Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXXII, Dominican Republic; Cuba; Haiti; Guyana

303. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson¹

Washington, June 26, 1965.

SUBJECT

• Covert Action Against Cuba

1. I think you should know that Admiral Raborn has recommended reactivation of a paramilitary effort against Cuba. This matter has been considered in the 303 committee (the committee which monitors all covert operations).² Tommy Thompson, Cy Vance, and I are against the recommendation, but, along with Raborn, we have agreed to report the matter to you in case you want to pursue it further.

2. The Raborn recommendation calls for the following types of operations:

(1) Maritime raids by commando teams against coastal targets.

(2) Use of an underwater demolition team to blow up ships in Cuban ports.

(3) Night attacks on major Cuban merchant vessels while in Cuban territorial waters.

(4) Air bombing of selected targets in Cuba by covert aircraft.

(5) Deception operations designed to give the impression of imminent invasion by U.S. forces.

3. The trouble most of us see in such operations is that their international noise level outweighs their anti-Castro value. Especially with the Dominican problem before us, most of us do not recommend visible violent actions against Cuba. I believe this is also the opinion of Dean Rusk and Bob McNamara. But if you feel differently, we can have the matter examined again.

McG. B. ³

Look at it again⁴

Leave it alone for now

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Cuba, Intelligence, Covert Program, 1/64–6/65. Secret; Sensitive.
2. See Document 302.
3. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.
4. Neither option is checked, but a July 2 memorandum from Alfred T. Wellborn (INR/DDC) to Vaughn stated that “on 29 June, the disparate views on Cuba were brought to the attention of higher authority, who directed that written argumentation for and against the proposal contained in ‘Proposed Reactivation of CIA’s Paramilitary Effort Against Cubaʼ, a CIA paper dated 2 June 1965, be prepared for his future study.” See footnote 2, Document 302.