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feel for the action taking place.* Apparently the Attorney General jumped on this point stating, as he had on previous occassions, that the President of the United States "wasn't really aware of what was,going on down south and had there been some command post close to the operation, I think he would have." Esterline countered this criticism noting that from 16 April 1961 General Cabell or other senior CIA personnel had been in constant contact with the White House during the operation and there was no excuse for the White House being unaware of the criticality of the situation. Esterline stressed that on 16 April after learning of the cancellation of the D-Day strike he told Col. King he couldn't continue because there was now no possibility of success. Esterline and the committee then rehashed the business of the cancellation of the D-Day strike, including the meeting of General Cabell and Mr. Bissell with the Secretary of State. Esterline also reported on what he called "a heavy discussion," involving himself, Colonel Hawkins, Captain Scapa, and General Cabe11--with Cabell in effect telling them they would have to bite the bullet and do it the way that the President wanted it done. Someone on the