Cryptonym: AMCONCERT-4
In terms of Major Tomas Cabanas Batista possibly being AMCONCERT-4, a memo from CIA's Deputy Director (Plans) in August of 1960 stated that Tomas Cabanas Batista was among those listed who were of operational interest to the Agency (see first entry below for more details on Cabanas in 1961-1962).
A cable from JMWAVE on December 11, 1963, stated that AMCONCERT-4 received the information from Paulino Sierra Martinez. "Sierra asked source to recommend young 'elements' to join his plan." The Field Information Report stated that "Sierra said he intended to put Major Tomas Cabanas Batista in charge of the army since Cabanas was an excellent military man."
A FBI document reported that "around 1/20/64, according to CIA, Paulino A. Sierra Martinez...informed Major Tomas Cabanas Batista at the latter's home in Coral Gables, Fla., that he was preparing some of his young friends to form an army to be used for the liberation of Cuba and that he already had sufficient money to topple Fidel Castro. Sierra directed Cabanas to begin recruiting people because he was to be head of the army."
The documents from 9/63 on would indicate that Tomas Cabanas was probably AMCONCERT-4. An entry for the ELC in the Cuban Counterrevolutionary Handbook in 1964 stated that Tomas Cabanas was closely connected with Candido Alfonso Baeza, the former Cuban Police Major during the Batista regime. Both were on the Organizing Committee of the ELC in June 1962.
08/18/60: Memo from Deputy Director (Plans) to Director of FBI (Attention: S. J. Papich): Subject: Cuban Exiles: "1. This Agency wishes to advise you of its operational interest in the following Cuban exiles: Martin Elena, Lt. Col. Oscar Diaz, Major Tomas Cabanas, Captain Benjamin Camino. 2. On Thursday, 4 August, Lt. Col. Oscar Diaz and two Cuban colleagues left Miami for New York City to interview members of the Cuban community on behalf of the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD). This group plans to open an office in New York in cooperation with a local FRD committee. 3. The above is for your information only. Additional data concerning the address of the office to be selected and the identity of the two individuals with Diaz will be forwarded upon receipt." - - - 01/25/61: FBI memo from Donahoe to Belmont: Subject: LUIS ERNESTO CONTE AGUERO: INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA: ..."Article gives strength of anti-Castro army as somewhere between 4500 and 7000 men. The four top leaders in order of importance are identified as Colonel Martin Elena...Major Tomas Cabana, graduate, Officer Candidate School, Fort Knox, 1944 and veteran of Cuban pre-Batista Army; Major Benjamin Camino...and Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Diaz...It is noted that CIA has previously advised us of its operational interest in the afore-mentioned individuals in connection with its CLIP operation which is aimed at more aggressive action against the Castro government..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=125264#relPageId=14&search= This FBI memo on March 16, 1961, mentioned Cabanas as an FRD official: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=112900#relPageId=2&search= - - - This dispatch in July of 1962 from Chief, Task Force W, named Tomas Cabanas Batista as among those Cubans recommended for training by the U.S. Army: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=25620#relPageId=3
104-10215-10158: DISPATCH: CANCELLATION OF OPERATIONAL CLEARANCES
04/22/63: Dispatch from Chief, Special Affairs Staff to COS, JMWAVE: "The Operational Clearances on the following individuals were cancelled on the dates indicated due to lack of a PRQ Part II: ...Name: AMCONCERT-4. 201-: 201-332842. Date Cancelled: 17 April 1963. References: (Unintelligible) 5183..." - - - - 07/31/63: Basic translation of memo from Miami (Spanish to English): "Speaking with Mr. Tomas Cabanas, he had to inform me that there is a consortium of American capitalists represented by Dr. Paulino Sierra who want to facilitate, through him, the possibility of integrating a group capable of attacking Castro. Mr. Paulino Sierra is a Cuban lawyer who has a position in a company based in Chicago. According to information supplied to Cabanas himself by Mr. Pepin Bosch, Mr. Sierra represents great interests. I was also informed that the American who represented this group through Mr. Paulino Sierra is one that had relations with Sears Roebuck. This information was also provided to me by Mr. Jose M. Sanchez..