Originator: HSCA
Document date: 11/07/1978
Document type: NOTES

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DO NUT REPRODUCI

RETURN TO CIA

ISCO 5009303, P6 F8 97-4625 gio, SeeS)

From 1960-64

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largest faction and had organized delegations in Miami, New

York, Chicago, Venezuela and Cuba. (Ibid) The clandestine

faction operating in Cuba was lead by Pepin Fernandez Badue

who used

the alias "Lucas". (Ibid)

When Fernandez arrived in

the U.S. in October 1961, he presented his credentials to the

Cuban Revolutionary Council (CRC), claiming he was the rep-

resentative of the MDC movement in Cuba, and Council president,

DI. Miro Cardona, accepted him into the CRC. (Ibid) The

"Lucas" faction remained with the council but declined in

importance because Fernandez failed to consult with the

Executive Committee of his faciton nor did he make any effort

to hold the group together. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy

Document, Volume 32, Item 1, #97-4110-72)

The Rasco faction of MDC had as it Military Chief an

independently wealthy young Cuban, Laureano Batista Falla.

(Ibia, Item 2: #97-4110-123) Free-spirited and under no financiall

pressures, Batista was able to organize and partially finance the

infiltration attempts of the MDC (HSCA #009303, FBI #97-4623-149,

Section V) which made this one of the most active and effective

underground groups in Cuba during the early 1960's. (HSAC

Security File 092, Senstudy Docuemnt, Volume 37, Item 4,

7105-95461-15, page 4'

• CUAlOS LBF

Perrine,

Florida, prior to the April 1961 invasion. (HSCA

#009303, p.

4,

FBI #97-4623-149, Section 5) Batista made many (CIA-sponsored

trips from this camp to deliver explosives, guns and ammunition

to the Cuban underground, (Ibia) plore the Bay of pigs

invasion, all underground groups worked together, sharing

141 - 10241

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supplies and information. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy

Document, Volume 37, Item 4, #105-95461-15, p. 4)

However,

Preuden

ta faction

elected

'Rascó" daction 6 the MiDC,

the repressive measures of the Castro regime after the

invasion caused members of the Cuban undergound to live in

fear of discovery and made intergroup liaison extremely risky.

(Ibid, p. 2) Despite

the inherent dangers, the underground

movements of the MDC and Movimento Revolucionario del Pueblo

(MRP) worked jointly for an all out sabotage effort in the

fall

of 1961. (Ibid)

Batista was-associated Wi€""€he"CA"beg†ning neaxly

1960 and was used as a political and psychological agent

but the association-wes-prit:-CIA/0S-taureano Batista railer

Iw 1961

Operational Approal formine organzida public demonstrations

protesting U.S. government failure to properly aid Cuban exiles

in their attempt to overthroy Castro. (SCA $009303, p. 6, FBI

#97-4623-180, Section 6, Corfétation Summary) and by 1962, the

CIA informed the FBI it had no operational interest in him. rulhil

In 1962-be decome

(Ibid, P. 5, FBI #97-4623-149, Section Same ge the

Pength me and the"Batista" faction of the MCentered into a number of

(HSCA 009303, associations with other exile groups for the purpose of

P. 8, 2am 4,

$6,05-

propaganda, sabotage and supplying the Cuban underground.

FBL

183815

In 1062 many MDC membes joined the Cuba Coninitteei 10rmed to

counteract the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a pro-Castro

organizatio la the le.s.

• (CIA/DDO, MDC Volume 3, Cable to Director from

JMWAVE, 6/21/62, #14986) In 1964, the MDC and DRE (spell out)

worked together fue formulate plans for an underground

organization to infiltrate Oriente Province. (CIA/DDO, Laureano

Batista Falla, Info. Cable IDCS DB 3/660-090, 3/14/64.

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maine

Olid

007303. 26m 2, P.4. FBI*

97-4623-849)

Exer Batita, cho accomponied Roste ou

the

raid, was upeet by the premature annou

DRAFT- MDC-11/7/78

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It

was

the year 1963, however, that found the Batista

faction of the MDC involved in a large number of anti-Castro

activities.

