◆ SpookStack

that was being raised with the Special Group, particu- larly the concerns of Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs, Thomas Mann. In an apparent response to a question raised by Mann, Chief, WH Division, sent a note to Mann on 1 December 1960, in which it was stated: As one of the actions to be taken in response to the Presidential and Special Group Meetings, we would proceed to survey, construct, and man a staging and refueling facility at Puerto Cabezas. This ~ction is in accord with preliminary conversa- tions with President Somoza. There would at no time be a substantial force at the installation~ and no US personnel would be in the capital of the nation except one agency contract employee with ion: local experience, who would I I I Iby dealing with the Presl ent on thlS operation. The initial survey team of 5-men would fly into Puerto Cabezas on or about 7 Decem- ber. Subject to their findings it is ex- pected that such minimum airstrip repairs and construction of temporary buildings would be completed by 15 January [1961]. 22/ The Agency presumption that it had been acting in response to the directive of the President and the wishes of the Special Group, apparently met with oppo- sition from Mann; for in a handwritten note on a copy of the memorandum cited above, Dick Drain (Chief, WH/4/P&P) recorded: