The Seventh Batch
Released November 21, 1995
by Joseph Backes
On October 5, 1995 the ARRB voted to release 71 CIA and FBI documents. The Board voted to release 61 documents, 56 in full and 5 in part. The Board also voted to release 10 FBI documents (including duplicates) which relate to Jack Ruby’s shooting of Oswald and the Communist Party, U.S.A.’s reaction to the assassination. These FBI documents were originally voted by the Board on July 17 to be released in full. The FBI appealed that decision and the informant symbol numbers were withheld and may be released by October 2017. The FBI documents were not released at this time. See “The Fourth Batch” for those FBI documents. The 61 CIA documents were released on November 21, 1995.
The CIA documents:
1.) 104-10015-10016 2.) 104-10015-10041 3.) 104-10015-10042 4.) 104-10015-10044 5.) 104-10015-10051 6.) 104-10015-10053 7.) 104-10015-10054 8.) 104-10015-10062 9.) 104-10015-10073 10.) 104-10015-10076 11.) 104-10015-10079 12.) 104-10015-10094 13.) 104-10015-10103 14.) 104-10015-10108 15.) 104-10015-10112 16.) 104-10015-10113 17.) 104-10015-10137 18.) 104-10015-10140 19.) 104-10015-10145 20.) 104-10015-10146 21.) 104-10015-10166 22.) 104-10015-10167 23.) 104-10015-10169 24.) 104-10015-10170 25.) 104-10015-10172 26.) 104-10015-10175 27.) 104-10015-10179 28.) 104-10005-10180 29.) 104-10015-10182 30.) 104-10015-10183 31.) 104-10015-10184 32.) 104-10015-10185 33.) 104-10015-10186 34.) 104-10015-10187 35.) 104-10015-10189 36.) 104-10015-10190 37.) 104-10015-10191 38.) 104-10015-10193 39.) 104-10015-10194 40.) 104-10015-10195 41.) 104-10015-10198 42.) 104-10015-10199 43.) 104-10015-10200 44.) 104-10015-10201 45.) 104-10015-10203 46.) 104-10015-10204 47.) 104-10015-10205 48.) 104-10015-10206 49.) 104-10015-10208 50.) 104-10015-10209 51.) 104-10015-10210 52.) 104-10015-10211 53.) 104-10015-10232 54.) 104-10015-10235 55.) 104-10015-10239 56.) 104-10015-10241 57.) 104-10015-10242 58.) 104-10015-10244 59.) 104-10015-10245 60.) 104-10015-10247 61.) 104-10015-10249
The FBI documents. (See “The Fourth Batch” for these documents.)
1.) 124-10006-10342 2.) 124-10035-10065 3.) 124-10070-10354 4.) 124-10108-10142 5.) 124-10119-10078 6.) 124-10170-10064 7.) 124-10184-10256 8.) 124-10232-10345 9.) 124-10243-10367 10.) 124-10244-10077
Again, I do not have the ARRB Notice of Formal Determinations with these documents.
Document # 104-10015-10016 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 8/01/62. The ASIF says it is a cable about the possible Mexican visit and whereabouts of Ramon Cortes. LICOOKY-1 RECEIVED LONG THREE PAGE LETTER FROM AMKIRK-1 DATED 16 JULY 62. She (apparently AMKIRK-1) would be very happy to go to Mexi as LICOOKY-1 suggested even for week. She said no problem but money. AM-1 asks L-1 to please try to lcate Cortes or “Henry”. Asks L-1 to write to her at Palacio Presidential, where she working with TAMARGO, FNU in field literature.
There is an odd attachment to this document near the bottom left hand corner: “The original of this document (104-10015-10016) will be forwarded at a future date.” Forwarded to whom? When was this written? It is not on the redacted version of the document so it must have been added recently.
Document # 104-10015-10041 is a one page record and routing sheet. It is from RID/RI/AN, CIA to CI/SIG/,CIA . It is dated 07/03/61.