The MDC made

a unity pact with the Commandos L in which

the latter

group was to provide training and

assistance in

military intelligence and the MDC was to provide 3 small boats

and a team of

men to infiltrate Cuba. The MDC also made a

pact with Dr. Carlos Prio Socarras, former Prespient of Cuba

who donated $50,000 to the group for military aid in return

for its promise of political support. (CIA/DDO, MDC Volume 5,

Information Cable UFG-3536,19/3/63)

In April 1963, Frant, Sturgis, Miami-based soldier of

fortune, supplied information that Batista, Orlando Bosch Avila,

Manuel Artime and Alexander Rorke were jointly planning an air

strike over Havana on April 25. (HSCA #009303, page 1, FBI #97-4623,

Section I) According to Sturgis, the strike was to originate from

an

airstrip in Puerto

The bombs were o the hommade variet

target a

youd put togection by Batecta (Quid P.5, 9tm 2

Alexander Rorke publically announced the strike had taken

place as

scheduled, which took the other planners by

surprise

and they dismissed it

fatus necessary to implement their plan. (Ibid) This incident

created a stir and resulted in an intensive FBI investigation

of Rorke's allegation. (HSCA #009303, P. 3, FBI # 97-4623,

Sections II through VI) It was felt that Rorke's story was

probably untrue (Ibia, p. 2, #97-4623-35) since Radio Havana,

immediate

contrary to usual policy, made no,protest of the bombing.

(ISId, p. 3, FBI #97-4623, Section IV)

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Richard Rudolph Davis, A Cuban alien WiKK/A/ApEFIEN

MKH/ (HSCA 012981) had a peripheral association with the

MDC through his contact with Batista in the summer of 1963.

(Ibid) Davis was residing in New Orleans and, although not

at an earlier time

an MDC member, claimed/to have been a "coordinator" for the

group

and the New York Police Departent. (Ibid)

He was

a friend of Batista

and contacted

him because he knew Batista

was

in

position

to recommend

men

in the Miami area who

needed work. (Ibid)

Davis claimed he could provide employ-

ment for a small group of Cuban emigres.

Davis had entered into a business deal with geologist

David L. Raggio and a wealthy, right-wing New Orelanian, Gus

de LaBarre, forming the Guatemalad Lumber and Mineral Corpora-

tion. (Ibia) It was their intention to train the Cubans on

some land in Lacombe, Louisiana to which de LaBarre had access

through his nephew, Frank de LaBarre. (Ibid) After the train-

ing period, they were to be sent to Guatemala to cut mahogany.

A group of about 18 Cubans did arrive, under the leader-

ship of a well-known Cuban exile, Victor Paneque (Ibid), who

VoLse, stem?

used the military code name of Commadante Diego. Stay -40-125, P.

According to Davis, the men arrived dressed in khakis (HSCA 006716,

p. 4) with the idea they were to receive military training.

(HSCA 006716, p. 2, FBI, Richard Rudolph DAvis, Volume I,

Report from

New Orleans, 7/3/64)

In the latter part of July 1963, the FBI conducted a

raid on property near that of the lumber company training camp,

where they seized

a cache of dynamite and other explosives.

(Ibid). This raid, according to Davis, unnerved his trainees,

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and they elected to return to Miami. (Ibid)

A somewhat different version of this episode comes

from Gus de LaBarre's nephew and attorney, Frank, who first

related his

story in 1966 to his former law school classmate,

Jim Garrison.

(HSCA 012981, Fonzi memo 9/6/78)

de LaBarre

said his

Uncle Gus had introduced him to

Davis, whom deLaBarre described

as a "floater". They came to

see de LaBarre about drawing up Articles of Incorporation for

the Guatemalan Lumber Company and that is when he learned of

their plans to bring unemployed Cubans from Miami to train as

loggers. Uncle Gus sent provisions to the exiles on a daily

basis and solicited money for food and clothing from friends

and relatives.

de LaBarre said he didn't pay

much attention to the

activities of the group but, when he heard on his car radio that

the FBI had seized a cache of ammunition at a house in Lacombe,.

he immediately called his uncle. Although receiving assurances

that the lumber group was not involved, de LaBarre called the

officers of the corporation together and insisted that the

Cubans be taken out of

there. Davis claimed, according to

de LaBarre's version, that the Cubans did not want to

leave,

whereupon

de LaBarre had to some some real "brainstorming'.

He rented a Hertz

ton-and-a-half truck and instructed Davis to

take

it to the camp and tell the Cubans "that the invasion

is

on. "

Davis complied, and the Cubans loaded their gear, jumped

in the truck and

were brought to the Greyhound bus terminal

in New Orleans. Each Cuban was given a one-way ticket to Miami

plus a small

amount of cash and told they would get their orders

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Page 7

when they reached Miami. Looking as though ready for war, with

knapsacks and

guns bulging from under their

clothes, they

boarded the bus

and de LaBarre had no more contact with them.