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=55670#relPageId=68&search= - - 09/26/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline INTEL TYPIC: "SUPDATA: AMCONCERT-4 from Raul Garcia Casana, nephew of AMCONCERT-4's wife, on 11 Sept...Source: Former employee of a Cuban ministry, now in the United States. Although source is reliable, he has furnished little information during the past two years. This information was obtained from Raul Garcia Casana." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=46996#relPageId=2
09/27/63: Transmittal of TDCS Information Report: Orig: Marge Coraggio, Unit: SAS/Intel/Reports:...Based on: WAVE-4958 (IN-27279), UPG-3717, NP (AMCONCERT-4)... - - - Pages 3-4: Information Report: COUNTRY: Cuba/Nicaragua/Venezuela...PLACE & DATE ACQ.: United States, Miami (19 September 1963): SOURCE: A former employee of a Cuban ministry trained in information collection who reports results of interviews with Cuban exiles. Source obtained the information from Raul Garcia Casana. "1. On 10 September 1963 Raul Garcia Casana and several supporters of former Cuban President Carlos Prio Socarras attended a meeting at Prio's home in Miami Beach. During the meeting, Prio said that Carlos Marquez Sterling has agreed to join forces with him in the fight against Castro, and that Eusebio Mujal Barniol, Dr. Emilio Nunez Portuondo, and Dr. Guillermo Belt have also done so. 2. Prio announced that other persons who would be joining forces with him include Paulino Sierra Martinez, Jose Manuel Gutierrez, Jose Mario 'Pepin' Bosch Lamarque, Jose Ignacio Rivero, Manuel Lozano Pino, former member of the Bay of Pigs invasion, Dr. Tulio Diaz Rivera, President of the Economic Corporations in Exile, and Dr. Jose Morell Romero. Asked whether Manuel Artime Buesa would be working with him, Prio replied that Artime did not wish to join the forces he (Prio) was directing, Artime preferred to wage war on Castro alone. Prio added, however, that he would accept Artime in the group, but not as a chief..."
10/08/63: 11/06/63: CIA Information Report: COUNTRY: Cuba/Latin America. PLACE & DATE ACQ.: United States, Miami (20 September 1963). SUBJECT: Anti-Castro Activity of Paulino Sierra Martinez and Support of American Companies with Interests in Latin America: "SOURCE: Former employee of a Cuban Ministry, now in the United States. Source is reliable, although he has furnished little information during the past two years. This information was obtained from Tomas Cabanas Batista. "1. On 12 September 1963 former Comandante Tomas Cabanas Batista said that Paulino Sierra Martinez, who had been in Miami since early September, had met with the following persons: Dr. Tulio Diaz Rivera; Dr. Jose Manuel Gutierrez; Dr. Jose Ignacio Rivero; Dr. Felipe Rivero, former comandante in the Bay of Pigs invasion; Dr. Jose Morell Romero, and Jose Sanchez, aka 'Pepin.' 2. According to Cabanas, several months ago, during discussions of the Cuban situation with friends in Miami, Sierra said that he had the backing of several American companies, including Standard Oil, which would be disposed to assist an undertaking against Cuba to the extent of 35 or 40 million dollars..."
104-10220-10103: CABLE: AMCONCERT-4 FROM HIS FRIEND JOSE ANTONIO LUGO RPT LUGO ABREU
10/10/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline INTEL TYPIC: "SUPDATA: AMCONCERT-4 from his friend Jose Antonio Lugo repeat Lugo Abreu...SUBJ: Activities of former Cuban President Carlos Prio repeat Prio Socarras concerning his Cuban liberation plan and possible use of Dominican territory as a base. DOI: 6 October 1963. PADA: United States, Miami 8 October 1963...SOURCE: Former employee of a Cuban ministry, now in the United States. Although source is reliable, he has furnished little information during the past two years. This information was obtained from Jose Antonio Lugo...on 6 October 1963." Releasing IWO: W. Streeter Cass.
