Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume X, Cuba, January 1961–September 1962

261. Memorandum Prepared by the Presidentʼs Assistant Special Counsel (Goodwin)⁰

Washington, September 9, 1961.

RELATIONS WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL

1. The United States regards the Revolutionary Council as the central point of contact in its dealing with the Cuban exile and underground activity. Dr. Miro Cardona—as Chairman of that Council—has the complete confidence of the United States Government. The following is a complete outline of the structure of our future relationships with the Council:

A. Budgetary—A basic administrative budget will be allocated. This will be somewhere in the neighborhood of one million dollars per year. There will be considerable flexibility in the use of this money allowed to the Council. Detailed advance justification will not be required, but complete accounting for monies spent will be essential.

All other allocations of money will be on the basis of specific projects submitted by the Council and approved by the United States. In this category will fall most of the propaganda activities and all clandestine activities within Cuba.

B. Composition of Council—The Council will continue to broaden its base, allowing entry to all substantial exile groups which are not identified with Batista or with Communism.

C. Underground Activities—

1. All groups willing to work with the Council in connection with their underground activities will be dealt with through Dr. Miro. This means that the operating U.S. Agency will meet jointly with Dr. Miro and with the appropriate representative of the underground group to discuss activities, including the transfer of supplies and money.

2. All groups which are not willing to work in this manner will be dealt with bilaterally (the U.S. and the group involved); but Dr. Miro will be kept informed of these activities.

3. In all contacts with underground groups it is understood that the nature of these contacts and the matters discussed will be held in the strictest secrecy between the United States, Dr. Miro and the group concerned. It is not intended that information of this sort be disseminated to other members of the Council. Where Dr. Miro is informed of clandestine activities it is for his information only, or that of a specially appointed assistant for these matters. It is further understood that if this arrangement proves insecure, i.e., if information is not kept completely secret, it will be terminated.

4. A CIA agent will keep in constant contact with Dr. Miro.

D. Council Relationships—

1. All problems arising out of the activities of the Council will be discussed between the Council and the Bureau of ARA of the State Department. However, Dr. Miro will still retain his contact with the White House in such cases where he considers such contact to be urgently necessary.

0. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Cuba, August 1961-. Secret. A typed notation at the top of the source text reads: “Goodwin Memo.” A September 20 memorandum from H. Bartlett Wells of INR/DDC to Deputy Under Secretary Johnson describes the memorandum as Goodwinʼs record of the points made in his conversation with Miro Cardona. (Ibid.)