SECRET

26 October 1960

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Personnel

SUBJECT: James A. Noel - Memorandum in Lieu of Fitness Report

Mr. James A. Noel arrived in Havana in September of 1958, a trifle more than three months before Fidel Castro assumed power on 1 January 1959. With the advent of that new government Cuba became, so far as our economic and political interests are concerned, one of the most important spots in the world, as well as increasingly more difficult to conduct CIA business. As a result, with the constant worsening of Cuba's situation, it is doubtful that there has been in the past three years a more difficult assignment than Havana in this Division. Nevertheless, with an extremely limited staff, Mr. Noel has been able to continue, and even extend, his operations to the point where the intelligence significance of his Cuban life is sorely coveted. Where issues of anti-U.S. feeling is concerned, to say nothing of the increased effectiveness of the Cuban counterintelligence resulting from the assistance by Soviet personnel, it is amazing that Mr. Noel has been able to produce the great volume of important reports which he has sent. Such reporting demonstrates an extremely delicate operation in the face of almost certainty of discovery. In all this, however, he has offered leadership of a high quality to his staff and has been a fine example of good morale, which is reflected in the attitude of every member of his staff, all of whom respond readily and without complaint to the demands made of them by their surrounding circumstances. Mr. Noel deserves to be warmly commended for a job well done.

J.C. King
Chief
Western Hemisphere Division

REVIEWED BY:
[Signature]
Chief of Operations, DD/P

SECRET