Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation- Volume 2- Part 1

movement; and the situation in Nicaragua was consist-
ently introduced as a part of that on-going prob1em.
D. Qualms at High Levels
With reference to the use or non-use of the
Nicaraguan base -- a question which was still unanswered
at the turn of the year -- Tom Mann was looked on as
the villain in the piece by the Agency's representatives.
In preparing material for the DCI to use at a high
level meeting, Tracy Barnes indicated that Mann would
probably oppose the use of the Nicaraguan strike base.
Barnes argues that Mann would reason that since the
operation was essentially one backed by the United
States Government, the attempt to establish a covert
Agency operated base was improper. The united States
Government should openly admit its anti-Castro posture,
for continuation of the attempt to maintain covert
activities in Nicaragua and Guatemala would (in Mann's
thinking according to Barnes) jeopardize the already
somewhat shaky governments of Ydigoras and Somoza. 35/
In his memorandum noting Mann's position, Barnes
chose to ignore, or at least to pass over, the merits
of overt US intervention. Instead of" looking at the