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Cryptonym: AMBASAL-1

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Definition:
Probably Dr. Jose Francisco Alabau Trelles, former justice on Cuba's Supreme Court. A cable on July 14, 1964, described identities as JMWAVE assets. Another cable the same day stated the identities were Alabau and Luis Conte Aguero (AMCORE-2).
Status:
Probable
Discussion:
AMBASAL-1 very probably has a lawyer/legal/justice background. See 104-10227-10445, 8/29/61, p. 4 - 20 AFJ judges under Alabau leadership. A-1 had a telecon on 11/8/63 with retired Supreme Court Justice Enrique Rodriguez Nazera. AMBASAL-1's Progress Report on 12/30/66 shows A-1 presented in October 1966 to the Human Rights Commission of OAS, and was reportedly praised by the president. A-1 visited the UN Human Rights Commission, the Interamerican Federation of Lawyers, the American Fund for Free Jurists, and the president of International Red Cross. The efforts to focus attention on political prisoners issue was judged a success.

In the Problems section of the AMBASAL Progress Report of December 1966, it mentioned that A-1 was 42 years old. If this is correct then AMBASAL-1 was born in 1924. It also mentioned that A-1 did not have the ability to speak English. It is likely that AMBASAL-1 was from Cuba.

A JMWAVE cable in late January 1965 described AMBASAL-1, along with AMNON-1, as 'betrayed revolutionists,' adding that they volunteered to undertake campaigns to save Gutierrez Menoyo's life. AMBASAL-1 was also involved in the propaganda effort in regards the Cubela trial in 1966, with AMPALM-4, Angel Fernandez Varela, paramilitary leader of the MDC/MRR complex (MFF), appearing to be very much at the forefront of this activity. A June 1966 dispatch from COS, JMWAVE appears to show a steady downgrading of AMBASAL-1's role in the station's psyche projects against Cuba, in line with other programs. Luis Conte Aguero recommended in August 1966 that AMBASAL-1 accompany him on a proposed trip to Honduras/Nicaragua to start in late August of that year.
Sources:

104-10164-10324: DISPATCH: DR. ORLANDO BOSCH AVILA

09/19/62: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Task Force W: "3. The following information was received through BINAURAL-1 from AMBASAL-1 on 11 September 1962: Subject (Dr. Orlando Bosch) began his activities in Santa Clara, the capital of Las Villas Province, where he was born. He is an M.D. He was a friend of Plinio Prieto, the Autentico Party leader who was shot at Las Campanas for opposition to Castro. Subject organized an anti-Castro organization called Movimiento Insurrecional Revolucionario which later became Ejercito Cubano Anticomunista Frente Escambray. Subject was the secretary general of the latter organization, other top posts being held by Dr. Gonzalo Lage and Evelio Duque, 'the fighting Comandante' who lived in Spain for many years under the name Marcelino Garcia. Lage recently became disgusted with Subject and left the group. Although in October 1961 Subject's organization made a pro forma declaration of support to Julio Garceran's claim of the presidency, it is not connected with the Constitutional Thesis group and acts independently in all things. Subject resides at 2019 NW Flagler Terrace, Miami. His telephone number is PR 4-8348"... - - - 11/09/61: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: ..."2. Alabau Trelles reported 8 Nov to BINAURAL that AMCORE-2 (Luis Conte Aguero) conciliatory move toward AMBUD (Cuban Revolutionary Council) was AMCORE-2's idea without approval of either Garceran or Alabau..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=191869#relPageId=1

104-10240-10365: CABLE: 27 FEB AMBASAL-1 TALKED WITH GARCERAN...