Document # 104-10015-10042 is a one page record and routing sheet. It is dated 04/26/62. It is from RID, CIA to SR/CI, CIA.
Document # 104-10015-10044 is a two page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 07/20/63. This concerns an unidentified American who phones Cuban Embassy 19 July trying for second time to establish contact. This is Eldun Hensen. Please see p. 362-363 of “Oswald and the CIA”. Please read these pages carefully as John Newman is telling you something extremely important with the Hensen case.
This is the document John Newman uses for those two pages, actually its better as there are no redactions now. AMSAIL-1 posed as a Cuban embassy officer and made contact with Hensen.
Document # 104-10015-10051 is a one page cable from Winston Scott to U.S. Ambassador, Mexico City. It is dated 10/16/63. Paragraph one informs the Ambassador of Oswald’s October 1 visit to the Soviet embassy. They also tell the Ambassador of the 28 Sept. visit where Oswald talked with Kostikov. Oswald wanted to know if the embassy had received a reply from Washington concerning his request. The station told the Ambassador that they had no clarifying information with regard to this request. Mexi tells Ambassador that CIA hq has informed them that Oswald may be identical to Lee Henry Oswald.
Document # 104-10015-10053 is a one page cable from Winston Scott to U.S. Ambassador, Mexico City. 10/16/63. It is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10051.
Document #104-10015-10054 is a one page cable from COS Mexico City to Chief EE division. It is dated 10/31/63. Attached hereto is a negative and print of the passport of the following Czech national. Svatapluk OSVALD. Of course it’s not really attached.
Document # 104-10015-10062 is a three page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/24/63. A reporter from newspaper Noveadades asked for Sovemb statement regarding assassination of Presidnet Kennedy.
Oh, I think there is still a redaction in paragraph F on page 2.
Document # 104-10015-10073 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/24/63. “Have completed analysis Russian language portion of Sovemb LIENVOY 18 NOv thru 21 Nov. No items of possible pertinence Oswald. All conversations normal. RYBAT REDWOOD LCIMPROVE was redacted.
Document # 104-10015-10076 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/24/63. RYBAT REDWOOD LCIMPROVE was redacted. “RE station’s newly initiated LIFEAT coverage of apartment residence Kazantsev, Konstantinov and Shchuckin: No calls in or out by above for coverage 1640 to 2000 hours 23 Nov.”
Document # 104-10015-10079 is a two page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/24/63. This reports on a phone intercept between Yugoslav Ambassador Gustav Vlahov and Soviet Ambassador Bazarov. At one point Vlahov says, “I knew that he was wounded even before the Americans”, referring to President Kennedy. There is duplicate in “The Eighth Batch”, document # 104-10015-10286.
Document # 104-10015-10094 is a four page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/23/63. The ASIF titles it, “Cable concerning 27 September 1963 Call to Sov Mil Att Entrada”. Most of this document is in Spanish. It is basically the transcripts of the telephone taps.
Document # 104-10015-10103 is a two page cable from Mexico City to Director. It is dated 11/23/63.. This reports a telephone conversation between Alfredo Mirabal Diaz and Kostikov. Mir asks K if he recovered the suitcase. Mir wants to meet with K in Chapultepec park because his wife has prepared some food to eat there. K can’t as he has just made plans for another trip. The document notes that Mirabal replaced Eusebio Azcue Lopez.
Document # 104-10015-10108 is a one page cable from JM/WAVE to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/22/63. This is the document about Carlos Bringuier wanting to have a press conference on Nov. 22, 1963. This was written before Air Force One touched down at Andrews. The CIA is admitting to having files on Lee Harvey Oswald and is not passing them onto the FBI, the Secret Service or the State Dept.
These are AMSPELL files. I do not believe that they have been released yet.
Document # 104-10015-10108 is a one page cable from JMWAVE to Director, CIA. It follows up on the previous document. “AMHINT-53 reports AMSPELL delegate had radio debate with Lee H. Oswald of Fair Play for Cuba Committee sometime in August 63 on New Orleans station WDSU. According AMSPELL files, Oswald former U.S. Marine who had travelled Moscow 59 at which time renounced American citizenship and turned passport over to American consulate.
