Cryptonym: ESOLEO-1
Roberto Alejos' brother, Carlos, was the Guatemalan ambassador to the United States in the early 1960's.
104-10167-10008: ROBERTO ALEJOS ARRIVING MIAMI 11 JUNE.
06/09/60: Cable from Director to JMASH (Orig: R. Reynolds, WH/4): FOR PARLETT (Gerard Droller): "1. According telephone conversation of 8 June, Roberto Alejos arriving Miami 11 June. Charlotte of Karnley's (probably Ken Crosby) office making hotel reservation. 2. Please ask AMHAWK (Tony Varona) to talk with Alejos to give him background on FRD. Make known to Alejos FRD need for training sites for following: A. 20 - 30 communicators. B. Up to 300 paramilitary types at site other than commo training site. 3. AMHAWK should also inform Alejos that if Alejos agrees in principle, FRD will send special rep to GUAT shortly to work out details. FYI only: Alejos has agreed to all above points in conversation with Ponchay (Jake Esterline) 8 June..."
1993.08.02.09:49:33:710060: OFFICE OF SECURITY FILE ON ARTIME (BUESA) MANUEL
Mid-1960: "As the plans for a frontal invasion took shape, CIA men went to Guatemala and arranged with Rancher-Businessman Roberto Alejos to use three of his properties - coffee plantations named Helvetia and La Suiza near the town of Retalhuleu, and a cotton plantation called San Jose Buenavista, 35 miles from the Pacific port of San Jose - as camps to train an army of invasion ('No charge.' said Alejos. 'Remember me in Havana.'). Through Alejos, the CIA also arranged a 1 million surfacing of a 5000 foot airstrip at Retalhuleu. Starting in September, an airlift of US planes shuttled between recruiting centers in Florida and the Guatemala camps, bringing in the first of more than 2000 combat trainees. Later, Alejos helped establish two more camps, one at San Juan Acul, close to the Mexican border, the other at Don Lagunas in the jungles of northern Guatemala. A heavy-set, grey-haired CIA agent took charge of the Guatemalan operation, backed up there and in Miami by 'Jimmy', 'Clarence', 'Adams' and 'Roderick'." (4/28/61, "The Massacre", Time Magazine)
(p. 107): By 23 September (1960) Cuban personnel at the base numbered 39 pilots, 2 navigators, 18 mechanics, a chaplain, and a doctor. In addition, 8 PDQ's, 2 radio operators, and a number of guards had been recruited from the Cuban infantry contingent training at Finca Helvetia (JMTRAV) and were undergoing training at JMADD -- the crypt assigned to the air base. The coffee plantation, Finca Helvetia, was owned by Roberto Alejos, a confidant of President Ydigoras and a brother of the Guatemalan ambassador to the USA. It has been stated elsewhere that Alejos donated his land in Guatemala for the Bay of Pigs operation. (p. 76): "As a final note on the Agency's relations with OSO/DOD, it should be emphasized that without exception the air operations personnel -- and others familiar with the air operations -- who were interviewed by the author were universal in their agreement that Col. Fletcher Prouty, the DOD/OSO USAF representative, was REDACTED, particularly as the decision was made to withdraw USAF personnel from the overseas base in Guatemala. Gar Thorsrud put it in the following, rather explicit terms: 'There was a guy over there [at DOD/OSO] by the name of Fletcher Prouty -- who was REDACTED -- and he did everything he could to put stumbling blocks in front of the Agency, all through that operation ••• There were some situations with our liaison with the Air Force through Fletcher Prouty that I think were ...."
Pages 70-72: ..."As a result of Irwin's objections it was decided that an attempt would be made to get the Department of State to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Guatemalan Ambassador, setting forth that in response to a request from the Guatemalan government the US would provide military training for selected elements of the Guatemalan armed forces. (79) The ball continued to bounce, however, with no one wanting to assume responsibility overtly for the United States Government action; and it was reported on 27 December 1960, for example, that in a meeting with Thomas Mann, the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs, concerning the suggestion that State sign the agreement with the Guatemalan Ambassador...This, in fact, was the method that was finally evolved to solve the problem; and on 29 December 1960, Carlos Alejos, Guatemalan Ambassador to the United States, signed the document..."
