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, ~ olIOi' SECRET questions concerning the Bay of Pigs Operation_* Esterline1s visit to the bases in Guatemala was almost immediately reflected in the correspondence between the field and Headquarters, with specific emphasis being placed on the assignment to the ground training base, JMTRAV, of senior training officers. Similarly it was stressed that there was a priority need to secure Special Force trainers from ~~e ;xmy, on an ASAP basis. Requirements for materiel j~peC, particularly in the number of personal weapons which would be required for added numbers of troops in training. With the acquisition of the additional training site in Guatemala from Roberto Alejos, re- quests immediately came forward for trucks and jeeps to transport troops to these training areas. The , * There also is evidence that at least one of the principal Agency planners, C. Tracy Barnes, contrib- uted to the November confusion. At one point, when serious consideration was being given to the ~cssi­ bility of increasing significantly the training activ- ity that might be done in Nicaragua, Barnes iLtroduced what amounted to moral objections to the association -~ or to strengthening the association -- with the Somoza Government. Barnes emphasized that this would go down hard with the more liberal elements i~ Latin America. 14/ This argument, of course, was v~::y c:.:ch in line with the position being advanced by ~o O€~art­ ment of State -- Thomas Mann excepted. - 156 - TOP SECRCF"