0930Z 31 May 1967 drafted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DTG 310930Z MAY 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO:   OASD (PA)

INFO: USCINCEUR/CINCUSNAVEUR/CHINFO/CNO

CONFIDENTIAL

A. USCINCEUR 300425Z MAY 67 NOTAL [310425Z MAY 67]
B. COMSIXTHFLT 302033Z MAY 67 NOTAL [not in file]

1. REF ALFA REPORTED ASSOCIATED PRESS SAYING QUOTE COMSIXTHFLT INTENDS TO KEEP
INTERNATIONAL SEA LANES OPEN AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF MILITARY OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE
THAT END UNQUOTE. REF ALFA ALSO REQUESTS TEXT OF COMSIXTHFLT REMARKS. REPORTAGE
QUOTED ABOVE WAS OF PRESS CONFERENCE REPORTED IN REF BRAVO, AND NOT FROM ANY ADDRESS
OR PREPARED REMARKS.

2. THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS OVERALL TENOR OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
QUERY: ADMIRAL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF OUR AMERICAN SHIPS WERE FIRED ON? ANSWER:
THAT WOULD DEPEND ON MANY THINGS, LIKE THE SHIP'S LOCATION, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE INCIDENT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY. THERE
IS NO DOUBT THAT ONE OF OUR PURPOSES IS KEEPING INTERNATIONAL WATERS FREE AND
OPEN, AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF DOING THAT, INCLUDING OUR MERE PRESENCE WHICH
NORMALLY WOULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE KIND OF THING YOU MENTION FROM
HAPPENING. QUERY: ADMIRAL, ARE YOU UNDER SPECIAL ORDERS? ANSWER: NO, WE ARE
CONDUCTING NORMAL TRAINING OPERATIONS. WE HAVE BROUGHT ALL OF TASK FORCE 60
TOGETHER, SOMETHING THAT IS DONE FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SOMETHING WHICH REAR
ADMIRAL GEIS HAD SCHEDULED, EVEN BEFORE HE REPORTED HERE, TO TRAIN IN OPERATING
TWO CARRIERS TOGETHER. QUERY: ADMIRAL, WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO? ANSWER: I
CANNOT DISCUSS THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, AS THE NAVY ALWAYS DOES, MY STAFF HAS
EXAMINED EVERY POSSIBILITY OF ACTION WHICH MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO BACK
UP OUR PEACE KEEPING ROLE UNDER EVERY CONTINGENCY. IN THAT SENSE, PLANNING
CAN BE CONSIDERED COMPLETELY IMPARTIAL AND ALL ASPECTS MUST BE EXAMINED BEFORE
DECIDING THE BEST UTILIZATION OF THE EXTENSIVE RANGE OF CAPABILITIES OF OUR
VERSATILE AND MOBILE FORCE.

3. COMSIXTHFLT DECLINED TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF ACTIONS IN THE READ SEA
OR GULF OF AQABA AND DEFERRED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE MIDEAST FORCE TO DOD.
THE EMPHASIS OF ALL REMARKS WERE ON OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND
TRADITIONAL U.S. ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THAT SEA FREE.

GP-4

Glossary | May Messages | Message Tables | U.S. Messages page