cuban

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

headed by Jose Ignacio Rivero and Antonio Rubio Padilla. He said, and Brand beli:

to be the exact truth, that they had connections along the whole island with wel

known and respected people. That they could provida fincas and transportation. A

they wanted was weapons and guidance. Brand promised both. Through the Coupany,

• days later, Silvio de Cardenas provided two DoZs. Brand net Silvio de Cardenas fi

five times nore. Cardonas gave a list of the weapons his frionds needed. Brand

himself to deliver the weapons in due course,

One day Brand got word that thore was going to be a meeting at Plinio's safehi

People from the Frontowere supposed to go to that meeting, Brand was invited to :

insisted on Brand's attendance, Brand went to the meeting. there he saw flinio,

Efren Rodriguez, Jorge Espino, Francisco Santiago, Juan Mendez and Joe. Plans wer

set to coordinate the CA and the Front's efforts to help Plinio in the mountains,

It was established also that Brand would coordinate his men in Pinar del Rio wit!

• Through Emilio Rodriguez, Brand net a man named Alfredo Izaquirre Rivas.

Theremi

told Brand that he had been trained in sabotage and that he had around 201 men al

organized in the City and Province of Havana. Brand told hin that in due course

weapons and sabotage and incendiary materials would be provided and that all Izag

NW 65924 (Docld:32356093o Page Go keep their men organized and ready to enter into action when rea

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By this time, Brand had met a man known as Roberto Alvarez, who had a red je

who said he

for

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

several years. This man was introduced to Brand by Emilio Rodriguez. Robert

was to help Brand in anything Brand would require of him. Erand found that Robe

was available only after 5 p.n. and on Saturdays and Sundays. Brand found thia

Alvarez to be a sensible, educated and calmed individual. Brand told this can t

ho would find something for him to do.

Cabañas had given by now four saichouses. These safehouses were already inha

but the families living there were to receive anyone in nseddof a safehouse, Ir

of those houses Brand livod for two weeks, Another of those houses was used as

safehouse for meetings.

Through Cabanas and

• Benito Fernandez, Brand not a man named Oscar Rodriguez.

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

Oriente. They were willing to work provided they were supplied with weapons. Br

found the man to be honest, but dumb and unexperienced. Nevertheless, Brand ins

- this man to keep in touch with Cabañas.

By this time, Brand had become a little bit uneasy

about his disguise. During

perambulations around town, Brand had met by chance with many old friends. Nong

then recognized brand. One day, however, a boy named Nodal, member of Triple,

saw Brand in a drugstoro and recognized him. When Branu. went out, Brand noticed

that two men in a car were watching him. The car went around the block and star

the car approached Brand saw Nodal and Silvie Martinez, a

momber of Triple A. Silvio called Brand and insisted on haring a meeting with h

Brand was mad to see how irresponsible and indiscreet these fellowa were. Brand

them

an appointment, but Brand didn't attend to it, Brand had become uneasy abo

the disguise because, although Bavas using a second hairpiece, lt looked awfull

bad, and many friends had warned

Brand that the hairpiece looked. a falo from a m

afar. They also said that the moustache looked too dark. Brand's conclusion abo

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

in Cuba's clinate, If one wears them daily, as Brand did,

they ars not good for

more than twelve or fifteen days. 2) The disguise was good as long as it made E

a differont man, but it was bad because 1t had too distinctivo foaturos, that i

that if the volice radioad a description of a man with very dark hair, very dar

moustache, and a pair of sonehor unusual glasses, it is surg. onougn that Brand

roine to be caught, It is Brand's opinion that if a man is to wear a disguise 1

a long period of time, this disguise should not have distinetive features. It s

be difficuli to describe the man in disguise, This is why from the very first d

in September Brand kept asking Jim to send Karl to Cuba, Brand wanted to be dis

in a different way. Another thing about disguises: the verson in disguise shoul

always have enough materials at hand. In many occasionasthe replacements for mou

took too long to arrive to Cuba. The last ten moustaches were received in very

shape and were so bad that Brand thought they had not been made by Karl, or tha

Karl had made them in a hurry.

By this time Brand had already met Mario Escoto a known conspirator and old

friond of Brand. Escoto was Aureliano's representative in Cuba, and the nan in

charge of triple a, grand offered weapons to Escoto, provided Escoto gave D.2s,

escoto said. he had to consult this with Aurcliano, but nevertheless, he said th

was going to send Brand a may with the exact location of a D.2. Brand also offe

Eacoto any money he night need, but locoto said he didn't need money. He implis

that he had been provided with all the money he needed for his activities.

