Office of the Historian

291. Memorandum for the Record1

Washington, December 3, 1964.

SUBJECT

  • Minutes of the Meeting of the 303 Committee, 3 December 1964

PRESENT

  • Mr. Bundy, Ambassador Thompson, Mr. McNaughton, and Mr. McCone
  • [name not declassified] was present for Item 4
  • [name not declassified] was present for Item 5

[Omitted here is discussion of unrelated subjects.]

3. Cuban Forecast

The paper “Proposed Infiltration/Exfiltration Operations into Cuba during December and 1–7 January 1965”2 was approved by telephonic vote on 3 December 1964.

4. Manuel Artime

a.
The CIA paper of 23 November 1964 entitled “Synopsis of Meeting with Manuel Artime Advising Change in Policy Regarding U.S. Government Support for His Operation”3 was noted by the principals.
b.
The CIA paper dated 30 November 1964 entitled “Proposed Take Over of the Cuban Merchant Ship Rio Caonao by the Artime Group” was discussed by the principals with a marked lack of enthusiasm for the concept.2 (This paper was not a CIA endorsed proposal, but a relay to the Committee of stated intentions of Artime.)
c.
Ambassador Thompson cited five vigorous State Department objections:4 (1) the inevitable charge of piracy and its complicative factors, [Page 697] (2) a revival of Spanish charges at a time when repercussions of the Aranzazu incident have not yet faded, (3) the possibility of intercept by Cuban naval craft, (4) reverberations of such an act in UN debates, and (5) possible retaliations by Castro from his missile sites.
d.
Mr. McCone stated he could not view this proposal favorably and he would prefer that Artimeʼs energies be channeled into a commando effort more susceptible to guidance and control.
e.
Mr. Bundy felt the proposal had too many Cecil B. de Mille overtones.
f.
Mr. McNaughton stated he understood that this paper was to be tabled until Mr. Vanceʼs return but he would record the views of those present. The Committee Secretary determined that if there had been some votes in favor, the matter should be postponed until Mr. Vance was heard, but since the attitude was overwhelmingly negative, this constituted a veto.
g.
In response to a question, [name not declassified] indicated that when informed of the U.S. attitude on this operation, he felt Artime would abandon the idea, but he could offer no guarantee that this would be the case. [name not declassified] also indicated Artime was farther along in his operation with internal dissidents and was shortly to have a meeting with their representatives, probably in Paris.
h.
Mr. McCone urged that the pace not slacken in the preparation of a Cuba after Castro study which he understood was under the aegis of Mr. Crimmins, the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. Ambassador Thompson made note of the request.

[Omitted here is discussion on Sudan and the World Youth Festival.]

Peter Jessup
  1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 5412 Special Group/303 Committee Records. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted on December 4 by Jessup and distributed to Thompson, Vance, and McCone.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. The paper described the CIAʼs meeting with Manuel Artime on November 13, in which Artime was advised of the recommendations of the 303 Committee meeting of November 10; see Document 289. The CIA told Artime that he was “to concentrate all of his assets on developing the internal operation while still maintaining his paramilitary posture to the degree necessary to preserve his attractiveness to the internal group.” Artime made a strong plea to be allowed to proceed with the Rio Caonao operation, [text not declassified]. Artime was requested to prepare and submit his operational plan. The CIA paper is attached but not printed.↩
  4. Attached but not printed.↩
  5. ARAʼs objections to Artimeʼs proposal were detailed in a December 1 memorandum from Acting Assistant Secretary Adams to Thompson. Thompson reiterated these objections to the 303 Committee. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 5412 Special Group/303 Committee Files, 303 Committee Records)↩