11/06/63: CIA Information Report: COUNTRY: Cuba. PLACE & DATE ACQ.: United States (15 October 1963). SUBJECT: Anti-Castro Activity by Paulino A. Sierra's Group: "SOURCE: Former employee of a Cuban Ministry, now in the United States. Source is reliable, although he has furnished little information during the past two years. This information is from Tomas Cabanas Batista. 1. At a meeting during August 1963 Manuel Lozano Pino, member of the executive committee of Paulino A. Sierra's group, told Tomas Cabanas Batista that he had sought out Cabanas because of his background as a Cuban military-academy graduate, honesty, and democratic ideology. Lozano offered Cabanas the command of the military forces which Sierra's group was gathering for operations against Fidel Castro Ruz. Lozano said that the training of the men would be undertaken in some Latin American country; he was quite definite in assuring Cabanas that the venture had financial backing from American industrial interests. 2. In reply to Cabanas, who attempted to ascertain the identities of the American industrial interests backing Sierra, Lozano said that the Corporaciones Economicas de Cuba en el Exilio (Cuban Economic Corporations in Exile), Jose Manuel Gutierrez, (1) and former Bank of Cuba official Carlos Nunez Perez, were backing Sierra..."
104-10075-10240: JMWAVE CABLE RE MANUEL BENITEZ VALDES, CUBAN EXILE
11/28/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline DYVOUR PBRUMEN: REF: SALV 4850 (IN 68258): "WAVE files show FOLL: One Manuel (Benitez) Valdes 201-106192 Cuban exile working in Miami with Marco (Perez) Jimenez former Venezuelan dictator. (HVCA 9963, 5 Apr 63) Subj also involved in sale of narcotics to Latin and American society. (AMCONCERT-4 report, 27 Nov 62) Subj member exec comm Alliance for Liberty of Cuba a pro-Batista org in exile and was chief of police during Batista's regime (1940-1944), he later became a senator during the Grau Govt. (UFG 1334, 4 Aug 62. Subj also reported as sec of war of Legion Cubana Anticomunista. (AMLEMON report, 30 Mar 63). C/S Comment: *Requested TRC General Manuel Benitez."
104-10076-10342: JMWAVE CABLE RE MEETING OF FOLLOWERS OF CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC AMWORLD AMCONCERT-4: "1. On 2 December 63 Raul Garcia repeat Garcia Casana told AMCONCERT-4 that he had just attended meeting with other followers of Carlos Prio Socarras...Prio indicated he had to change tactics over Cuban problem since he had become convinced ODYOKE (U.S. Government) giving financial and military support to AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) and AMBANG (MRP until 1962 - during 1962, the MRP outside of Cuba became JURE) as well as AMSCROLL (UR, also known as Unidad Revolucionaria). Latter did not have anyone nor did they represent anything in Cuban problem. Young men of revolutionary directorate were aiding AMSCROLL to gain propaganda for themselves. 2. Prio said it necessary to accept as reality that it not possible to fight power of U.S. They should keep their resources in order to fight inside Cuba when they would have better possibilities of success. Prio said first thing that had to be done was to try to unite a single group all members of Autentico Party. Prio said he had had an interview with Noel del Pino on this matter. 3. According Prio, Pino had become disgusted with Lomberto Diaz repeat Diaz Rodriguez and Antonio Santiago repeat Santiago Ruiz who had been attempting convince Pino and other members their group not to allow a uniting of Autentico Party. As result of Pino's disgust, things had changed greatly...5. AMCONCERT-4 said Garcia was believed to be disgusted with Prio's change in attitude since on several occasions Prio had told Garcia that he counted on financial and military support of Somoza and other South American governments in order to carry war to Cuba. C/S Comment: Dissemination applicable to RYBAT YOBITE cables."
