to4-t0067-40373] 8 February 1979 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence VIA, ' $3 Deputy Director of Central Intelligence ; Legislative Counsel FROM : S. D. Breckinridge | mm -- Principal Coordinator, HSCA | SUBJECT — : -House Select Committee on: Assassinations References ‘to Overseas CIA Stations Action Re ice That you approve one of the options set forth in paragra ph TT. 2. Background: - CIA's participation in the investigation of co President Kennedy's assassination was limited by the pattern of Lee Harvey Oswald's life. He served in the Marine Corps in Japan, although he did not _ come to the attention of the CIA at that time. He travelled to the Soviet ~ “Union in 1959, returning to the United States in 1962. He did not come _to CIA's attention until his defection was reported by the U. S. Embassy in Moscow. He travelled to Mexico City in late September 1963, returning to the United States in early October after a five-day stay. CIA detected his presence and reported it at that time as a routine CI report because the contacted the Soviet Embassy. (C) 3. “False allegations by a disaffected CIA employee claiming CIA-Oswald -ties in Japan consumed some of the Committee's time and attention. They discredited his testimony, | but in the process of discussing it, they talk in Tokyo. We would endeavor to have | the Committee sanitize and downplay this section of its report simply - because of the discredited nature of the witness's testimony. If this is unsuccessful, unclassified publication may become an issue. 4.. Oswald's entry to the Soviet Union, with a visa given by the soviet Consul In Heleinki. leads to HSCA discussion in its report of ce atten ice ite tenn! niboes hates icteric and the file held on the Consul, edied by sanitization; if not, “it could become an issue if HSCA insists on publication. + RICAN ALCLBY 2) 2.343190 - Cason Xi pavers on February 19 1985_- EXTSYNOSYNSS 2 cetera wd “ oun rene ; SEGQRED 9 opgases oo 006 0b * — en cr ge ne os aa anni eset nt a = ne ao ee rere we
ba,’ 4 of | i { et mot, 5. Oswald's visit to Mexico City and other developments ‘there have — ood produced detailed discussion of certain everits in HSCA drafts. One of Lo | those intended by the Committee for unclassified publication has to do | B with a man who made allegations that Oswald received money in the Cuban Consulate for the purpose of killing.the President. This considers the ; i investigation of the allegation, with criticisms of the performance Of == = hs the Agency. It involves detailed reference to the Station in Mexico. os, The other section intended for unclassified publication has to do with a man who flew to Cuba from Mexico City a few days after the assassination of President Kennedy. Again, there is extensive reference. to the role of the Station. Another section referring to the Mexico City Station involves detailed discussion of sensitive sources and methods; the position on sources and methods is clear, but there is. uncertainty in the Mexico Station aspect. (S) . 6. The present issue is ‘whether. there can be some euphemism for describing CIA personnel in Mexico City for the investigation, without specifying that they were assigned there on a permanent basis, or whether we simply oppose any references. The Committee can be expected to contest our objections to any references to the Station or CIA's presence there . for the investigation because the story cannot be told otherwise. To omit such references would mean that these limited sections would probably have -’ to be deleted or so emasculated as to render them sterile and incomprehensible. (c) ee ere mete pr ey meee 2" 7. The Warren Commission report has only ‘limited veferences to CIA, crediting it with reporting Oswald's visit to Mexico City prior to the os ‘assassination, and obtaininig by undisclosed means a photograph of an neal . ' cc ad 3s unidentified man. Other information from CIA is not specified in the - report; while: the press has accurately described those matters, the Agency has never officially confirmed it. (C) . . _ 8. The Church Committee report, in Book v, makes 28 separate refer- ences to the Mexico Station (not Mexico Cit ‘Station), or its Chief, or its communications with Washington. While this is not publication by CIA, ' it has the quality of official confirmation by virtue of being contained _ ‘in a Senate report. The Agency did not contest this at the time. Further, ‘the Agency subsequently approved references to the Mexico City station and its Chief, in the book published by David Phillips, possibly because. . already public in the Senate report. (C) _ 9. Staff Discussion: Since the Church Committee investigation, and the approval of the references in the Phillips book, there has been an increase in the sensitivity of the Mexico City Station. While CIA has come under attack in the Mexican Press from time-to-time in the past, the Station and the COS in particular recently have been the subject of a running campaign. This is the first time that a COS has been subjected to a prolonged personal attack in the local press. Heightened political scontroversy within the ruling PRI Party has focused attention on the ‘Embassy and the Station, with allegations of bribery and other misdeeds amen wot
14-00000 hot produce a way around the issue. Distribution: ra ae See ee “Sie : - Sapfinies wis thd ¢ e involving high-level officials. Because of the political discord within the PRI, certain high-level Mexican officials have at least seen fit to permit the continuation of this campaign if not supporting and instigating it. Their objective is to tarnish the image of other officials who are political opponents and traditionally have -been very supportive of the Station. The interest of the United States in Mexico's gas and petroleum has heightened sensitivity concerning anything that may affect the political atmosphere. The official publication by any U. S. Government — entity of material which confirms the presence of CIA operations in | Mexico (past or present) provides’ new ammunition for renewed . attacks. on - our Station and causes considerable embarrassment to the GOM. - President Carter will be visiting in Mexico soon.. The president. himself has. instructed — -. the Attorney General that there can be no references to the Mexico City. - _Station in its prosecution of the ITT matter. While the President can instruct a member of the Executive Branch on this matter, a formal position from him a this subject, directed to the Congress, does not have the’ same weight. 10. The ‘agreement between you and Chairman Stokes provides that when - we receive an official notice of the intent to publish, you have five days in-which to respond to him if you object. At present, we have this inform- ation on an informal basis and the five-day period does not apply. Therefore, this is posed to you.in anticipation of a disagreement if discussions do | 11. Our options are: . a. To seek some compromise by discussions; (u) - b. Accept: some euphemism that suggests the presence in Mexico of CIA people in 1964 for purposes of the investigation without specifying that they were assigned there permanently; (c) “C. Categorically oppose publication of those sections’ mentioning any CIA presence in Mexico. 72. Action Requested: We intend to pursue option (a), but prior to ' doing so, your decision on options (b) and (c) will be necessary to shape how we proceed. Ss. ‘D. Breckinridge a i 1 - DCI - 1 - R. Holmes ~~ 1] - DDCI 1 - Legislative Counsel T- ER |. 1 - OLC/Subj 1 - DDA 1 - OLC/Chron -1 - DBO OLC/SDB/kw - 9 Feb 1979 1 - OGC Attn: R. Rininger oe 1] - LA/DDO Attn: W. Sturbitts - 4 T - OS Attn: J. Sullivan : 7 ever. ee a AALS! GRR BGT ee. ee, 3 acer nec a temcaparervarsertt ood torteepernereeranesarnraemanmaneararemennme neti ameeattaecentenma eee Re a ee