UNCLASSIFIED'
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INSTRUCTIONS: Office' designations should be used in Iho "TO" column. Under eachino should be drawn across iKi-ni and each comment numbered tocerrespond with the number In the "TO" column, Each officer thou Id initial (check mark Insufficient) before further routine. TKiiiRoutins<"nd .Record,Sheel-s'iQi;Id be returned to Reeiit
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(Ester line)
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ING AND RECORD SHEET
IKSTROCnOtt: OHm dc^fiubonif) urxtt'euld be dn.r. acron inert
and each wrnwni numbe-ed towi.Kmd -I* the ftiambw in the "TO" column. CaenhMld inrtiel (check nwk ieuittkJem) beieia tufther rowtint TIMi Routine andSheet iKetM be nRonwd le Raffntiy.
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Memorandum Report
The Caribbean Legionuperon
The enclosed memorandum report comprises the sum of unclassified data which we have been able to assemble regarding the Caribbean Legion, in response to your requestarch. The examination is limited to the question of Guatemala's official or semi-official tolerance and support of this armed force during the period when it was based on Guatemalan soil and launched an attack from that point against the Dominican Republic.
2. Most of the information herein is quoted from theof the Investigating Committee of the Organization of Ameri-
0
can States, published in the Annals of the OAS, Vol. II, No. 3,opies of this report, in English and in Spanish, are attached for your convenience.
5 CO
cc o
^* 0emorandum incorporating certain H tw itcm* cf classified information supporting the conclusions of the
2 O
m cm
l
^hief,/OIS
Enclosures:
'* The Caribbean LegionLuperon Landing
Annals of OAS. Vol. II,nd No. 3,
Classified Statement on the Caribbean Lepion.
MEMORANDUM fOBt Chief, Memorandum Report
The Caribbean Loglea Luperon
The enclosed memorandum raport comprises the turn of unclassified data which we have bees able tomble re fording the Caribbean Legion, in response to your requestarch, Tha examination la limited to tbe question of Guatemala's official or semi-official tolerance and support of thia armed force daring too period when It was baaed em Guatemalan soil and launched on attack from that point against the Dominican Republic.
Most of tho information herein la quoted from the official report of tho Investigating Committee of tho Organisation ofStatee, published la the Annals of the OAS, Vol. ll. No.O. Copiee ef this report, in Engllah and la Spanish, ore attached for your convenience,
Wo alsoemorandum Incorporating certain Items of classified Information supporting the conclusions of the OAS.
I 2
Chief, SQM/OIS
Enclosures:
1. Thea^ondhag
Apnal*OAfl'o.. Classified Statement on the Caribbean Legion,
Distribution:.-
CX
THE CARIBBEAN LXQIONUPERON LANDING
The group of Control American military adventurers and political dlssidenta which took tho noma "Caribbean Legion"8 waabyof the ao-called JCJorclto de Liberation da America (ELA) which conducted tho ill-fated Cayo Confltea expedition againet the Dominican Republic
After that defeat, tbs cadres were reformed In Guatemala aa the EJerclto de Ubcreclon de CoaU Rica and In6 became the deciding factor in the revolutionary action which overthrow tho Pic ado government of that country aad led to establishmentrovisional government underguerea.
After the dose of the CoaU Rican fighting the irregulars adopted tho name "Caribbean Legion." Thoy wore at tho peak of tholr power, prestige and Influence end tholr leaders woro on intimate terms with rigucres and Presidents Arevaio of Guatemala and Prlo Socerros of Cuba. With Figucrea' blaaalng haadauartera and training baaaa woro established in Costa Rica, Tholr general aim waa to eliminate the Control American, aad Caribbeandictatorships and establish democratic regimes la their places. The wing of tho Legloa which eventually made headquarters la Guatemala waa largely dominated by leaders who sought the establishmentocialist Central American Union.
