JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION | RECORD NUMBER 145-10001-10273

SECRET

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

30 October 1962

SENSITIVE
FOR THE RECORD

By Brig. Gen. Lansdale

Subject: Operation Mongoose

John McCone asked me to call him on the gray telephone this morning. I did so. He stated that he didn't know exactly how I was supposed to get word on this, so he was informing me to help out: at the Executive Council meeting this morning, the President had decided to hold back Operation Mongoose for the time being. Also, during the negotiations re Soviet missle bases in Cuba, there were to be no Mongoose sabotage or similar militant operations. McCone said that he had informed General Carter of this, but was letting me know, as Chief of Operations, to let the operations team know; he mentioned that Alpha 66 and the approved sabotage of Cuban shipping were to be held, specifically.

I commented that I had just received a copy of a memorandum from him to the Attorney General, the Sec/Def., etc., dated today, saying that CIA was still awaiting word from me on sending in 20 teams by submarine for intelligence collection, after I'd determined JCS and State requirements. I said that I had been told by McGeorge Bundy on Sunday, 28 October, to hold up action on this for 24 hours and had promptly notified CIA, and that yesterday, upon receipt of a memorandum from Bruce Cheever on this same subject, I had taken it up again with Bundy -- and Bundy had told me that he would tell McCone to have CIA hold everything. I presumed that Bundy had so informed McCone. Also, Harvey had called me Sunday night, asking my persmission to discuss CIA assets with CINCLANT and JUWTF for contigency planning; I had given Harvey permission to assist in this planning, if he felt that the U.S. military needed more planning help from the CIA.

After the talk with McCone, I talked with Bruce Cheever who assured me that he had similar orders from Carter and that all militant actions under CIA were being held at a stop. I gave similar orders to General Johnson for Defense/JCS. Lt-Col Patchell concurrently informed State and USIA along the same lines.

SENSITIVE
SECRET

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