157-10005-10221: DOCUMENTS FROM DPD FILES RE: CUBAN OPERATIONS BETWEEN 1959-1961
01/09/61: Cable from Guatemala to BELL: "This cable reads in part as follows: ESOLEO-1 was advised below listed-names provided by Guat secret service with statement they all Cubans except as noted who are on way or in Guat with mission assassination ESVEHICLE-1 (General Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes) and ESOLEO-1: (There follows a list of eight names). This cable apparently reflects information received by the CIA that certain people in Guatemala were targets of Cuban assassination plots. I would speculate that the two acronyms, ESOLEO-1 and ESVEHICLE-1, refer to Cuban exile leaders who at that time were in training in Guatemala for the Bay of Pigs mission..." from 05/21/75 Rockefeller Commission document by Mason Cargill.
01/13/61: Cable from Guatemala City to BELL (Info: JMWAVE): JMZIP: RE WAVE 2825 (IN 1403): "FYI: Alexander Rourke informs ESOLEO-1 that Frank Fiorini (handwritten: calls himself 'Diaz Lanz' military adviser') and Dr. Orlando Bosch of Miami represent man named Comandante Diego in Cuba. Fiorini and Bosch are reported recruiting and equipping force in Florida area for assault on Cuba 18 Jan. This organization reported to receive financial and other aid from an organization known as the Anti-Communist International Association of New York City. C/S Comment: Alex Rourke, free-lance newsman from NYC had been in Miami past several days consulting with Frank Fiorini among others."
104-10227-10085: CABLE: DR. JOSE MIRO CARDONA ACCOMPANIED BY MEMBER OF THE
03/25/61: Cable from BELL to Guatemala City (Orig: J.A. Noel, WH/4/PWO): Page 2: ..."3. As follow up WAVE 4873 Miro Cardona ESOLEO-1 meeting scheduled 1400 hours 25 March. For WAVE: Advise addressees results meeting. Assuming ESOLEO-1 will be leaving in advance 28 March..."
104-10227-10086: CABLE:AS RESULT CONVERSATION 25 MARCH
03/26/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: "1. As result conversation 25 March between Miro Cardona and ESOLEO-1 (handwritten above: Roberto Alejos) former decided substitute Tony Varona for Becquer. 2. Miro also wishes to have AMIGGY-1 (Espino Lopez Rieto) accompany him. 3. ESOLEO-1 planning escort party on black FLT (unintelligible) JMFIG (the Opa-locka air station) night 27 March. ESOLEO-1 arranging breakfast with ESVEHCILE-1 (General Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes) FOLL arrival GUAT City...Jesus Becquer (201-299279): As result of conversation 25 March between Miro Cardona and Roberto Alejos-Arzu former decided to substitute Tony Varona for subject. Tony Varona (201-78056): As result of conversation between Miro Cardona and Roberto Alejos-Arzu former decided to substitute subject for Becquer (201-299279)."
104-10168-10212: CABLE: AMBUD ONE VISIT TO TAKE PLACE. PONCHAY WILL ACCOMPANY
03/28/61: Cable from JMBELL to Guatemala (Orig: Gerard Droller, C/WH/4/PA) Info: JMADD, JMTRAV, BELL, JMWAVE: JMZIP: REF BELL 3398 (OUT 8576): "1. AMBUD-1 (Jose Miro Cardona) visit to take place. Ponchay (Jake Esterline) will accompany. 2. ETD Miami midnight 28 March. ETD MADD late afternoon 30 March. Following will be on board: AMBUD-1, AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa), AMDIP-1 (Tony Varona), Carlos Hevia, AMOT-2 (Jose Joaquin Sanjenis Perdomo), ESOLEO-1, Ponchay. 3. AMBUD-1 schedule will be per BELL 3389 (OUT 8553) except for change in dates, breakfast at hacienda, and strong possibility AMBUD-1 visit to JMHARP on conclusion air demonstration. Para drop your discretion."
104-10178-10061: CABLE RE:PLANS OR ROBERTO ALEJOS ARZU TO UNDERTAK SMALL OPERATIONS IN GUATEMALA
07/06/65: Intelligence Information Cable: COUNTRY: Cuba/Guatemala. PLACE & DATE ACQ: United States, Miami (1 July 1965). Note the source was AMCLEVE-15 (Luis Posada Carriles): "1. Field Comment: Roberto Alejos Arzu, Guatemalan millionaire living in Miami Beach, Florida, had recruited Cuban exiles in the Miami area with the intention of transporting them in a B-25 to Mexico, training them, and infiltrating them into Guatemala in an attempt to overthrow the government of Enrique Peralta Azurdia. However, on 4 May 1965, Alejos and Luis Sierra Lopez, military leader of the Cuban exiles, had been apprehended and their arms caches seized by United States Government officials..."