NSA Intercept: Cuban Exile Leader Offended by Guatemalan Official (23 Mar 1962)
This file is an FBI/NSA record from the JFK Assassination Records Collection, released by the National Archives on March 18, 2025. According to the identification form, the originating agency is the National Security Agency (NSA), routed through FBI HQ, classified Top Secret, with the substantive title restricted. The attached decrypted diplomatic cable — a message from the Guatemalan OAS Delegate in Washington to the President of the Republic in Guatemala City (Msg Nr OAS 269), dated 23 Mar 62 — recounts a visit by Dr. Jose Miro Cardona, head of the Cuban government-in-exile, and Manuel Antonio de Varona. Miro Cardona complained that a General Bonilla had humiliated and disrespected him in Miami. He states he is willing to talk with any Cuban leader except former Batista men such as Eusebio Mujal, and urges the recipient to communicate to avoid misunderstandings. Annotations identify the referenced individuals, including a Guatemalan consul in Miami reported to have approached Cuban Julio Garceran about setting up a government-in-exile. The identification form lists the document date as 03/23/1963 while the intercepted message header reads 23 Mar 62, creating a minor date discrepancy in the record.
Description
A declassified NSA-originated intercepted diplomatic message, released via the FBI in the 2025 JFK Assassination Records Collection, reporting a complaint by Cuban government-in-exile head Jose Miro Cardona over his treatment by a Guatemalan general in Miami. Marked Top Secret and referencing multiple Cuban exile figures.
Claims
Jose Miro Cardona complained that General Bonilla humiliated and disrespected him in Miami.
85%Miro Cardona stated he would talk with any Cuban leader except former Batista men like Eusebio Mujal.
85%A Guatemalan consul in Miami reportedly approached Cuban Julio Garceran about setting up a government-in-exile.
70%The originating agency of the record is the NSA and the document is classified Top Secret.
90%
Events
Mar 22, 1962
Intercepted diplomatic cable on Cuban exile dispute
Guatemalan OAS Delegate reports to Guatemala City on Miro Cardona's complaint that General Bonilla humiliated him in Miami.
Mar 17, 2025
NARA 2025 release
Document released under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
~
JFK Assassination System Date: 4/29/201
Identification Form
Agency Information
AGENCY: FBI
RECORD NUMBER: 124-90055-10018 .
‘ : U5 Release under the President oy
. . Kennedy Assassination Records
RECORD SERIES: HQ ction dct of 13992
; AGENCY FILENUMBER: CR SEE TITLE
Document Information
ORIGINATOR: NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
FROM: NSA
TO:
TITLE: [Restricted]
DATE: 03/23/1963
PAGES: 1
SUBJECTS :
_ ANTONIO DE VARONA
._DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT
CLASSIFICATION: Top Secret
- RESTRICTIONS: 1B
CURRENT STATUS: —Redact
DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 06/29/1998
OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF NSA
COMMENTS : MEMO
v9.1
NW 89604 Docld:323264276 Page 1
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992
~ ee TC SECRET DINAD)
o
(cuatematan . cups | (Ts3, ws 4370 3/0 ub} T99- -62 CTs3 .
= : 7 Mar 2029Z P
CUBAN EXILE LEADER OFFENDED BY GUATEMALAN OFFICIAL
"FR Washington: ‘Guatemalan OAS Delegate 23 Mar 62 x
{| TO Guatemala City: President of the Republic/ Priority
| Msg Nr: ‘OAS 269 . C¥S]
¥
if
Dr. MIR CARDONA((A)) and ket visited me
today” an “ordér to report the con Sation that MIRO had with ©
General BONILLA ((C) ) in Miami.
MIRO complained ‘that BONILLA had humiliated him and
treated him disrespectfully. He told me he was willing to
' talk with any Cuban leader, except former BATISTA men like
MUJAL ((D)) « ;
He urged me to commmicate with you, so” that there would
be no misunderstandings, since he respects, admires and is
grateful to you. 7
‘I noted that he was worried but, at the same time,
annoyed.
((A)) JOSE MIROKCARDONA, head of Cuban Government -in-exile.
¢€(B)) MANUEL“ANTONTOX ONA, Cuban exile leader.
((C)) Guatemalan ul in Miami, reported to have approached
-. .- Cuban JULIOFGARCERAN with regard to setting up Government-
in-exifer 3 Sn a
((D)) EUSEBIO MUJAIY | ,
OS iifam | . baeaks
MIR
os oe
Ms 974 —— enfare } C735 TI -- W oa 7
(Guatemalan | (15 INDEXe9 | s/ofeun 199-62(753 2
BUREA _ THIS D ONTAIN E 64-930 ~ 2.13 ~ or
(’aureay SOURCE Ie THIS DOCUMENT. CONTAINS 1 PAGE(S). ( F
olin ot Nop _ NOT RECORDED
” TOP SECRET DINAR = 7? 241969
| NW 89804 Docld:32326426 Page 2
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