Allegedly lived in home Sov Foreign Minister for two months. In course radio debate subj confesses he Marxist. Above info has not been passed ODFOAM, ODACID, or ODENVY as AMSPELL plans news release circa 1300 hours 22 Nov.
Document # 104-10015-10112 is a one page cable from Director, CIA to Mexico. It is dated 11/23/63. It is duplicated in “The Eighth Batch”. It is a one page cable requesting information on Kostikov, specifically, any travel outside Mexico City apart from those to Tijuana, Ensenda, and Mexicali in March and September 1963 and Veracruz 6 Jan 63; hour by hour whereabouts 22 November and all details his activities during November; names and background not already reported; any unusual activity involving KGB and Soviet Embassy personnel 17-30 November.
I was struck by Kostikov having a 201 number, 201-305052.
Document # 104-10015-10113 is a one page cable from Director, CIA to Mexico City. It is dated 11/23/63. It originates from T.H. Bagley in C/SR/CI. It states, “Note Kostikov (subject seperate cable) traveled in September with Ivan Gavrilovich Alferxev (201-236701), who in close contact Cuban Diplomats during February 1962 TDY Quito. Request reporting and coverage Alferyev as with Kostikov. It is signed by A/DDP Karamissenes and AC/SR Stern (?) T. H. Bagley signs for C/SR/CI.
Document # 104-10015-100137 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/25/63. “Spanish language take of 23 Nov Sovemb LIENVOY of no pertinence. Not one word expressed over phone re assassination”.
Document # 104-10015-10140 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/25/63. It is duplicated in “The Eighth Batch” in Document # 104-10015-10294. It is titled, “Movements in and out of Soviet embassy by Kostikov and Alferyev”. LICALLA, LIMITED, LILYRIC were used to observe Kostikov and Alferyev.
Document # 104-10015-10145 is a one page cable from JMWAVE to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/25/63. It is titled, “Secret Service advised that phone call from one Jose San Antonio Cabaca in Mexico City to Dr. Emilio Nunez Pontuondo, Miama was monitored 24 November 63.” It is essentially a copy of document # 124-10018-10362.
WAVE traces Nunez reveals he subject 201-312304. AMOT-2 advised Cabaca is probably Jose Antonio Cabarga Sainz, a Batistiano and rightist with ties to Batista groups in U.S.
Document # 104-10015-10146 is a duplicate of above.
Document # 104-10015-10166 is a one page cable from CIA to Mexico City.
It is dated 11/29/63. It asks, “Pls continue to keep us filled in on status of interrogations of Silvia Duran, Alverado, and others implicated as fast as you can get information. We have no other ready source of information on these cases. Request you utilize capable officer for liaison with gobernacion to skim off details and relay them to your office for cabling to us at regular intervals. Request status report, even negative, by 0900 Mexico time. Be sure to keep us informed of what info if any is leaked to public information there.” Handwritten below that is “Answered”.
Document # 104-10015-10167 is a one page cable from Mexico City to CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. LIC Echevarria advised COS early on 29 November that Silvia Duran again released, she released at about 1900 hrs Mexico City time on 28 November.
Document # 104-10015-10169 is a two page cable from COS Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. The title is “Alverado claims that he was present inside Cuban embassy when Oswald was given five hundred dollars.” This is almost the same document as #104-10015-10228 in “The Eighth Batch”. Alverado claims to have seen Oswald being given $6,500. LITEMPO 4 “doubts” Alverado story and will atempt to “break” him.
Document # 104-10015-10170 is a one page cable from W.C. Curtis to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. This is a document to placate resident FBI SAC in Mexico City and to try to temper Ambassador Thomas Mann.
” 1. ODENVY is locally being advised by COS personally of everything station learns concerning Oswald case and, now, on Alverado interrogation.
