◆ SpookStack

=f=or SECRE I cable read' in part as follows: You have been authoritatively advised that US Government is not (repeat not) backing Rubio group and that it has no intention of ever doing so. It complete fabrication that Pawley was ~iven US Government assurance that on1y his group would be backed. No resignations of any kind occurred, nor are any foreseen. Mention Veep in such context and on this particular level sheer foo1hardiness and can only reflect most adversely on those Cubans who guilty misrepresentation of facts and severest indiscretlilns. 14/ The cable apparently w~ never forwarded to either Havana or to Miami, presumabLy because of op- position from Col. J. C. King who had noted and ini- tialed on his copy of the Memorandum from Jake Ester- line recommending that all contact with the Rubio- Pawley group be "immediately and fin.a1.l.y severed" the following: "I do not concur with severing of all contacts."* 15/ * As will be noted subsequently, -.rhether it was political expediency or conviction that Pawley could actually do some good, the relationship among Pawley, Chie~ WH Division, and Chief, WH/4 ·continued through- out the course of the Bay of Pigs C?eration. If any- thing in fact, the relationship becNeen Pawley and Jake Esterline appears to have becane mutually sup- portive, particularly as the operation drew to its unsuccessful conclusion. - 257 - 101' SFCRt'T