The purposes end motivations of the Isadora aad individual mem-bore of the Caribbean Legloa were end hove alwaysombination of revolutionary Idealism, political opportunism aad mar canary mill* tar ism. Communism washaracteristic feature of the Le gloa at oay timei those who revealed Communist tendencies or affiliationsinority, and8ositive aatl-Communist current led to divisions and contributed to tho eventual die organisation andsal of tho organisation.
The two principal leaders of the Guatemalan, section of the Logion, "General" Miguel Angel Ramlres, former chief ef staff of the Caribbean Legloa, and hia aide Jorge Rlbas Montes, are still living In Guatemala but are not known to be engaged In active revolutionary enter prises. However, the Nlearaguaa revolutionary Professor Kdalborto Torres, now openly prowho headed the leftist faction of the Legion,
hat been prominent for aomeeader and organizer of pro-Comm unlet activities in Guatemalan educational circle a. The Hon-duran revolutionary and notorioua pro-Comm imt at. Colonel Franclaco Moraaan, formerly active In tbe Legion, remainsey position in the Guatemalan Government aa private secretary to Prealdent Arbens.
Aa recorded in the Resolution adopted by the Provisional Organ of Consultation of the Investigating Committee of the OASThe Government of Coata Rica took tha atepa that werein order to avert the existence on Its territory of anywhose object might be conspiracy againat the security of the Nicaraguan Government or those of other American States.
"Some of tho persona who had been dispersed in Coata Rica continued their activitiea in Other countriea of the Caribbean eone. Availing themselvee of the regular facilities for freebetween Cuba and Guatemala, and making occasional trips to Mexico and the United States, they continued their efforts toexpedition* and fighting forcea destined very shortlylves disposedew attempt at invasion of the Dominican Republic.
"Part ef the armament relied upon by the Cayo Coniltee con-apiratora and not aeiaed In Its entirety by the Cuban Government, was evidently increased by aubaequant purchases and through facilities provided by Guatemalan authorities, and wasin Guatemala, where It waa loaded on the various planes destined to take part in tha invasion of"
From the Guatemalan base, the Caribbean Legionew attack en the Dominican Republic in Early Sunday evening,une, two amphibianataUna, attempted to land invasion supplies on the coast of Lupcron township, Province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. One of the two planes, succeeded In landing,ixed group of soldiers and townspeople killed all but one member of the invading party. The weapons and sup-plies which they were attempting to land included miscellaneous rifles, machine guns and ammunition, grenades, TNT, and medicine a.
The Guatemalan government subsequently denied that It had any connection with this invasion. The Investigating Committee of the OAS stated, however i
"There in proof that the Gatalina aire reft, which ma4.ce water sanding at Luperon, took off ot the Logo de laahal ia the Republic of Guatemala, The testimony' presented to theindicates that the delivery of the sjrnaamoat and tho preparation of the aiorementioned amphibioua plana wore facilitated by military authorities at the air base of San Jose de Guatemala,
"The testimony referred to ia tho immediately preceding paragragh, and other aourcea of Information, including the documente of the Inter-American Peace Committee, afford evidence that the planes of Mexican commercial registry, XA-HOSnd XB-HUBhich later (onanded on Mexican territory, were likewise outfitted and made ready at the San Jose Military Air Base ia Guatemala, under theof tha Chief of the Guatemalan Air Force a.
"It ia clear that Guatemalan authorities facilitated andcontinuous and illegal activities aa regards traffic la arms and passage of planes. It isact thai tholeader a, Eufemlo Forasadeauan Rodrig-ueo and Miguel Angel Ramireaiguel Francisco Morasanad many others identified with the illicit activities, enjoyed privileges aim facilities that were helpful ia thefor the Luperon attack. Tho aforementioned Eufemlo Fernnndea, who played on active part at Coyo Coalites and who (according to his own statements) was not connected at the time with any official post, appears as an outstanding leader of the invasion ofaonth prior to the Luperon incident (soe resigned from his post as Chief of tho Cuban Secret Police, although the Information furnished by the Cuban authorities indicates that tho said resignation waa submitted on April The Committee has no additional information regarding the acceptance of the resignation or the appointmentitular substitute.