2. Feel sure ODENVY office which almost same size as KUBARK station has adequate staff for reporting needs.
3. Usual procedure here is that COS notifies hqs, reports to Chief ODENVY and to Ambassador orally then subsequently advises ODENVY by memorandum.
4. Headquarters is assured that all repeat all information known to station on these cases is being given to them and shortly after info obtained.”
Document # 104-10015-10172 is a two page cable from COS Mexi to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. Litempo 4 believes Alverado is telling a fantastic lie. It is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10257 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10015-10175 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10222 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10015-10179 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10439 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10105-10184 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10438 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document 3 104-10105-10185 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10437 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10105-10186 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10393 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10015-10189 is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10426 in “The Eighth Batch”.
Document # 104-10015-10190 is from JKB to CIA. It is dated 11/26/63. It is a 15 page report on Lee Harvey Oswald and Silvia Tirado De Duran, 14 pages of which are missing. The full report is attached and unredacted in the redacted version. Why is it not included in the released version available for copying at Archives II?
Document # 104-10105-10191 is a 6 page report from COS, Mexico City to Director, attn: Knight and Galbond. It is dated 11/27/63. It is a follow up by Ambassador Thomas Mann to his previous cable (Mexi 7072) of the previous day November 26, 1963. A copy of that cable is reproduced in document # 104-10015-10368 in “The Eighth Batch”. Mann asks that the following be passed to Secretary Rusk. He presumes Brent and Chief FBI will also be advised. Mann notices that in the taped conversation between Cuban President Dorticos and Cuban Ambassador Armas that they are worried about the Mexican authorities questioning Silvia Duran about money. Mann thinks this gives some credibilty to Urgarte’s story. Mann also reports on Duran’s rearrest. Mann is looking for Urgarte’s Red headed Cuabn Negro. Mann also wants Eusebio Azcue; Luisa Calderon and Alfredo Mirabal to be arrested and questioned.
5 pages of this report are missing. They are in the redacted version of the documents I got but not in what I copied at the Archives.
Document # 104-10015-100193 is a 9 page report. The first page is a small handwritten note. It states, “1 Orig and translation sent to Galbond via Kingman, nothing to Burro yet. 2) 1 copy + trans to Luisa Calderon P”. The 8 page translation is missing. Most of the 8 pages are in Spanish. It apparently records a conversation between Luisa Calderon and HF.
Document # 104-10015-10094 is a two page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. One page is a routing and record sheet. That has Scott and White as stamped names on it. It is dated November 27, 1963. The cable was directed to the attention of Galbond.
1. SENDING PHOTOSTATIC COPY OF TEN PAGE STATEMENT BY SILVIA DURAN OBTAINED FROM ECHEVARRIA BY HAND OF ROGER T. KINGMAN IN ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO GALBOND TRUE NAME.2. KINGMAN ARRIVING AT DULLES AIRPORT AT 0800 HOURS 28 NOVEMBER. HE WILL BE MET BY HIS WIFE. HOPES SHE WILL TELL HIM WHAT TO DO WITH ENVELOPE.
3. SORRY NO TIME TO TRANSLATE STATEMENT.
4. ALSO INCLUDING 22 NOVEMBER LUISA CALDERON (CUBAN CONSULAR EMPLOYEE) TALK TO UNKNOWN MAN FROM LIENVOY.
Document # 104-10015-10195 is a one page cable from R. L. Easby to Director, CIA. I am fairly sure this is copied in “The Eighth Batch”. The Alverado story proves that he was familiar with the inside of the Cuban embassy and knows some of the employees by sight, name or both, nothing more. To resolve the story they want to bring in Major Jerez directed by his hqs in interrogation of Alverado. They want him to cooperate with PBSWING oficer. The Mexico City station believes Alverado story could be a Somoza gambit to get rid of Castro.
Document # 104-10015-10198 is a two page cable from Mexico City to CIA. It is dated 11/27/63. One page is a record and routing sheet with Scott and White names stamped on them. The Cable reads, “1. COS was advised at 1215 Mexico time via Lic. Luis Echeverria, acting minister of Gobernacion, that Silvia Duran has been rearrested because she was attempting to leave Mexico for Cuba. 2. Request instructions. The Cable is not included in the released material at Archives II.