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline INTEL TYPIC: "SUPDATA: AMCONCERT-4 from Paulino Sierra Martinez. Sierra asked source to recommend young 'elements' to join his plan." - - - Pages 4-5: Field Information Report: "1. On 1 December 1963 Paulino Sierra Martinez said he had just returned to Miami from Chicago with instructions from his patrons to coordinate plans and select elements for the war against Castro. Sierra said he was to meet with certain unnamed persons on 2 December. Dr. Manuel Lozano, Sierra's confidant, was to be in charge of preparing the meetings since Sierra had to depart on 5 December for South America where he was to coordinate plans in several unidentified countries. Sierra was to meet with Lozano when he completed his trip. 2. Sierra said he had millions of dollars behind him and that his enemies now realized he had sufficient backing. He added that money was the most important factor in staging the war against Castro. 3. Sierra said he was thinking of organizing a military intelligence service since he had to know the persons who would be fighting in Cuba. 4. Sierra said he intended to put Major Tomas Cabanas Batista in charge of the army since Cabanas was an excellent military man. 5. (Field Comment: Another source, who has been a fairly reliable reporter of political maneuvers among Cuban exiles, recently reported that Sierra had been summoned to Chicago in early November by the attorney representing American financial interests to account for his activities and expenditures on behalf of American backers. He was accused of throwing away $50,000, wasting time and effort, and creating situations where some of his friends were compromised because he insisted on expounding policies which were inconsistent with those of the (unintelligible)..."
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE: ..."1. UFG-4233 (cable) AMCONCERT-4 reports Paulino Sierra arrived Miami from Chicago with instructions from his patrons to coordinate plans and select elements for war against Castro. Sierra said he has millions dollars backing him..."
FBI document: Page 3: ..."Around 1/20/64, according to CIA, Paulino A. Sierra Martinez (105-121010) informed Major Tomas Cabanas Batista at the latter's home in Coral Gables, Fla., that he was preparing some of his young friends to form an army to be used for the liberation of Cuba and that he already had sufficient money to topple Fidel Castro. Sierra directed Cabanas to begin recruiting people because he was to be head of the army. Sierra's wanted the list of personnel immediately in order to present it to his group when he returned to Chicago and in order to receive approval of his plans from the organization. He also wanted to determine whether the group would follow Manuel Artime Buesa and Manuel Ray Rivero. Sierra stated that he had the financial means to raise more personnel than either Artime or Ray because he had no political taint." - - - This CIA Information Report on March 17, 1964, was based on the same report (no mention of AMCONCERT-4 but the description of the source matched A-4): https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=113335#relPageId=2
1993.08.11.14:08:32:620006: CUBAN COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY HANDBOOK,
07/00/64: Entry for Ejercite Libertador de Cuba (ELC): Page 3: ..."B. Principal Activities to Date: By April 1962, efforts were underway to form an Organizing Committee, which was formed in June of 1962 with the objective of doing the preliminary work for the creation of a military apparatus capable of liberating Cuba and to serve as a basis for the establishment of a democratic regime elected by popular vote. The committee consisted of...Candido Alfonso Baeza: (Former Cuban Police Major during Batista regime. Was closely connected with Tomas Cabanas Batista and the dissolved Joint Headquarters Staff of the CRC)." - - - This dispatch on the U.R. in May of 1964 stated that "we have received visits from Colonel Tomas Arias and Major Tomas Cabanas of the Cuban regular Army, who offered their services to U.R. in any military capacity that we thought they could help." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=47591#relPageId=3&search= - - - This Field Information Report on March 29, 1965, stated that Tomas Cabanas Batista was mentioned as a possible candidate for chief of MDC military section (along with Angel Hernandez Rojo and Eduardo Martin Elena): https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=159303#relPageId=55&search=