Pseudonym: Clark, Raymond
A report by Barkley on August 31, 1961, stated that "the question of the older military types to go to 'academies' has been talked about vaguely in the past (raised, I think, with Chamberlain), but we've never seen this list given to Goodwin. The question of who contacts Miro should definitely be resolved. I gather they (higher authorities, Tracy?) don't want Chamberlain to continue, but should we get officially in contact with Miro in Miami? Mr. Goodwin should direct if desired."
104-10167-10378: CONTACT WITH TONY VARONA.
07/07/61: Memo for the record from Robert S. Chamberlain, WH/CA/PROP: "1. The undersigned was advised by WH/4/Security on the morning of 7 July that Tony Varona had called asking to speak with Frank Bender (Gerard Droller). Varona is in Washington where he is staying at the Roosevelt Hotel...room 707. He will remain in Washington for three or four days. 2. The undersigned was able to reach Varona by sterile telephone at about 16:15. The undersigned gave his name as Raymond S. Clark - who is a friend of Frank Bender and indicated that Varona might tell the undersigned the same things he would tell Frank Bender. 3. Varona brought up the following four points: a. He inquired as to the state of recruiting and as to what was taking place in connection with the Cuban situation, presumably from a military point of view. b. He said that he wished to get in touch with General Taylor, whereupon the undersigned told him that the method of doing that would be through Mr. Goodwin...d. In general, he wondered whether the U.S. was going to do anything about Cuba or not, and he said that he had talked with Goodwin and that nothing had been resolved. 4. With the exception of answering as to the means of getting in touch with General Taylor, the undersigned stated that he knew very little about the matters which Varona brought up, but that he would pass on the information to others. 5. The undersigned got in touch with Varona only after having the go-ahead sign from C/WHD and discussion the matter with DC/WH/4, CWH/4/Security, Martha Tharpe and Frank Bender."
07/07/61: Memo for the record from Joseph F. Langan, Chief, WH/4/Security: Subject: Tony Varona: "1. On this date the captioned Subject called the sterile number at the Security Office and requested someone to call him...Ext. 707 at Washington, D.C. 2. Inasmuch as Mr. Robert Chamberlain has been designated as the replacement for Jerry Droller in liaison matters with Miro Cardona, Mr. Chamberlain was notified relative to the instant call. 3. Upon notification, Mr. Chamberlain advised that Tony Varona was not stipulated as one of the Cubans with whom he should liaison. However, it was suggested to him that he might wish to check the matter out with both Mr. Droller and Col. J. C. King."
104-10227-10103: CABLE:THERE HAS BEEN NO NEW DESIGNATION OF ODYOKE AGENCY FOR
07/08/61: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Martha Tharpe, WH/4/PA-PROP): CITE DIR 49624: JMZIP: REF: WAVE 6974 (IN 34069): "1. There has been no new designation of ODYOKE (U.S. Government) agency for handling AMBUD (Cuban Revolutionary Council - CRC) as stated ref. ODACID (U.S. State Department) and office ODYOKE chief executive continue as official points of contact for AMBUD as well as other Cuban exile groups. 2. FYI on 3 July Parlett (Gerard Droller) introduced IDEN to AMBUD-1 (Jose Miro Cardona) as Ray Clark PBPRIMER (United States) interested in Cuban situation and friend whom AMBUD-1 should feel free to call for advice. For the present we will maintain this informal channel to AMBUD-1 for purpose of listening post. 3. Concur para 2 ref." Releasing Officer: Ernie Terrell for J. C. King, C/WHD. Coordinating Officers: WH/4/FI-CI: Clark Simmons. WH/COPS. WH/CA. Authenticating Officer: R. K. Davis, C/WH/4.
07/08/61: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Martha Tharpe, WH/4/PA-PROP): CITE DIR 49625: JMZIP: REF: DIR 49624 (OUT 74121): "IDEN - Mr. Robert Chamberlain. CABLE SECRETARIAT: Please reference attached cable." Releasing Officer: Ernie Terrell for J. C. King, C/WHD. Coordinating Officers: WH/4/FI-CI. WH/COPS. WH/CA. Authenticating Officer: R. Whedbee for R. K. Davis, C/WH/4.
104-10167-10377: CONTACT WITH SR. MANUEL ANTONIO DE VARONA, 11 JULY 1961.
