Cryptonym: DE
104-10054-10366: DISPATCH OF ENVELOPE FOR JAMES N. RABNEY
October 1960: James Rabney's notes re his discussions with the Rome Station. "DEPIGRAM, Italian REDACTED rep, as source and spotter for Corsicans. Altman to pick his brain and pinpoint his ability do this job for us, but once selection made, DEPIGRAM to be eliminated. DEPIGRAM believes (CIA) handling as matter of convenience in behalf of Narcotics Bureau. REDACTED to follow up with DEPIGRAM on word from HQS. Purpose is selection of one or two Corsicans as entry men to be teamed with Triestino safecracker."
104-10100-10234: CABLE: PRELIMINARY COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR JOURNALIST VISITING CUBA
10/17/63: Cable from Director to Mexico City (Orig: L. Armstrong, Unit: SAS/EDE): Slugline DYVOUR PBRUMEN DEVISTA: "1. DEVISTA/1, Italian leftist-known journalist, preparing depart on South American reporting junket with emphasis on our Cuban requirements, expects enter Cuba via Mexico. Departure date indefinite but might be as early as 26 October aboard Italian Galileo Ferraris which sails Genoa arriving La Guaira, Venezuela, about 15 days later. 2. If Rome concurs, request MEXI contact prior departure for island to afford agent final briefing and last minute requirements. Because cover for DEVISTA/1's trip includes visits to other South American countries, after Cuban visit, would propose MEXI prepare meet agent on his way out and conduct preliminary debriefing. Request Rome cable MEXI approval if above okay, plus physical description agent and background. 3. Experience of DEVISTA/1 has been in economic political social fields consequently rqmts must fit his competence. These areas however, agent should be alert our more important rqmts military field in hopes he may develop access once on ground. Has capability and cover for ground photography. 4. Request STA furnish Rome with contact plan info HQs. Prepare afford emergency funding of agent if necessary. 5. Rome: Approval pay DEVISTA/1 up to $1,000 for expenses and up to $1,000 bonus upon return Rome provided he able successfully satisfy our requirements. Charge 4136-6300-5994 (info on cost symbol to follow). Consider he not able justify more than month inside. HQs cannot support his extended tour through South America and considers if he desires make such trip it be at conclusion of Cuban trip. DEVISTA/1's plans reach Mexico from La Guaira by rail and car completely impossible. Must plan fly since roads and rails between points practically nonexistent. Suggest he go MEXI quickly as possible consistent good cover and accomplish Cuban assignment first...."
1994.06.17.11:36:40:380005 Reel 47, Folder J - MEXI 6742 - 6899 CABLES.
11/07/63: Cable: MEXI 6833, from Mexico City to Director: The source (and) is DEGRIP, a Western European businessman of proven reliability whose business was inside Cuba.
11/12/63: Cable from Director to Mexico City: Sluglines KEYWAY PBRUMEN DESIGNET: REF: ROME 1028 (IN 56787): "1. PLS advise DESIGNET/1 Cuban CIS especially alert in past few weeks all illegal activities and many arrests made. (Unintelligible) he not contact former friends or acquaintances until he has been on scene long enough have thoroughly tested local situation. 2. Request you stress security with this agent in final briefing pointing out hazards connected with phone calls, meetings, loose talk re acquaintances. 3. FYI: (Unintelligible) and AMWEE complexes both threatened by recent events and DESIGNET gave leads into both areas. 4. Seriousness of situation need not deter agent if he proceeds Cuba as Italian businessman and sticks to cover story. DESIGNET/1 may be able give us valuable info re situation current assets but he must proceed slowly in order be effective."
11/15/63: Cable from Director to Mexico City: "1. Please have DEVISTA-1 ask PCI for Communist contacts in Central American countries he plans to visit. Major interest to get contacts in El Salvador (SALV) due HQs lack recent info on CP SALV. 2. Station SALV has been asked to cable Rome names of SALV leading leftists which Station wishes DEVISTA-1 to contact. These contacts should be used unless he gets better contacts from PCI. 3. Requirements on SALV Communism: Names of leaders and key functionaries. Number of members, number of sympathizers, plans and activities, relationship between SALV CP and Frente Unido de Accion Revolucionario (FUAR a leftist group). Plans and activities of FUAR leaders. 4. OIRA 35588 suggests PACY contact Subject at Cristobal because it will be great psychological factor and morale builder knowing he supported all the way. PACY 1254 states PACY prefers no contact unless necessary. But HQs urges PACY contact if possible. Advise. 5. Suggest DEVISTA not enter Honduras, Nicaragua or Guatemala due to present political conditions. 6. MEXI: please debrief SUBJ on above requirements on arrival in MEXI, prior final Cuban briefings. WH/Comment: *DEVISTA-1, unilateral asset and (REDACTION) Communist journalist, sailing on (Unintelligible) Versi, 25 Nov. for Latin America reporting tour with emphasis on Cuban Rqms."
11/18/63: Cable: MEXI 6844: Slugline DEGRIP AMTHUG: Handwriting shows this is one of "DEGRIP ops". Discussion of Vasco Cecchi's Montecatini Restaurant, Italian, "good cook". Castro "arrives with only one escort car...always enters with two companions who eat with him. Escort remains outside. AMTHUG visits kitchen alone, chats with employees. Other patrons are not ejected or disturbed. While inside, AMTHUG is a "sitting duck". DEGRIP comments, "You can draw own conclusions on possibilities." Bill Harvey was originally tipped off about this Montecatini restaurant at Calle 15, Corner K, Vedado, Havana and its owner Vasco Cecchi in August 1962 when he was chief of Task Force W and charged with killing Castro. For more see the AMRANGE crypt and this memo in particular: http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=17026&relPageId=2
104-10422-10119: CABLE: TRACES DEVIGIL
11/29/63: Cable from Rome to Director: Slugline RYBAT KEYWAY: "REF A ROME 1233 (IN 68802**) B DIR 85133*** 1. No DEVIGIL traces Subject refs. 2. Per para 3 Ref B all LAPOGO take that date being re-screened. Will advise results ASAP. Prior screening transcripts reflects nothing. No index. C/S Comment: *Dissemination applicable to GPFLOOR cables. **Reported no traces on Lee Oswald. ***Requested traces."