The last he heard of Davis was in 1964 when one of de

LaBarre's

friends reported he had gone into business with Davis and

was

left with a lot

of bills. (Ibid)

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wishin

7

on Porkis part? Suzis said the origeral

planners were still trepig & nose the

Yunds necessary to impleneut thei plaw,

This incident created a stir and resulted

in aw intercive FBI investigation of

Porkie allegation (HSCA0012'p3, FBI # 97-4623,

Kuni dong ma than a put tho

che may Director from SAC Miami, Cp 26,1943)

Airpom

since Radio Havana, Contrary to usual policy,

made no protest of the bombing. (HSCA 009303 p. 3,

to* # 97-4623, See III, sendétetid CIA Dapo, Cable o-kza

+:666,871,-5/24465)

* Quant Rechard Rudolple Dovi's story.

of the IDO. at a meeting in miami in

July 1963, the Quis Somoza, former Preudent

of nicaragua, offered the MiC o hace for

operations in that corentry whick the

mDe acupted a(CIA/DDO 18F VOLI, Dufo. Report

CS DB-3-655, 118, Atol 1126/63) tessA Duformation

was recried by the CIA that Venezuelaw Precident

Romalo Retaucout also offered D make a bare

available for the MDC and provide perconnel

and supplies i them - CCIA/DDO, LBF VOLI, Lufo Cable

so ther

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Du Get 1967, after then World Cougress of

Chritar Democrate in Strasourg, Manoe, two.

Went german officials of the

Christeair

Democratic Party confersed with the MOC in

Miami. (CIA/DOO, MOCVORS, lyo Cable (4F6.4531,)

1129164) According to one of the officiale,

the Weat Jermans, after months of study, had

deided & finance the MOC, noT hecauce

they were prosticilly fond Illn t

felt once

liberated, the Cubana

would have a Moral superiorty one the

rest of datri America. (Obid)

ase

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Queet for P. 9.

45. Cutoms raided MOC head quaster

in Miami on apr 21,1964 and confeccated

a lage cache of aims o ammunitions s

asserted Bitiste, ofter which the militar moe

section KeT up separate headpuarter p continued

Is store materials for infiltrations attack muscions

agaesat Cubia. (092, Senstudy UP. 32, Stem 2, 97-4110-123, P.1)

Ou July, Batecta: Vector Paneque infiltratio

Man o equipment vito Cuba to form a nucleur

A guerrilla hando (Skid) Bateata said there

men were awaiting receipt of adequate arma

o ammunition at whick time they go cats the

mountains. (Obid pz)

Batta packticted

amanticle is PATRIA pulleally élooncea

the MDS lakeled percons or organgation

coho seceed tenor

aid and ou backing

from the 4.S. goverment as "check

-eaters"

Core Suete, VOL 33, Jer 2, 8-5, 92-410- 132)

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Bateta was displeased with the manner

in which his men were treated in the

LA Countries.

baying that local polce

treated Calames in a harsh manner,

violated there

level right & confeccated

thei property.

(ASCA Secuit, file 092, Sustudy

recrite

Daci

ment. Voh. 33

Itter 1, 1 97-4110-86, p.13-14)

He alleged theis

treatment was a direct

NeaulT f6.5. diplomatic influcace on

there goverments of present Celan piles

to dies depent fut on coil

He stated

of the miami

area

becauce it was

apparent thougle the C.S. gout. had a

policy of stopping Cabou

railers, it ched not

procecute them. (Shid)

(Quest Customs)

The nise was to the latte pout of 1964, " Batta worshad

to Concentratin, him efforts on bund ricing, for

the moe, colicitiage contributiona from a

number of beating promeneat Americane.

(Slid, Item 2, 92-4110-132 p.3) to allo aud

efferessed aw interest is morting contact with

the ohw Brick Sociaty to meet toible Soonee

& financing. (Shid) the moe had a

Cache of equipment behaved I have been

stolen from It Sackson, IC. (Shie I and

left touthe When Batesta riested the mie

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training bac i tha Domenican Ripuli

nelenel te took this

equipment withe lin (Obid p.5)

anti-Castro actuition, moned

Washington.D.C.and-recereda

Doctoral degree in political scenice in

Spreng 1920 and then moved I Venezuela,

CHSCP . 009303, p.7, Ilern 3., FBI + 97-4110-207,

Report from Meames 1/28/10)

The IDe suffered thie fate of other

onti. Castro organizationa findeig i E

increasingly difficilt % finiance

infilation aul, sabotage musione aud

O limit their aeteatics. The organigatono

gradually declined in importance.

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