SETAF 41 Bona Fides for Krunoslav Draganovic
This curious document - very cloak and dagger - was found among a collection of handwriting specimens and signature samples belonging to Father Krunoslav Draganovic and kept by the CIC in Italy at the time of Draganovic's second round of employment with them in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Originally withheld for reasons of national security, this file was obtained only after a lawsuit was filed by Attorney Jonathan Levy against the CIA to release all documents pertaining to Draganovic and the Ratline. The scan of this document contains a reproduction of the halved nine of diamonds playing card the agents were to match against Draganovic's half to prove each side's legitimacy.

 

SETAF 41 BONA FIDES

 

DYNAMO is in possession of one-half of the nine-of-diamonds playing card which has been cut diagonally across. Agent Handler will present himself and say to DYNAMO "VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT" (He conquers who conquers himself). DYNAMO will answer "VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI" (A word is enough for a wise man." Agent Handler will then ask DYNAMO for his half of the bona fides which will match with the half in possession of the Agent Handler.

 

FRANCO

 

Note: Bona fides with instructions were established on 2 September 1959 while DYNAMO was in Verona.

 

:: filing information ::
Title: SETAF 41 Bona Fides for Krunoslav Draganovic
Source: CIA, declassified March 12, 2001
Date: ca. 1959 Added: May 25, 2003