"The Guatemalan Army, which wore linked with the attempted invasion, and also the two planesf Mexican commercial registry, which woro
currying arm am eat and expeditionaryanding cat Mexican territory. The two planes Ust named, together with the pen one traveling la them, were officially detained by the Mexican Government, snd the armament carried by them was seined.
"The Government of Mexico has supplied the Committeeist of the persons detained andopy of theof the armament, the Utter now being in tho cm tody of Mexican military authorities,*'
Several Spaalah Republican exiles, some of them known Commu-nists, were among the members of ths expedition who ware detained in Mexico. The Guatemalan Foreign Minister, the Ute Knriq as Munos Meanyv made special efforts to obtain their release.
Tha OAS Investigating Committee farther reported thet during its stay in the Dominican Republic, the Committee "had an opportunity to Inspect the armament confiscated at Luperoa by the Dominican authoritUs, This armament Includescalibre Xstainsguns, whose serialcorrespond exactly to these of precisely the same quantity ef weapons acquired In the United States by an agent of the Guatemalan Government and exported In9 with the Guatemalantry of Defense as their destination. The numbers of these sob-mac Una guns (which have been duly checked) arc asS.
"The remainder of the armament, made up el hetarogeaaoua clement a, could have come from what was left of the armament formerly at the disposal of the Cayo CoaflUs conspiratora, or from material acquired later.
"Immediately after the events at Lupcron, part of thedestined for the aforesaid Invasion remained In Guatemala, for undetermined reason*. ThU armament, which wasfirst from ths San Jose sir baseublic buildag in Guatemala City, was latereeldence on the shore of Lake Amatitlen.
"When tb* military upriiing of9 broke out in Guatemala, shortly ofter tne aseassinattoa of Colonel Arana, air, Euiernio Fejaandeaon-stop flight from Hebena on ft plane that carried certain war materials designed to as slot in suppressing tho uprising. Several Guatemalanvera exiledesult of the ins err action, aad wore takca from CJuatemela to Hebenaom pan la Aviatcca plane, under the custody of Idoaara, Eufemio Feraandeo and ail goal Francisco Moraaan, both of whom were veterans of theoperations in the Caribbean area.
"At tho Banc ho Boyeros airport, tbe abovem cottonedwore banded over to Mr. Xroadlao Vilela Pena, Acting Chief of the Secret Police of Cuba, and conducted to the Hotel San Luie, the Cuban headquarters of tha Dominican exiles, owned by Mr, Crua Aloaao, where thoy remained for some time under guard,"
There waa open evidence in Guatemala which strongly supported the conclusions of the OAS Committee regarding Guatemalan official and semi-official aid to the Car lb boon Legion. Guatemalan armed forces equipment and services, Including use of the Guatemalan Air Force, apparently were mode available to the Legion, Members of the Legion were maintained on certain Government Intervened Forma (Fineas Naclonales). The Ministry of Communications and Public Works apparently payed tbe coat of maintaining the two vesselsde Alvarado and Tecun Oman which were pat under Guatemalan registry and used by tbe Legion, According to the findings of tho OAS"la the course of ita donoaciatloaa the Dominican Republic has referred repeatedly to the vessels Patricia and Alicia, which wore anchored la Cuban waters during tho Luperon Incident. The Com pan ia Marltlma lndoamcricana {established on, whose Prositt dent and one of whose throe stockholders is Mr, Crua Alonso, sold these veaeole on Septemberf the earns year to Lie. Ricardo Caataneda Peganlni, Minister Plenipotentiary of Guatemala In Cuba, who was acting la the name of tbe Executive of hia country andepresentative of the Guatemalan Government. It should be noted tbat it waa Mr, Crua Alonso foreading barge, tho Patrla, waa deatined, when ita export license was revoked by the United States Government tapon discovery of the fact tbat the said barge waa destined forevolutionaries.
