|
Glossary |
10 June Messages |
Message Tables | U.S.
Messages page
1045Z 10
June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe to
Joint Chiefs of Staff
P 101045Z JUN 67
FM USCINCEUR
TO JCS
INFO USNAVEUR
BT
S E C R E T ECDC 09200. SUBJECT IS LIBERTY.
1. (S) HAVE REVIEWED AVAILABLE DATA WITH RESPECT TO LIBERTY WITH
CINCUSNAVEUR IN GENERAL FRAME OF CHRONOLOGY BEFORE ACCIDENTAL
ATTACK, DURING ATTACK AND SUBSEQUENT THERETO. WE BOTH HAVE MANY
VERY PERTINENT AND AS YET UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS WE APPRECIATE
WASHINGTON HAS. AT SAME TIME, MUST BE RECOGNIZED CREW MEMBERS
OF LIBERTY FROM WHOM ANSWERS MUST BE GOTTEN ARE AT POINT OF
EXHAUSTION, SUFFERING FROM WOUNDS AND SHOCK, DEAD OR MISSING. IT
SIMPLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, LEGALLY OR OTHERWISE, TO INITIATE
BARRAGE OF UNCORRELATED QUESTIONING VIA LONG HAUL COMMUNICATIONS
AT THIS TIME. OBVIOUSLY FACTS MUST BE DEVELOPED INVOLVING ACTIONS
AND JUDGEMENTS OF CREW, LIBERTY COMMAND AND CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND
ALSO LEGAL BASE MUST BE ESTABLISHED FOR POSSIBLE CLAIMS AGAINST
GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL. THEREFORE, I STRONGLY ENDORSE ESTABLISHMENT
OF COURT OF INQUIRY BY CINCUSNAVEUR AS PROPER PROCEDURE TO
ESTABLISH WHAT HAPPENED AS BASIS FOR ANY APPROPRIATE SUBSEQUENT
ACTIONS, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE SOMEWHAT TIME-CONSUMING AND CREATE
IMPATIENCE AMONG THOSE WHO DESIRE MORE RAPID ANSWERS.
2. (S) WHILE I BELIEVE WE ARE ASKING FULL RANGE OF PERTINENT
QUESTIONS, SUGGEST WASHINGTON AGENCIES COMPILE AND FORWARD ALL
QUESTIONS INTO WHICH THEY WANT SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO INSURE COURT
OF INQUIRY DOES FULLY RESPONSIVE JOB. MEANWHILE WOULD APPRECIATE
ASSISTANCE IN HOLDING OFF STREAM OF QUESTIONS TO SATISFY PRESS OR
OTHER INTERESTS UNTIL FACTS CAN BE PROPERLY AND FORMALLY
ESTABLISHED. INFORMATION FOR NOTIFICATION NEXT OF KIN AND ANY
OTHER RELEVANT DATA WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE BE FURNISHED ASAP.
3. (S) WE FORESEE A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WITH RESPECT TO
COURT OF INQUIRY. IN VIEW OF ASSIGNED MISSION IT MUST BE A CLOSED
COURT. ANTICIPATE PRESSURES FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
WITH SURVIVORS, OPEN COURT AND PUBLIC SPECTACLE WITH ANNOUNCEMENT
OF COURT APPOINTMENT. SUGGEST WE GO AHEAD AND ANNOUNCE THAT A
COURT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO INQUIRE INTO ALL ASPECTS OF LIBERTY
AFFAIR, THUS IMMUNIZING ALL MEMBERS OF LIBERTY FROM FURTHER PRESS
CONTACT, AND IF PRESSED FOR OPEN COURT OR PREMATURE PRESS
INTERVIEWS, SUGGEST ANSWER THAT LIBERTY, IN SUPPORTING U.S.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS IN EASTERN MED WAS PART OF OVERALL
OPERATIONAL COMMAND AND CONTROL AND THEREFORE PART OF OPERATIONS
WHICH ROUTINELY CLASSIFIED. AS IN VIETNAM, WE DO NOT MAKE PUBLIC
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION OF A CLASSIFIED NATURE.
4. (U) REQUEST GUIDANCE.
GP-4
BT
Message subject lineage: 111311Z JUN 67
CINCUSNAVEUR
Glossary |
10 June Messages |
Message Tables | U.S.
Messages page |