02/27/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: "1. 27 Feb AMBASAL-1 talked with Garceran. Latter said he had planned go SNTO attend Bosch inauguration. Since did not receive visa in time has cancelled trip." - - - 08/29/63: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Subject: TYPIC/Operational AMCORE-2; Anguilla Cay Incident and Recent Mambises Raids: ..."As the original public source of the 'Snowboy' story, it was natural for AMCORE-2 (Luis Conte Aguero) to follow up with the chase of the Bahamian ship 'Four Kids' by Cuban gunboats and, with Alabau Trelles, exiled former Cuban Supreme Court Justice, to raise the voice of protest on the Anguilla Cay kidnapping..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=20506#relPageId=2

104-10241-10009: TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN AMBIDDY-1 AND RAUL HERNANDEZ, 4 OCT 63

10/04/63: conversation between AMBIDDY-1/Manuel Artime and Raul Hernandez. Francisco Alabau, another former Supreme Court justice was very caught up with intrigue with RFK and Hurwitch in October 1963. - - - This memo by Raul J. Hernandez on the same day stated: ..."3. Mr. Hurwitch, a State Department representative, spoke to Dr. Jose Francisco Alabau Trelles, former Cuban Supreme Court judge, concerning the coming Interamerican Commission of Human Rights of the OAS in Chile..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=21300#relPageId=2

104-10236-10429: JMWAVE DOCUMENT

11/30/63: Field Information Report from JMWAVE: Reporting Officer: Alice B. Caponong (probably Evalena S. Vidal). Reports Officer: Oliver K. Papock. Approving Officer: Andrew K. Reuteman (Ted Shackley): "Source: Para 1, AMBASAL-1 by telecon on 8-9 November from retired Supreme Court Justice Enrique Rodriguez Nazera. Rodriguez in turn said had obtained information from his 'Captain friend'; according to AMBASAL-1 this is undoubtedly Juan Nuiry Sanchez, good friend of Rodriguez. Believe operationally wise not identify true name Rodriguez." - - - Page 2: "Source for Para. 1: Leader of a highly reputable professional group of Cuban exiles actively engaged in legalistically based anti-Communist propaganda dissemination. This information was obtained by a telephone call from a well placed individual in Cuba, who may have obtained the information from Captain Juan Nuiry Sanchez." (AMTIKI-1 - Manuel F. Goudie - supplied the information for Paras. 2 and 3).

104-10174-10140: ( )BLANKET-FORO POLITICO PUBLICATION.

07/14/64: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: DYVOUR PBRUMEN: CITE WAVE 9274: "1. Request brief biographic sketch LICHANT-1 (Manuel Calvillo) use WAVE area. 2. Suggest MEXI give LICHANT-1 names of identities, who are WAVE assets, as prominent exiles who could help him by providing background refugee situation, introducing to appropriate offices such as refugee center, and arranging interviews some refugees. Identity A through close association human rights problem especially good starting point. FYI IDENS will contact WAVE for guidance." - - - Page 25: 07/14/64: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: DYVOUR PBRUMEN: REF WAVE 9274: "1. IDEN A: Dr Jose Alabau Trelles. Asociacion de Funcionarios del Poder Judicial de Cuba (En el Exilio) (note: AFPJC), 1164 Southwest 17 Avenue, Miami, Florida...B. IDEN B: Dr. Luis Conte Aguero (AMCORE-2)..." - - - Note on page 19 of this file that Alabau Trelles was mentioned in a cable on 09/18/64 from Mexico City. - - - Page 18: A cable from JMWAVE on 09/19/64 from JMWAVE mentioned AMBASAL-1.

104-10217-10249: CABLE: AS A WHOLE, EXILE COMMUNITY SADDENED BY ANNOUNCED CAPTURE

01/27/65: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: "3. Two WAVE assets, AMBASAL-1 and AMNON-1, both betrayed revolutionists, volunteered undertake campaigns try save Gutierrez life. Both restrained by WAVE pending further clarification of situation."

104-10234-10389: CABLE: STATION PROP ASSETS GIVING HEAVY PLAY TO DEVELOPMENT IN CUBELA CASE

03/14/66: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: TYPIC MHSPAWN AMLASH: REF DIR 86102: "1...Station (propaganda) assets giving heavy play to development in Cubela case along ref line, with main emphasis on case as symptom (of) increasing unrest in military and other elements of regime establishment. Castro letter asking Cubela's life be spared interpreted as induced by fear death sentence might provoke move to overthrow him. AMRAZOR, AMCORE, and AMBASAL also hit show-trial nature of case with objective weakening credibility double-agent story etc..."