By this time, Brand had notified the Company that all his men were to work i

the name of "Cuba Libre"

NW 65924 Docld:32356993 Page 7

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-7-

Through Vidal Morales, Brand met a run named Jaime Comila Perez. Gomila was one

ot the leaders at the Union Vinatera Nacional, an association of wine industrialis

Brand saw Gonila three times. Comila offored to get the defection of the Under Sec

of the Ireasury (Subsecretario de Hacienda), Dr. Israel Rodriguez. He also said th

he could get the defection of one of the members of the Suprene Court, whose name

Brand doos not remember now. Gomila also said. Gomila had also made contacts with

Captain of the Army, stationed in Santiago, named Quintana Mena. This captain had

a member of the i-2 and he wanted to cooperate with the forces fighting Castro, Bi

instructed Gonila to get intelligence reports from this Captain,

and also from the

Subsecretario de Hacienda and from the Member of the Supreme Court. Gomila went to

Santiago de Cuba to see the Captain, but Brand does not know the oucome of their

meeting, because Brand didn't see Gomila

again.

One day Brand went to Fernandez Plana's house to have a meting with the milita

chief of the Frontin the Province of Pinar del Rio. Brand felt he had noticed some

surveillance around the place. When Brand told this to Fernandez Plana and his fri

they adopted a somewhat we-don't-believe-in-ghosts attitude. They told Brand that

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

transportation fop Brand. Brand went with Anselmo, whose car was parked in front o

Fernandez Plana's house. After Anselmo had been driving for a while, Brand asked h

in he was looking through the rear mirror, to see if they had been followed. A few

seconds after this remark, inselmo said that a car was alter them. Brardtherdinstr

Anselmo not to go to the meeting place. They began driving around town, and the ca

kept after them. Finally they went to Calixto Garcia's Hospital. Brand went into a

building, took off his moustache and glasses and went out by the same door he had

to come in. The men who had been following them were there, but it seems they didn

recognized Brand, who walked away.

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

friend of his, Pancho Varona, a fellow conspirator against Batista. Brand invitad

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

meeting. Three daya after that, Varona net Brand. Varona informed Brand that a few

days before an airplane had dropped equipment at bl Escambray, and that the equipm

had been caught by Fidel's forcas. Brand asked some D.zs. from Varona. Varone prom

na be caught by able fore?

to get then, but he looked quite skeptical about many things. Brand told him.

The next time

Brand saw Benito Fersandoz, he said that Plinio's mother had visi

him, quite nervous, saying that his son had been captured at 3l Escambray.

Benito

her that that was not true.

Prior to this meeting, Benito Fernandez had introduced to Brand

Two triends of

named Enrique Barroso, and another young man by the name of Cruz.

othey identifiod

themselves as friends of Nino Diaz, Brand offered them helo, and asked them to coo

their offorts with Brand in the province of Pinar del Rio. They said that they ha

talk those things with Nino Diaz before making any definite arrangement. They sai

Cruz was going to hiami to see Nino Dias. They wanted Brand to establish bona

Nino Diaz

so her- night trust Brand. Brand sent a flash to Jim Bowdin, asking him

establish Brand's bona fide with Nino Diaz. Many days passed by, and Brand was no

able to continue negotiations, because no answer ever came from Jim Bondin or

nember of the Company. Prior to this meeting with Barroso and Cruz, Brand had had

a first meeting with Barroso. Benito Fernandez, knew that, Barroso and Cruz had man;

hidden weapons in Havana.

Through Losada, Brand met a man named Juan Tabranes. This man Tabranes vas

the leaders of'Resistencia Agranonte". Losada had informed him of his dealings vi.

Brand. He said that in order to get a final agreement with "Cuba Libre"

, he hau

inform a man named Rossel, who is living in the United States. Tabranes looked wi

NW 65924 Docid:32336993* Page greerent with Brand.

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By this time,

Brand has received infornation through Cabanas of the frequent c

of Raul faul Castro to the Embassy of Checoeslovaguia. We tried but could not ren

house acroos the street. Brand had instructed Roberto Alvarez to make a plan for

casing of the place and also for the killing. The hands of the professional coul

seen in the instructions given by: Roberto Alvarez. At last,

we got word that Rau

Castro was going to live in Oriente, and since we were not alle to rent the house

the plan was dropped.

In his last meeting with Brand, Cesar Lancis had informed him of the possibili

o1 killing Fidel at the National Hotel, where he used to go to have dinner with t

employees. This was also told to Roberto Alvarez, who began thinking about plans:

regarding

the National Hotel and Pekin Restaurant.

Rumors began to:spread around town that Plinio had been captured somewhere nea:

El Escambray mountains.

