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, .;reF 3r!CRE I be condemned throughout Latin America. The US on the other hand would receive the blessings of the OAS and the UN for its efforts. If Castro did agree to meet with the President's representative, then relations between the US and Cuba probably would be improved. 47/ Mr. Belk's suggestions apparently never went beyond Mr. Gray. At 1430 hours on 17 March 1960, Mr. Dulles pre- sented his covert action plan to a combined meeting of the National Security Council and the principals of the Special Group. In attendance with the Presi- dent were Vice President Nixon, Secretary Herter, Mr. Merchant, Mr. Rubottom, Secretary of Treasury Ander- son, Secretary Irwin, Admiral Burke, Richard Bissell, Colonel King, Gordon Gray, Major John Eisenhower, and General A. J. Goodpaster. Based on General Goodpaster's report on the meeting: The President said that he knows of no better plan for dealing with this situa- tion. The great problem is leakage and breach of security. Everyone must be pre- pared to swear that he has not heard of it. He said we should limit American contacts with the groups involved to two or three people, getting Cubans to do most of what must be done ... He under- stood that the effort will be to under- mine Castro's position and pre~tige ... - 72 - ~p 'li(FPRF:k ,