07/12/60: Memo for the record from Robert S. Chamberlain, WH/PO/B: "1. In response to a call from Varona, the undersigned called Varona 11 July 1961 at the Roosevelt Hotel, Washington, D.C., Room 707, and in the course of the conversation Varona brought up the following points: a. The problem of the magistrates. b. The problem of Irigoyen. c. The problem of three of the prisoners from the invasion force who are in the United States in connection with the transfer negotiations and who, Sr. Varona stated, are 'stranded' at the Marriott Hotel. Varona would like $1,000.00 - $1,500.00 to send these three men to New York and back to Miami in connection with their efforts. 2. Varona also referred to a plan to send three Cubans, including a labor leader, on an anti-Castro mission to Latin America at a cost of $6,500.00 for each person. He also referred to the reported promises of support for himself and his family, referring to 'Noel', 'Carr' and 'Bender' (Gerard Droller) as those who had guaranteed the claimed support. 3. Varona's approach on the matters of the magistrates and Irigoyen was the same as that taken by Miro. 4. Either through Aragon or Miro, or both, Varona knows of a contact between the undersigned as Raymond S. Clark and Miro and Aragon."
HSCA document: Page 160: ..."5. Varona called CIA on July 7. Robert Chamberlain has been designated as replacement for Jerry Droller in liaison matters with Cardona...7. Memo for record - by Robert Chamberlain dated 7 July 1961. Contact with Varona - Varona is in DC staying at Roosevelt Hotel. Will be in DC 3 or 4 days. Chamberlain gave name of Raymond Clark. Varona asked several questions re state of affairs. Got no answers. Asked how to get in touch with General Taylor. Told to go through Mr. Goodwin. 8. Contact with Varona on July 11 1961 and Robert Chamberlain. Varona wanted money for three prisoners who are now stranded at Marriott. Note on side says no - quid pro quo clear on this..."
104-10229-10056: CABLE RE: ERNESTO DE ARAGON, ASSISTANT MIRO, REPORTS CARLOS LACERDA
08/16/61: Cable from Director to Rio de Janeiro: Mr. Chamberlain, WH/PO/B, was a Coordinating Officer, along with M. Maney, WH/4/Prop-PA.
https://documents3.theblackvault.com/documents/jfkfiles/jfk2022/104-10227-10154.pdf
08/31/61: Report from Barkley, WH/4/Plans: Re Cable in 20364 (Kent's Meeting w/Miro on 28 August 61): Page 4 of PDF (Page 2): ..."We do not understand Miro's talk about a new invasion. The question of the older military types to go to 'academies' has been talked about vaguely in the past (raised, I think, with Chamberlain), but we've never seen this list given to Goodwin. The question of who contacts Miro should definitely be resolved. I gather they (higher authorities, Tracy?) don't want Chamberlain to continue, but should we get officially in contact with Miro in Miami? Mr. Goodwin should direct if desired. However, they have contact through their Comptroller, Paula, to our finance people..."
https://documents3.theblackvault.com/documents/jfkfiles/jfk2022/104-10229-10051.pdf
09/25/61: Memo for the record from Robert S. Chamberlain, WH/PO/B: Subject: Contact with Dr. Ernesto de Aragon 15 and 16 September 1961: "1. Following contact with Dr. Miro Cardona by Mr. Robert E. Whedbee, DC/WH/4. and the undersigned at the Sheridan Belvodere Hotel (Room 624), Baltimore, about 1130 to about 1330 15 September 1961, the undersigned, on the evening of 15 September, spoke by telephone on the following points with Miro's representative, Dr. Ernesto de Aragon, who was with Miro at the New Howard Hotel (Room 502), Baltimore. The undersigned based the content of his conversation with Aragon on guidance provided by DC/WH/4...c. Permanent Contact for Miro: Aragon was told (handwritten note mentioned Col. King) that Col. Wendell Johnson, U.S.A., retired, an outstanding man of wide military and political experience, had been designated as permament contact for Miro and that Col. Johnson would also be in frequent contact with Mr. Goodwin. Col. Johnson was now in the process of moving to Miami and contact between him and Miro would be established within ten days to two weeks. Miro expressed satisfaction at the designation of Col. Johnson as contact..."