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overall coordinating executive might be desirable, but it was left that the Director would make Mr. Barnes available to work closely with a State Department officer to be designated. It was also felt desirable to use Mr. Pawley's services, initially in connection with C ~.., -', ~ .::J assistance. 2/ The points of view attributed to the President at this time by Mr. Bissell reflect very closely the position of William D. Pawley who had met with the President immediately prior to the President's ses- sion with State, DOD, and the Agency's representatives. According to Livingston Merchant, who had a long session with Mr. Pawley on the day prior to Pawley's meeting with President Eisenhower: Mr. Pawley said that two things are necessary, and I inferred that these would constitute his [Pawley's] principal recom- mendations to the President. (1) The President should appoint a single experienced individual (he said he was personally qualified and would be available for the job if asked) to conduct the entire covert operation. In thls con- nection, he cited the role which he had played in the Guatemala case. (2) We should recruit several thousand good young Cubans in Florida and give them, basic training. This could be done in five or six weeks, rather than months, according to him. He was extremely impatient at the thought of moving any Cubans who may now be in Central America, expressing himself - 167 -