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Cryptonym: AMHOSE-1

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Definition:
AMHOSE-1 may possibly have been Ulises Carbo, son of Sergio Carbo, editor of the Prensa Libre newspaper. Ulises Carbo was captured at the Bay of Pigs invasion in April of 1961, and was later suspected of being an agent of the Cuban Government.
Status:
Speculative
Discussion:
A CIA cable in October of 1960 noted that AMHOSE-1 had been given repeated warnings over his apparent advertising of his connections to the U.S Government for his "own political/operational aggrandizement." Like AMESCORT-1 (Manuel Vega Abril), AMHOSE-1 was an acquaintance of Jorge Beruff, the former president of the Desarrollo Economico de Cuba (BANDES). AMHOSE-1 reported that Frank Fiorini (Sturgis) was assisting Victor Paneque in a raid on the north coast of Oriente Province in early 1961. A memo in June, 1961, stated that Ross Crozier was involved in the AMHOSE project, an operation which began on October 7, 1960, using the Sandpiper vessel to broadcast propaganda off the Cuban coast. The memo added that "the ship broadcasts scripts that are prepared at WAVE based on themes approved in Headquarters. Special matters are edited in Headquarters."

A memo from the Director of the FBI to the Attorney General on May 23, 1961, mentioned that in regard to Ulises Carbo, "in August, 1960, we were informed that he was of operational interest to CIA. In October, 1960, it was publicly reported that Carbo was participating in anti-Castro broadcasts. Subsequently, on April 27, 1961, it was publicly reported that Carbo had been captured during the invasion of Cuba by rebel forces. He is reported to have stated the invasion was wholly planned by the United States."

A Report Cover Sheet from JMWAVE in March, 1961, stated the source for paragraph 14 was Dr. Ulises Carbo, sub-director of Prensa Libre. AMESCORT-1 was also used as a source. In May of 1961, Jules Dubois, Miami correspondent for the Chicago Herald Tribune, told the FBI he was a friend of Ulises Carbo. Also in that month, the FBI reported from a source that Carbo had denounced the CIA and the U.S. An FBI report from Miami in August, 1961, stated that Reinaldo Pico said Carbo was the only member of the Prisoner Committee whom Castro had taken into private conferences on several occasions.
Sources:

104-10271-10258: CABLE: SAID 29 AUG THAT ARMANDO LORA TOLD HIM PRIOR DEPARTURE

08/30/60: Cable from MASH to Director: JMNET/CA: Page 2: ..."6. Since Ulises Carbo and AMIGGY-1 (Espino Lopez Rieto) were school chums MASH (Forward operating base - CIA, Miami) has encouraged latter associate self with Carbo clan. MASH has given him temporary financial assistance pending reply ref and HAVA comments this cable. View AMIGGY-1 former position and relation top Cuban levels MASH feels he exploitable and useful asset for either Carbo or other JMHOPE (a radio station within range of Havana, probably Radio Swan) program..." - - - 09/02/60: Cable from MASH to Director: At the bottom of page 2 AMIGGY-1 and Ulises Carbo were mentioned again: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=21070#relPageId=3&search=

104-10271-10195: CABLE: IN TALK WITH AMCLATTER-1 ON 18 OCT, DR. MANUEL DE JESUS MENCIA

10/20/60: Cable from MASH to Director: "1. In talk with AMCLATTER-1, 18 October, Dr. Manuel de Jesus Mencia stated that he had contact with Ray/Chibas circle including Miami reps Pilin Estevez and Jorge Beruff, latter two of whom held recent conversations with American names 'Jimmy' and 'Clarence' and that Beruff said that the Americans would supply them with arms. Beruff added that so long as the Americans were 'flirting' with his group, his group could remain politically independent of AMRASP. 2. Mencia was concerned about the radical leanings of the Ray/Chibas group and although he and his nephew Gonzalo de Varona Jr. had maintained relations with them during the anti-Batista fight they now treated them with reserve because of their leftist orientation. 3. MASH Comment: Enzel and Windecker have not met either Pilin Estevez or Jorge Beruff. However, AMHOSE-1 has been in close contact Beruff both before and after latter's trip to Washington week 10 October 'to meet ODACID-KUBARK (U.S. State Department-CIA) officials.' (Beruff's language). AMHOSE-1 has also been in contact with De Jesus Mencia at least during week 17 October. Following according AMHOSE-1: Beruff in U.S. in capacity 'Chairman Finance Committee MRP' attempting line up funds. Although not intending undercut Chibas in any way, is also trying expedite arms deliveries to MRP groups. In particular interested obtaining arms and demo for his own segment of MRP which is Padre Bastarica's Juventud Catolico. AMHOSE-1 and Beruff engaged in 'ops planning' (with Enzel approval) as regards arms delivery possibilities. MASH notes AMHOSE-1 very probably advertising rather than concealing ODYOKE connections for purposes his own political/operational aggrandizement: This despite repeated warnings."

