296. Memorandum for the Record1
SUBJECT
- Amplification of the Minutes of the Meeting of the 303 Committee, 7 January 1965
At the request of Mr. McCone, the following amplification of the record of his remarks concerning Manuel Artime is inserted as a change on page 2 of the minutes dated 8 January 1965.2 In place of paragraph 3.e. of the 8 January minutes the following paragraphs are added:
3.e. Mr. McCone impressed on the Committee the difficulty of dealing with the autonomous exile groups and it was, in his opinion, extremely dangerous and of questionable effectiveness. Incidents beyond the control of CIA or USG might occur which could be very embarrassing.
f. Mr. McCone explained that support of the autonomous exile groups was part of a 6-point program and that when the program was submitted, stipulation was made that the program was a package involving propaganda, psychological efforts, infiltration, directed sabotage operations, economic denial, and autonomous operations.
g. As time passed, some of the “package”, most particularly the directed sabotage operations, was discontinued for policy reasons. Hence, the effectiveness of autonomous operations has been greatly reduced and the danger of embarrassment enhanced. Furthermore, Artime is not responsive to persuasion or direction and thus constitutes a persistent menace.
h. The Committee agreed the situation is hazardous and Mr. Bundy called Artime “a firecracker in our midst.”
[Page 705]Paragraph 3.f. of the minutes dated 8 January thus becomes paragraph 3.i.
In the opinion of the Executive Secretary, this amplification is completely in accord with what transpired at the meeting.
- Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 5412 Special Group/303 Committee Records, January–June 1965. Secret; Eyes Only.↩
- Document 295.↩