Document # 104-10015-10199 is a three page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is a translation of the call Armas returns to Dorticos. It is dated 11/27/63. The source is LIENVOY. LICRYPT has a copy. Tapes being saved. One page is a record and routing sheet. The other two pages are the cable. The second page of the cable is misisng.
Document # 104-10015-10200 is a 5 page cable from L. F. Barker to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/27/63.
1. Two station officers interviewed Alverado in safehouse again night 26 November with following results. 2. Subj story remained substantially same as in ref. Subj recognized photos of Cuban embassy personnel Silvia Duran, Francisco Llagostera, Orestes Ruiz, Samuel Perez, Rogelio Rodriguez, Raul Aparicio, Rolando Esteva, Herberto Jorrin, Oscar Conception, Antonio Garcia, Jose Fernandez Roa, andres Armona, Joaquin Hernandez Armas, “Raul”, Pereguina Alonso, Luisa Calderon, and Alfredo Mirabal.
Did not know names of any but knew by sight and gave partial descriptions such as duties, height, skin coloring, condition of teeth, disposition. accent, etc. not discernable from photos.” Last page of cable is missing in released version at Archives II but I have it from redacted version of document. The coordinating officer and the authenticating officer are redacted.
I find the above to be extremely interesting, specifically, the quotation marks around the name Raul. Remember James Earl Ray’s story of “Raul”? Why is a person working in the Cuban embassy referred to only using a first name and that in quotation marks?
Document # 104-10015-10201 is a one page cable from CIA to Managua. It is dated 11/27/63. The cable wants MANA to defer to MEXI whether or not they want Nicaraguan case officer to assist in interrogation.
Document # 104-10015-10203 is a one page cable from CIA to Mexico City. It is dated 11/27/63. The FBI says that Oswald applied for unemployment insurance in New Orleans on 17 September, one day before Alverado says he saw him in Cuban embassy in Mexico City. FBI is checking all airlines to see if he could have flown to Mexi by 18 Sept. He was in New Orleans on Sept. 25. Landlady believes he was there continually between Sept 17-25.
Document # 104-10105-10204 is a one page cable from CIA to Mexico City. It is to Curtis from Brent and Knight. “After consideration by Brent and Knight, we feel that investigation and analysis of Alverado’s story should be pursued further before more executive action is taken. In lieu of arresting Duran, suggest she be put under close surveilance by KUBARK or by Mexican authorities.” They aslo note that Alverado claims he still working for the Nicaraguan service and Mangua’s belief he was dropped in August of ’63.
Document # 104-10015-10205 is a two page cable from CIA to Mexico City. It is dated 11/27/63. One page is a record and routing sheet. It has Scott and White names stamped on it. The cable itself is missing. The cable was completely unredacted in the redacted version of the document. Only Scott was redacted on the record and routing sheet. The cable states that Mann’s November 26 cable (Mexi 7072) was relayed to addressees. A decision will be cabled after they confer, probably after 27 Nov. CIA suggests that Mexi contact Alverado’s Nicaraguan case officer in Mexico City and ask him if Alverado ever told him this story. They request that Duran not be re-arrested and others not be arrested without approval from hqs. They presume Mexi is checking whether Alverado ever made the phone calls to the American embassy as he claims.
Document # 104-10015-10206 is a two page document. One page is a record and routing sheet. The stamped name Scott was redacted. It is dated 11/27/63. It is from CIA to Mexico City. It is from Curtis to Knight. “Mr U. Alexis Johnson has informed me that Mr. Katzenbach spoke with Chief FBI who contended that Mexi FBI office possessed all relevant information and that he was not rpt not disposed to send FBI officer to Mexi.”
Mann being a pain again.
CIA wants to know if FBI Mexi does indeed have all relevant information and is it desirable in Mexi opinion to send an FBI agent anyway.