104-10177-10196: RE KARNLEY TELECON QUERY TO WAVE ON ANY CONFIRMATION 3000 MAN LANDING

02/17/61: Cable from WAVE to BELL: "Re Karnley telecon query to WAVE 14 February on any confirmation 3000 man landing, reported press: A. AMHOSE-1 reported that Victor Paneque (201-286382) landed north coast Oriente Province O/A 13 February with approximately 30 men. AMHOSE-1 had no further details. B. Possible correlation of press report with (REDACTION) KOLA 2099 and (REDACTION) KOLA 2169. C. All other WAVE queries negative. C/S Comment: *HQs requested present whereabouts Victor Paneque, and date last contact."

104-10267-10063: CABLE- INFORMED C/O PANEQUE STILL ENROUTE TO NORTH COAST ORIENTE WITH 43 MEN BUT HAD NOT LANDED AS ADVISED

02/20/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: Slugline JMZIP ZRPERUSAL: "1. On 18 February AMHOSE-1 informed C/O Paneque (201-286382) still enroute to north coast Oriente with 43 men but had not landed as advised Ref B. A Max Villa under command Paneque is enroute Pinar del Rio with an unspecified number of men. AMHOSE-1 claims that Frank Fiorini is assisting this operation. 2. Will continue to advise. CS Comment: *Requested advise present whereabouts Victor Paneque."

104-10274-10052: BACKGROUND, CHARACTER AND ECONOMIC CONCEPTS OF MANUEL (MANOLO) RAY RIVERO

03/16/61: Report Cover Sheet from JMWAVE: Reporting Officer: Robert D. Hubbell. Reports Officer: Paula K. Thyfault. Approving Officer: Paul J. Manson. "BACKGROUND DATA AND COMMENTS: Source: AMESCORT-1 from: Paragraphs 1-11: Dr. Oscar Salas Marrero who, according to AMESCORT-1, was in Cuba for the purpose of investigating the intentions of Ray. Dr. Salas prefaced his remarks by saying that his report does not pretend to be complete. It includes only the data which he knew about Ray during his (Salas') membership in the clandestine movement in Cuba. Paragraph 12: Dr. Jose Alvarez Diaz, former Minister of Finance under Carlos Prio Socarras, who is a long-time friend of AMESCORT-1. The latter had lunch with Alvarez on 8 March in Miami. Alvarez is a public accountant and an economic expert. He is very much alarmed at the strength which Ray may have within the counterrevolutionary movement. Paragraph 13: Dr. Jorge Beruff, who is known to AMESCORT-1 since January 1951 when Beruff was president of the Desarrollo Economico de Cuba (BANDES). AMESCORT-1 feels that Beruff is 'upright, just, honest, and favors free enterprise.' He says Beruff is a practising Catholic, anti-Communist and pro-U.S. Beruff tried to resign his position in May 1959 but was persuaded to stay on for a while by Dr. Felipe Pazos. He finally resigned when Pazos left his post, and he joined the MRP with Pazos. Beruff does not consider Ray dangerous within the MRP because inside the movement Ray by himself does not count for much. Paragraph 14: Dr. Ulises Carbo, sub-director of Prensa Libre." Page 4: Field Information Report: Country: Cuba. Place & Date Acq.: Cuba (8, 11 March 1961). SOURCE: Cuban businessman (F) from..."

124-90131-10039: No Title

05/22/61: FBI report from Miami: Titled: Cuban Situation: ..."At 6:40 a.m. on May 20, 1961, Mr. Jules Dubois, Coral Gables, Florida, who is the Miami correspondent for the 'Chicago Herald Tribune', advised that at 6:00 a.m. that day, he received a long distance telephone call, collect, from Havana, Cuba. He recognized the caller as a friend of his, Ulises Carbo, who had been taken prisoner by the Castro forces at Bahia de Cochinos. Carbo told Mr. Dubois that he and nine other prisoners, all captured at the same place, were being sent by plane to the United States by Fidel Castro as a committee of ten to negotiate with the United States Government for the exchange of United States tractors and bulldozers for the prisoners captured during the April 17th liberation attempt...Mr. Dubois identified Ulises Carbo as being the assistant editor to his father, Sergio Carbo, publisher of 'Prensa Libre in Exile'..."

