Office of the Historian

243. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, July 7, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Activities in U.S. of Fair Play for Cuba Committee and 26th of July Movement

PARTICIPANTS

  • Mr. James McDonnell, SCA
  • Mr. Robert Hurwitch, ARA:CMA/C
[Page 619]

I had previously mentioned to Mr. McDonnell ARAʼs concern over the activities in the U.S. of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and the 26th of July Movement. I had observed that while these activities appeared to be primarily of internal security concern, there were foreign policy implications as well. Unlimited activity on the part of these groups served to confuse the American public about the true nature of the Castro regime. Further, Cuban exile groups had expressed concern over these activities as counter-productive to their own efforts to impress the American public with the dangerous threat that Castro presented. I had inquired whether the Attorney Generalʼs office was fully aware of the Departmentʼs interest in these groups.

In response to this inquiry, Mr. McDonnell consulted with the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Internal Security Division. Mr. McDonnell reported that that office was keenly aware of public, Congressional and governmental interest in the activities of these groups. The Internal Security Division is following these activities on a day-to-day basis, compiling evidence with a view toward citing these organizations. The registration of the FPCC had already been solicited by that office and had been refused by the FPCC. The Internal Security Division is now examining its information on the FPCC to determine whether to seek court action to force the FPCC to register.

Comment:

In view of the close and constant attention being paid to both these groups by the Assistant Attorney Generalʼs office and Mr. McDonnellʼs oral transmission of the Departmentʼs interest as well, there does not appear any necessity at this time to stimulate the Attorney Generalʼs office to further action in this regard.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/7-761. Confidential. Drafted by Hurwitch on July 14.↩