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Cryptonym: AMEMBER

Definition:

An FI [Foreign Intelligence] operation concerning the collection of economic information on the Cuban sugar industry. This operation centered around AMEMBER-1, aka Julio Lobo, exiled Cuban sugar magnate.

Status:

Documented

Sources:

104-10103-10158: ANTONIO CARLOS VECIANA BLANCH

1957-1961: This 1977 memo for the record concerning Antonio Veciana Blanch (AMSHALE-1) states that Veciana's 201 file shows that during these years Veciana was employed as "CPA and Manager of Banco Financiero, Havana, Cuba, a loan company owned by Julio LOBO/AMEMBER-1, a former Agency contact. (Veciana was) formerly chief of former MRP (People's Revolutionary Movement) in Havana area."

104-10274-10038: CABLE: AMEMBER ADVISED THAT AMEER PLANNING 29 MARCH MIAMI

3/27/61 cable from JMBELL to JMWAVE: "AMEMBER advises that AMEER planning 29 March Miami rally to protest AMBANG/MRP complex at AMBUD/Cuban Revolutionary Council. Allegedly AMEER has hired large hall and expects 500 delegates (to) attend. WAVE should utilize appropriate assets contact block meeting from coming off. If impossible (to) block meeting please plan actions to minimize political and propaganda impact."

104-10308-10121: AMEMBER OPERATION

June 1964: This memo for the record describes the AMEMBER operation thusly: "This was an FI [Foreign Intelligence] operation concerning the collection of economic information on the Cuban sugar industry. This operation centered around AMEMBER-1 (Julio LOBO 201-0215813) exiled Cuban sugar magnate. Findings: Memorandum to the DCI from Richard Helms dated 10 June 1964 concerning plans of Cuban exiles to assassinate selected Cuban leaders. Persons, who were parties to this action, advised Agency officers of plans to assassinate certain Cuban leaders. They further advised that there was a tie-in with elements of Cosa Nostra with on-island assets that could do the job. Agency officers made clear that the US government would not condone such action." Also see 104-10506-10028, p. 58, a 1977 document that offers other summaries in addition to this summary of the AMEMBER operation as part of a Latin America Division report of findings relative to Cuban complicity in the assassination of JFK. "The CIA found no definitive proof that the Castro regime was implicated in the Kennedy assassination."