104-10234-10137: CABLE: STATION RADIO PROP AIMED AT CUBA CONTINUING EXTENSIVE PLAY CURRENT PURGE MILITARY AND OTHER ELEMENTS CUBAN SOCIETY

03/19/66: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: TYPIC MHSPAWN: ..."2. AMBASAL-1 AMTHIGH (a political action/propaganda operation using WRUL - the radio station owned by the Mormon Church - to sponsor anti-Castro broadcasts aimed at Cuba) and JMHOPE broadcasts 6 and 13 March have covered variations above themes, concentrating on future purges Cuban military and Indonesian and Ghanaian situations."

104-10226-10024: DISPATCH: STATUS REPORT RE JMWAVE PSYCH PROJECTS

06/20/66: Dispatch from JMWAVE to Chief, WH: Page 2: "10. AMBASAL-1. No substantial changes from Reference B. AMBASAL-1 'carta circular' now sent only to Cuba and monthly bulletin sent only to international addresses - in past both publications had been sent to Cuba and to Latin America. AMBASAL-1 Program on AMTHIGH (a political action/propaganda operation using WRUL - the radio station owned by the Mormon Church - to sponsor anti-Castro broadcasts aimed at Cuba) has been dropped as of 1 June but continues on JMHOPE once weekly/Sundays."

104-10165-10158: CABLE: AMCORE-2 HAS TENTATIVE INVITATION FROM PRES LOPEZ ARRELLANO OF HONDURAS

08/03/66: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: TYPIC MHSPAWN AMCORE: "1. AMCORE-2 (Luis Conte Aguero) has tentative invitation from President Lopez Arrellano of Honduras and firm invitation Nicaraguan Senate President Antonio Cuadra Gutierrez to visit their countries. AMCORE-2 also wishes visit other Central American countries during above trip which would start with Honduras late August. Request addressees views. AMCORE-2 has recommended AMICE-3 (Mario Fontela Alfonso), AMBASAL-1, and AMWORD-3 (Mario Seiglie Montoro) accompany him."

104-10226-10024: MEMO: AMBASAL - PROGRESS REPORT 1 OCTOBER - 31 DECEMBER 1966

12/30/66: Memo from PW/FABSIK to Chief of Station: "3. Impact - In an effort to focus attention on the Cuban political prisoners issue, AMBASAL/1 prepared a 15 page document on this subject which he presented in person in October 1966 to the Human Rights Commission of the OAS. The president of the commission told AMBASAL/1 that this document was the best he had seen on the subject and the commission, after discussion, agreed to continue efforts to get permission to travel to Cuba to investigate the charges contained in the document. AMBASAL/1 also visited the UN Human Rights Commission, the Interamerican Federation of Lawyers, the American Fund for Free Jurists, and the president of the International Red Cross. All in all, the effort to focus attention on the political prisoners issue was successful and resulted in wire service, radio, and press coverage. A total of 23 clippings, dealing with AMBASAL/1's activities in this regard, was sent to Headquarters." Page 2: "3. Impact - In an effort to focus attention on the Cuban political prisoners issue, AMBASAL/1 prepared a 15 page document on this subject which he presented in person in October 1966 to the Human Rights Commission of the OAS. The president of the commission told AMBASAL/1 that this document was the best he had seen on the subject and the commission, after discussion, agreed to continue efforts to get permission to travel to Cuba to investigate the charges contained in the document. AMBASAL/1 also visited the UN Human Rights Commission, the Interamerican Federation of Lawyers, the American Fund for Free Jurists, and the president of the International Red Cross. All in all, the effort to focus attention on the political prisoners issue was successful and resulted in wire service, radio, and press coverage. A total of 23 clippings, dealing with AMBASAL/1's activities in this regard, was sent to Headquarters."

http://baracuteycubano.blogspot.com/2016/09/esteban-fernandez-el-coco-y-alabau.html

1971 - Francisco Alabau's reputation was damaged when he allegedly made up a story about a commando attack in Cuba.

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald • Bill Simpich

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