Document # 104-10015-10208 is a one page cable from CIA to Mexi dated 11/27/63. It is background information on Alverado Urgarte.
Document # 104-10015-10209 is a two page cable from CIA to Mexico City. It is missing the record and routing sheet. It is dated 11/27/63. It is from Curtis to Knight. This is actually about Mann’s request for an FBI agent because Mann does not think he is being fully informed. Curtis spoke with U. Alexis Johnson of State Dept. about Mann’s request. Chronologically this is a cable prior to Document # 104-10015-10206.
Document # 104-10015-10210 is a one page cable from Winston Scott to Mr. Clark D. Anderson, Legal Attache. It is dated 11/27/63. “Attached is a copy of the cable this office forwarded for Ambassador Mann on 26 November 1963. There is also attached a photostat of The Ambassador’s draft of this cable. This is sent for your information and may be retained, if you desire, for your files.” Of course nothing really is attached.
Document # 104-10015-10211 is a one page document from Winston M Scott to Mr. Clark D. Anderson, Legal Attache. On 26 November 1963 Dr. Jose Guillermo Aguirre told USIS officer, Mr. Pete Moraga that Maria Rodriguez viuda de Lopez, said a son in law of hers who lives in New Orleans was well acquainted with Lee Oswald. He runs a Spanish language school and is anti-Castro. According to Maria he has taped conversations with Oswald. The son in laws name is Arnesto Rodriguez. He lives at 212 Jefferson Parish, telephone VERNON 5-9658. Mexi has no information on these people.
Document # 104-10015-10232 is a one page cable from Johnson CI/OPS, CIA to someone. It is dated 11/29/63. It is in reference to the Canberra lead. SR reports that they cannot confirm the presence of a Soviet submarine with number 125 in Caribbean waters in October 1962. it is known that about 5 submarines were in the area and that the designation of Soviet subs is by three-digit numbers.
Document # 104-10015-10235 is a one page note. No idea who wrote it or to whom it was meant to be read by. “EX 10897 DTD 29 November 1963. Note to File. According to a lead from Canberra there were indications of a Polish illegal operating in the US during 1957. The name of this illegal is similar to that of an extremely sensitive source of this agency.”
Document # 104-10015-10239 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. It reports that Silvia Duran was released again. She is under close surveilance and will be apprehended anytime information received to warrant. She still appears to Mexicans to have been involved only repeat only in business of possible Cuban and Soviet visas for Oswald.
Document # 104-10015-10241 is a two page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10169.
Document # 104-10015-10242 is a one page cable from Mexico City to Director, CIA. It is a duplicate of document # 104-10015-10170.
Document # 104-10015-10244 is a 7 page report from Winston M Scott to Director, CIA. It is dated 11/29/63. Pages 2-6 inclusive are missing. It is essentially the same as document # 104-10015-10347 from “The Eighth Batch”. An officer of the Mexi station and Mr. Plambeck of the Security Officer interviewed Gilberto Nolasco Alverado Urgarte. He was interviewed in a parked car on the south edge of the city. Alverado’s list of the Cuban employee s he recognized again contains the name “Raul”. Alberto Sanchez was an alias used by Alverado on November 27, 1963 when he registered at the Hotel Necaxa.
Document # 104-10015-10245 is a one page cable from Winston M. Scott to Mr. Clark D. Anderson, Legal Attache. It is dated 11/29/63. The subject is Silvia Duran. Attached is a one page statement of information obtained by Gobernacion during the first detention of Subject. And they don’t want it disseminated.
Document # 104-10105-10247 is a one page cable to Director, FBI atten: Mr. Sam J. Papich from the Deputy Director for Plans. For reference we are forwarding herewith the Mexican Police reports of their interrogation of subjects and other persons on 23 November 1963 together with photographs of subjects. This material was provided to our Station in Mexico by the Mexican police.
Document # 104-10015-10249 is a 12 page report from Mexico City to Chief, WH Division. One page is a record and routing sheet. The second page is the Dispatch informing what is attached. The first page of the report is in the released material at Archives II. The rest is missing.