"Close and constant attention" .. "on a day-today basis" of FPCC by AG office
Peter Fokes
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
I had previously mentioned to Mr. McDonnell ARA's 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 General's office
was fully aware of the Department's 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 General's office and Mr. McDonnell's
oral transmission of the Department's interest as well, there does not
appear any necessity at this time to stimulate the Attorney General's
office to further action in this regard.
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http://www.fas.org/irp/ops/policy/docs/frusX/236_255.html
Regards,
Peter Fokes,
Toronto