UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS MADE AT AUGUST 1978 WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL IN HAVANA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002100100010-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: November 24, 1978
• Content Type: MF

OLC #78-gyp
Approved For Release 2004/07/28 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R002100100010-7
24 November 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR:
uttice o egislative Counsel
FROM Donald P. Gregg
Chief, Policy and Coordination Staff
Liaison and Oversight Control
SUBJECT Unfounded Allegations Made at August 1978
World Youth Festival in Havana
The SSCI has asked CIA to respond to the following
seven allegations made by persons attending the World Youth
Festival in Havana:
1. CIA agents sought to assassinate Raul Castro and Carlos
Rafael Rodriguez.
2. CIA is responsible for the assassination of Ben Barka.
3. CIA attempted to kill Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile
Meriam.
4. CIA employed Michael Townley (indicted in Letelier case).
5. President Kennedy was assassinated with "the knowledge
and participation" of CIA.
6. Lee Harvey Oswald was recruited by the CIA between 1957
and 1958.
7. CIA was indirectly responsible for the 1976 des;.ruction
of a Cubana Airlines aircraft.
The subparagraphs below are keyed to these allegations.
1. In a speech given by Dr. Enrique Marion Roca at the
Havana World Youth Festival, he made reference to a CIA
cable to Havana of 21 July 1960 which discussed "the possible
elimination of the top three Cuban leaders by the CIA." This
reference by Roca apparently is based on pages 72 and 73 of
the Church Committee Report of 20 November 1975, subject:
"Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders."
The Agency finds it ironic indeed that it is forced to reply
to charges which themselves flow from a Senate report on a
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subject which has already been thoroughly examined. There
is no record of any Agency interest in Carlos Rafael Rodriguez.
2.- Allegation totally false.
3. Allegation totally false.
4. Townley, of his own volition, initiated contact with
the Agency in 1971 and expressed interest in an association
with us. We did not reach an agreement and he has never been
affiliated with the Agency in any manner.
5. Allegation totally false.
6. Allegation totally false.
7. Allegation totally false.
The Directorate is strongly hopeful that as the oversight
relationship with Congress matures we will no longer be forced
to "prove the negative" in response to hostile allegations
which surface in the U.S. press. We would like to work toward
the time when our oversight committees will be confident that
as an allegation regarding Agency activities surfaces which
has a factual basis that the Agency will report to the over-
sight committees on its own volition. Such an arrangement
will allow the Agency to spend its time in more fruitful
avenues of work and allow our dialogue with the oversight
committees to be focused on more constructive matters.
2 - OLC/DFM
2 - PCS/LOC
Donald P. Gregg
Approved For Release 2004/0 i, RDP81 M00980R002100100010-7
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LJ CLASSIFIED
^ CONFIDENTIAL Li SECRET
Approved For ReleQQQN(g/:$N?I B01HOEM02100100010-7
FROM: Donald P. Gregg
C/PCS/LOC
2 D 4916
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
OL(..
5 E 11
INTERNAL
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OFFICER'S
INITIALS
24 November 1978
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COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
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0001 UNCLASSIFIED