APPROVED FOR RELEASE
OU! MB COPY
07
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence FROM:
Deputy Legislative Counsel
James Abourezk'sak.)
Letter Concerning the USS Liberty
Requested: None. For your information, only.
Onenator Abourezk sentletter concerning the publication of CIA documents by theComittee which the Cotfnittee claimed proved that the sinking
of the USS Libertyeliberate act by theharge which you subsequently denied on television. This first Abourezk letter charged that the CLA had misled the American Palestine Committee and asked you to explain this matter.
Onou replied to Abourezk, denying that the American Palestine Committee had been misled or vilified by CIA. This letter specifically set forth the facts.
Senator Abourezk is now backew set of questions to be answered. His letter of7 does not charge CIA with anything; it does ask precise questions about the FOIA action we had with the American Palestine Committee; it requests one document which was never released to the American Palestine Committee; and the Senator now asks for your judgment and that of CIA, based on everything known, if the attack on the Liberty was deliberate or an honest mistake.
Position: We have asked the Coordinator forPrivacy and the Congressional Support Staff of NFAC to researchand help useply. orthright responsethe Senator and lay this matter to rest as far as he isit will take some time to coordinate the reply, we willSenator's second letter and assure him of your interest in providingand complete answer to his questions. ^
Original document.
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