"Tba veiitli Patricia aad Alicia sailed from Hhbaaa to Puertohere one of them anchored onnd the other on Nor amber SO, under the new nemea of Pedro de Alverads for the bent that arrived first end Tecwa Uman for the one that arrived on November SO.
"Declarations made by the reapective Captains state that at the time whan thee* vessels were visited by the Committee, their crews were entirely of Cuban nationality, which is also the nationality of the aforesaid Captains. The vessels are under the charge of the Guatemalan Ministry ofhich takea care of maintenance expenses and pays the wages of the crews. "
Tka tangled .lory ef tho Caribbeannvolves ladiviauale andll erf tha Central American aad Caribbean Bejmb-Uca. Guatemala, fee example, was aa rima merer ta Ike revolutionary events* than wa. Cuba. JaH rifamt, M* President ef Costarica, flrat achieved efflcethe help ei the Legion. Two point, oft tkaat tiro t, heaaieJ. appear toet the aaaa ef Gaatemala apart /rem these ef tba other eouatriea cewiraal.
Tha firsta la the fact that thereas waUt leader ship which appearedsneae ia tho Leg! on daringha ocdy leadership which haa retained Ufloameeaatemala. These former aatiofficers af tha La glow whe atlU reaUe la Oaatemala aaaaa to ha living cm eUmder aaaaaa and to btoactrva poliUcaUy. The forma* yea Caamiaaiat laaaera af tha Le glen, eat the ether hand, each aa Maaaaamaaal Tama, are recipients ef farar aa4 setviUfea freea the Owatomalaa geyaawaemaa.
htevaaaa, aa laaiaa, was eta ef the aasasaraa afnal see JavisrMef af tha Arena* Fereea. Celamel Area* wasn at ef Ccenn.eeI era and Just prior to Ma aaeaeetoatlem eaaa rsawetee aato open am investigation ef the charges thatdsianse fends east tadUttee haa be an given to the Cerichoaa Leglaeu Pita af the Legiooi were aaaa by tha OaatemaUa Qevsrameat, along with rea-oUrnjiUUryforcaa, to snppreaa the incipient revolt which flared opeaction to tha ambush aad aaaaaaiaatiem efhe plea aaatoet Areae'a Ufa wee widelyaa tha Dominican radio leaned waralaga to Arana regarding it, Pr. stool Arerale ap-peara te have heea aagalaai ef the alas to cheek Arena's acttvtrUs. It tocertain that Celewel Arwewa, them escalator af Defence,arty to U* plot, hat tha incidentlawi ever hia caaettwaay cam electiem aa Prcctf wet, aaa whether ef Ida aaaa will aa aat, Arheaa haa haa Celeael Moraaam at Ma aids, am tottnaate partner to all Ma acta aa PiaaMiaa. frccn that time onward. The ether principal author ef the assaaslaatloa. Enrieeaetevea, has heea equally cleee.
Tho second patot ef elgnflreaee In the pre seat altaatlem ef Ovate-malaisrise aaa Legion, aa compered wtth ether countries.
lUf ta tb* taol that QuatomaU ippurt la bt U4 only
t#Jtw>JMi eny tarndirect eopport ta theae trragulara, al-thoogh It ta ataar that whatever orgejalaat.cn etill eataU Uaaa* taliianttaajilly aadmf aetaae, roe* tlve Boko ef eeanycurtaen,ay be noted that Preeldant Jeee Tlgere. ef CoaUaivl hia friend fieannle Bataacoart.W.eitant of veuoeaeU. appear ta hew bran on wtth tho nallitary rovatatlaaMrloto, Voile rtill advocating tho ropUcomeoel of Caxthoaoo jletitiiahtao hy anoaro aeroerrarU goMiooiaata, thoy appear ta hove broken wtth tho oaiUtary end to ho arriving for theirhrough political saoamo. The car feat revolutionaryf en-Pre aidant Prio Socarraa of Cuho ogaiaat the Baetltta goverament embrace scene former alemessa of the Caribheaa Legion hot remain prodamioantly an affair of Cohenwithoe* Involvement of other QwewrsaosawJ.
Original document.
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