124-90131-10024: No Title

05/23/61: Memo from Director of FBI to Attorney General: Titled: Cuban Prisoner Exchange: Internal Security - Cuba: Page 2: ..."With regard to Ulises Carbo, our files contain data received from the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba, which indicate he was an editor of the anti-communist Cuban newspaper, 'Prensa Libre', who took asylum in the Panamanian Embassy in May, 1960, when that newspaper was taken over by its workers. Prior to that time he was reported to be among those carrying on a campaign against the Cuban Government press and the communist press. Carbo entered the United States during May, 1960. In August, 1960, we were informed that he was of operational interest to CIA. In October, 1960, it was publicly reported that Carbo was participating in anti-Castro broadcasts. Subsequently, on April 27, 1961, it was publicly reported that Carbo had been captured during the invasion of Cuba by rebel forces. He is reported to have stated the invasion was wholly planned by the United States..."

124-90131-10024: No Title

05/23/61: Memo from Director of FBI to Attorney General: Titled: Cuban Prisoner Exchange: Internal Security - Cuba: "On May 20, 1961, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at Miami, Florida, advised our Miami Office that a delegation of ten Cubans, representing the prisoners captured by the Castro regime during the recent invasion of Cuba, had arrived in Miami on the afternoon of that date...for the purpose of negotiating with the United States concerning the exchange of prisoners for United States bulldozers. The delegation included the following individuals...Reinaldo Pico y Ramon, Sixth Battalion...and Ulises Carbo, Headquarters Company. Carbo served as spokesman for the group but conferred with the others. They indicated they would be in Miami three or four days and would first consult with Dr. Jose Miro Cardona (AMBUD-1) and the Revolutionary Council for instructions before beginning negotiations for the release of the prisoners. All ten indicated definitely that they will be returning to Cuba...INS advised that representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Pentagon were aware of the situation. On May 20, 1961, a source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised that Ulises Carbo, spokesman for the above-described group, has the reputation of being a homosexual and that Carbo recently appeared in a Havana television program, at which time he denounced the United States and CIA."

104-10315-10013: MEMO: IG OFFICER INTERVIEW WITH ROSS CROZIER, PW SECTION, MIAMI BASE, 25 MAY 1961

06/02/61: Memorandum for the record from R. D. Shea: ..."2. Crozier said that his chief matters were three: (a) a sixty foot cruiser called 'Theano' or more recently 'Sandpiper' which has been fitted out as a radio boat with a one kilowatt Collins transmitter for broadcasting propaganda on the medium and long-wave bands. It has a 25-mile radius and cruises ten to 15 miles off the Cuban coast. Its first broadcast was made 7 October 1960 (this is project AMHOSE). The ship broadcasts scripts that are prepared at WAVE based on themes approved in Headquarters. Special matters are edited in Headquarters. To date they have broadcast three or four times lasting an hour each time, the places being too near Havana and elsewhere on the coast. The boat has made two other trips, one of supply and one for infiltration, and six trips that have aborted as a result of bad weather. He has no way of knowing the effectiveness of these broadcasts. They have been pushed by Headquarters. The crew are former Cuban Naval personnel. 'Theano' is kept at Islamorada and has received no publicity. It was purchased for $28,000 by Headquarters, as it was built in 1928 it is of wood and its engines needed replacement and overhaul. He does not know why this old ship was bought. It is in good condition now..." - - - NOTE: Page 3: ..."d. Counter-terror should be employed against the Communist leaders in Cuba and against official personnel. There are only ten or 20 leaders at the top of the Castro organization. If these few were killed off, it would be extremely hard to fill their positions. This action should be carried out by European commando-type operations involving no Cubans." The name of the writer of the memo has been redacted but at the bottom of page 2 R. D. Shea's name was printed.

124-90131-10032: No Title

08/11/61: FBI report from Miami: Titled: Cuban Prisoners Exchange: Internal Security - Cuba: Page 6: "Pico stated Ulises Carbo is the only member of the ten man Prisoner Committee whom Castro had taken into private conferences on several occasions. He said that all the other members of the Committee were elected by their fellow prisoners. Carbo was selected by Fidel Castro. Five additional individuals selected by their fellow prisoners were deleted from the Committee by Castro..."

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald

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