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2018Z 14 August 1967 transmitted message text from
Secretary of State to American Embassy, Tel Aviv


R 142018Z AUG 67
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0163
BT
S E C R E T STATE 20340
EXDIS
1. DURING MEETING WITH ISRAELI MINISTER EVRON AUG 11, UNDER-
SECRETARY ROSTOW SAID WE WERE STILL UNDER CONGRESSIONAL
PRESSURE ON LIBERTY INCIDENT. WE NEEDED KNOW SOONEST RESULTS OF
GOI JUDICIAL INQUIRY. THIS CONNECTION, ROSTOW SAID WE WOULD
CONTINUE EXERCISE DISCRETION SO FAR AS PUBLIC DISCUSSION THIS
ISSUE WAS CONCERNED. WE COULD NOT GUARANTEE, HOWEVER, THAT
THERE WOULD BE NO LEAKS FROM CONGRESSIONAL SIDE. GOI MIGHT
THEREFORE WANT TO CONSIDER ISSUING PUBLIC STATEMENT.
2. EVRON SAID MATERIAL ON JUDICIAL INQUIRY HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN
NAVAL ATTACHE IN TEL AVIV AND HE WOULD PROVIDE COPY TO DEPT
IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION, EVRON SAID INQUIRY HAD CONCLUDED
INCIDENT WAS RESULT OF CONFUSION AND INEPTITUDE BUT HAD FOUND
NO EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE AND NO LEGAL BASIS FOR
PROSECUTION. ROSTOW SAID WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHETHER
ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BEING TAKEN.
GP-3 RUSK
BT