◆ SpookStack

caused varying reactions within the Department of State. U. S. Ambassador, Thomas Whelan, was a strong supporter of the Somoza government; and, consequently, looked with great favor on the Agencyls attempts to negotiate directly with Somoza, believing that this was a proper step, not only from the US point of view vis-a-vis Cuba, but also in terms of our relations with the government of Nicaragua. 17/ On the other hand, Thomas Mann, 18/ the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter American Affairs, preferred to tread very cautiously with regard to Nicaragua; adhering to the formalities of diplomatic nicety vis-a-vis that government. Within the Agency itself, Mr. Bissell's Assistant Deputy Director of Plans for Action (ADDP/A), C. Tracy Barnes, was apparently nervous about the implications of using the Nicaraguan site because Somoza was such a bad guy; and Barnes at one point \ stated that "in the long run, we would lose an unac- ceptable amount of face with these (more democratic?] countries" in Central America if we worked closely with Somoza. 19/ Barnes, however, did realize the urgent need for developing a strike base. -,~l TOP~CRET