◆ SpookStack

'"TO~ SECRET Question: Why did you make this decision with regard to Jake, coming directly to you and not going through King? Was it just a matter of great efficiency, or what precipitated that? Mr. Bissell: I think it was in part on the model of the Guatemalan operation, and in part, I think, a feeling, probably on my own part -- in some degree perhaps on the part of Allen Dulles -- that J. C. was not effective enough to handle this kind of very fast moving, quite large scale, quite complex, paramilitary operation . . Question: Do you recall any instances where there was a serious conflict be- tween what Jake wanted to do and what J. C. King thought should be done? Mr. Bissell: I don't remember many, if· any, and I believe that the relation- ships between Jake and J. C. were pretty good throughout. 10/ Certainly the written record bears out B1ssell's contention that King was fully informed and that the relationship between King and Es~erline was, if not love, at least mutually respectful.* \ * The only point of contention between King and Ester- line that surfaced in the records concerned the degree to which William Pawley should be involved in affairs related to the organization of the Cuban exiles. At one point, Jake suggested to the DDP that all contact with Pawley be cut off, but in sending Esterline's memorandum through channels, J. C. King noted that he was against cutting Pawley completely off from contact with WH/4. In fact, Pawley was in continuous contact -- even though in disagreement -- with both Jake and King until the close out of the operation. - 39 -