Meanwhile, Cabanas had seen Brand several times, and had informed him ot the

recruitings he had made for Cuba Libre among the drivers and conductors of Coopera

de Omnibus Aliados•

Finally, the newspapers in town puolished some pictures of Plinio Prieto after i

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

is, the 1lth of October, Emilio Rodriguez came to see Brand. He informed Brand that

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

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

of the rebels. Emilio Rodriguez asked Brand how many men could he give to start she

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

asked if Brand had any nen available to try to rescue Plinio. Brand ansered that hi

could giva armed men for that purpose, Emilio Rodriguez also asked about Brand's

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

answered that he could give armed men for that action. The "ve-nust-do-something" at

("tenemos que hacer algo"), is the worst ching that can happen in a conspiracy. Whi

Brand realized that all the leaders in the different groups wanted to start shootir

without plans of any definite purpose, Brand began to have strong doubts about the

seriousnoas or coordination of the efforts that were under way.

After Plinio'3 execution, morals cane to an all time low. Brand instructed Caba

to start sabotage on the busses in Havans. Brand sent a flash to Jim

Bondin insisti

on the urgency of receiving incendiary and demolition materials. No answer. In the

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

Havana by pouring starch or emery in the radiators.

Benito Fernandoz had informed Brand that Guido Gonzalez Bustamante had seen Beni

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

Guido then said that Miguel Isa fresneda, a former friend of Brand and presently

holding a high position at the Ministerio de Sobernacion, had informed Guido that E

was in Havana, under disguise, and offering noney and weapons to different undergro

organizations. Isa's son in lair, named Nelson Barroso, was a member of the Judicial

Police in Cuba.

Mearwhile, Naño Alonso, former member of the Army, and present member of the fro

in the Province of Pinar del Rio, had sent a messago to D. Nardo.. In that message t

Nardo, Alonso gaid:

have permitted ourselft is a shane that you refused to work with us at the Front, &

deceived by the man of the hairpiece and the dyed moustache"

answered saying that he had known the man of the hairpiece for many years, and that

man never tried to deceive anyone.

Brand had never contacted or sent measages either to Naño Alonso or to Miguel Ie

Fresneda.

One afternoon, around the l6th of October, Shile Brand was in a car driven by

Fifa Portugal, a woman employse of the Electric Company, Brand noticed that threa

policemen in a patrol car vere insistontly staring at him. The patrol car went ahead

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looked at Brand and speeded up the car aound the blocko Before they could get to

Brand, Brand had entered into his safehouse, at Hotel Vista Al Mare

Next day, Brand went to one of his safehouses to try to make an appointcent witl

Duilio Rodriguez, This safehouse was very well located, but Brand never liked the

way in which lonte, a cuban employee of the Compady, had built up the cover for the

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

the Government, as it had been done with hundreds of empty apartments in the city.

That didn't prove anything, except that the cover had not been well built up.

Brand made an appointment with Emilio Rodriguez. Both started walking around the

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

and come to Washington to see Jim Bowdin.

Brand then went to sea Alfredo Izaguirre, and stayed at his place for a weak. It

the meantime, and through Izaguirre's friendsat the Embassy, Brand sent a flash to

Jim Bowdin, informig him of Brand's decision to discontinus operations. At the end

of that wesk, Alfredo Izaguirre returned home one night quite upset and told Brand

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

Through Benito Fernandez, Brand made contact with a very woll known physician ni

Dr. Fernardo Milanss. Though Brand had decided to discontinue operations, he recrui

Dr. Milanes, who was willing to bring angroup of about. 30 of his fellow paysicians

to work with Cuba Libro.

rating that to Ta other had in ng to red it

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

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

control 14 kilometers ot tha southern coast in Oriente. Brand went to see Izaguir?!

and

asked him to establish contact with suri Marin and tell him that Brand wanted 1

see hin, cither in Havana or in Criente. Taguirre then told Brand, quite bluntly,

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

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

leît Izaguirre's house in a rage. Ten days had elapsed from the day Brand sent the

flash

'to. Jim Bowdin, and, nevertholess, Izaguirre's friends at the Embassy didn't

know and had not been able to find out, who Brand was.

Brand then vent to see Emilio Rodriguez to inquire about the Company's preparat:

to take Brand out of the country. E.R. said that he had not received an answar on :

but that they, the people from the Company, had sent los 5000 pesos.

Benito Fernandez brought Brand a very detailed nap pointing out a DoZ. at or nei

wa. Gobernadora, in the northern coast of Pinar del Rio, The may was sent to the

Company right away. Cabañas informed Brand that steps had been taken to produce

sabotage at the main Cigar Factories in Havana.

Erand then saw Nardo for the last time, Nardo was highly pleased with the way

things were going on in the Province of Pinar del Rio, though he informed Brand thi

Robayna

was in despair because he had not received the weapons that had been promi:

to him.

Contact were made by Brand which eventually produced his departure from the

By this time, the hairpiece looked awfully bad. Almost no glue was loft, and

the last moustaches that had been sent to Brand had each hair vointing in a differen

direction.

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