262. Memorandum from C. Tracy Barnes to the Deputy Director (Plans), May 81
SUBJECT
- Actions To Be Taken as a Result of Meeting, 6 May 1961 re NSC/Cuba Paper and a Separate Meeting with Mr. Richard Goodwin
PROPAGANDA:
1. Discussion with Henry [illegible in the original] re possibility of transferring Swan Island to USIA for use as an official U.S. station.
2. Discussion with John McKnight of USIA re questions of propaganda to Latin America, particularly:
a. Obtaining and disseminating atrocity stories from Cuba.
b. Obtaining and disseminating material establishing Communist/Dictatorship aspects of Castro regime.
c. Obtaining better Latin American press for U.S. generally and particularly in relation to the loan programs which are about to begin. This would also include good build-up for the anticipated Foreign Ministers meeting and coverage of same.
3. Discuss with Arthur Schlesinger the question of including with Murrow’s report on USIA Latin American activities a statement of our activities. Murrow’s report is for the President and I feel that it would give a false picture of the U.S. effort unless our activities were also included.
PARAMILITARY:
Prepare as soon as possible a suggested program including any aspects which we wish to work out with [illegible in the original]. [Typeset Page 637] When recommendations are ready they should be passed to the White House for consideration. This can be done either through the Special Group or directly to Goodwin’s office. In this connection, [less than 1 line not declassified] should be put in touch with Ray as soon as possible to work up the points outlined in the suggested prospectus.
[Facsimile Page 2]POLITICAL:
In order to work out satisfactory arrangements as to the proper channels for the Revolutionary Council, we have agreed to review all present RC (FRD)-U.S. relationships in order to determine how they should be continued for the future. It is understood that Dr. Miro Cardona and the Council will maintain a number of overt contacts, mainly with State (apparently, Morales-Carrisa will be named to do this) but to some extent with Defense and HEW. As soon as possible we should present our analysis of relationships to Goodwin for such discussion as he may want to have with the other Departments.
INTELLIGENCE:
1. Normal intelligence collection should continue and, to the extent possible, be increased with respect to receipt by Cuba of Communist aid and material. We might want to consider some U–2 flights from time to time in order to check for jets or destroyers.
2. [text not declassified]
3. On the propaganda side, we should increase our collection to obtain useable stories. I believe that this can be done to some extent through newspaper sources. We might consider the possibility of any intercepts plus, of course, some system of interrogating individuals leaving Cuba.
BUDGET:
We will have to budget activities pretty soon since the JMATE project will unquestionably have to terminate in the reasonably near future, presumably around the end of May at which time I believe the money will be pretty low anyhow.
- Propaganda, paramilitary, political, intelligence and budget actions to be taken resulting from Cuban invasion. Secret. 2 pp. CIA, DDO/DDP Files: Job 67–01083R, Box 1, C.T. Barnes—Chrono, Jan–Jul 1961.↩