LETTER TO THE HONORABLE JAMES O. EASTLAND FROM EDWARD H. LEVY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000300080028-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 27, 2009
• Sequence Number: 28
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/10/27: CIA-RDP77M00144R000300080028-4
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The Honorable James 0. Eastland
Chairman
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Washington, D. C.
I am writing to confirm our conversation of
last evening regarding the exercise of the parole
authority vested in me to permit the entry into the
United States 'of certain South Vietnamese and Cambodians.
I am grateful for your co-operation. and concurrence in
this matter.
As we discussed, I received late yesterday after-
noon from Henry A. Kissinger as Special Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs, an'urgent re-
quest for the immediate parole of:
STATINTL 1. Up to ~ "high risk" Vietnamese
refugees, and their families. These
would include past and present U: S.
government employees, Vietnamese offi-
cials whose co-operation is necessary
for the evacuation of American citizens,
individuals with knowledge of sensitive
U. S. government intelligence operations,
vulnerable political or intellectual
figures and former Communist defectors;
2. Vietnamese-nationals who.are immediate
relatives of American citizens or permanent
STATINTL resident aliens, estimated to number be-
tween
Vietnamese already at Clark Air Force base
provided they qualify as high risk in-
dividuals;
4. Approximately ~ Cambodians now in
DOJ review(s) completed.
Thailand who.had been evacuated from
Cambodia by the U. S..; and
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STATI NTL
5. Approximately ~ 'Cambodian diplomats
in third countries facing forcible re-
turn or expulsion.
The President agreed that parole is desirable for
the foregoing classes.. The Senate Committee on the Judi-
ciary was advised in writing on April 18, 1975 of the pro-
posal to parole those listed in categories 2 through 5,
although at that time the request regarding Clark Air
Force base was limited to 100.
We were advised that it was deemed essential to be-
gin at once to assist the departure from Vietnam of appro-
priate individuals if such an effort were to be orderly
and successful. However, there was reluctance to initiate
such a program without the assurance that those so assisted-
could, if necessary, be admitted to the United States.
The foregoing was discussed with you and Senator.
Hruska and, as indicated, the Departments of State and De-
fense were. prepared to assist in providing you with an
immediate briefing on the developments. which generated this
request for parole. We greatly appreciate your concurrence
on behalf of the Committee regarding the parole of the
classes described abcve. Your counterparts in the House
of Representatives also concurred in this proposal and I
have exercised the parole power to authorize the entry of
those classes.
We are advised, however, that every effort will be
made to obtain international assistance for all Vietnamese
and Cambodian refugees and to arrange their resettlement
in third countries.
I regret that events have been such that it was
necessary to take up these matters with you in this Manner
last ,evening. I greatly appreciate your assistance.
Sincerely,
Edwar ' `Levi
Attorney General
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CENTRAL, INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OLC 75-0842/A
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
1 MAY 1975
80 4RR 5-
Honorable Robert W. Kastenmeier, Chairman
Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the
Administration of Justice
Committee on the Judiciary
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman-
Thin vQ in ply to your letter dated 16 .Apr i.1 1.975 on behalf
of and inquiring as to the Agency's procedures for
the handling of requests under the Freedom of Info r n-)ation. Act
We regret the delay in the handling of request.
I have been advised that he should be receiving a reply shertly.
Some delay was caused by the need for additional identifying ir-rfor.-
matiion to assure that Agency information is not sent to the wrong
person. The principal reason for the delay is the unusually large
numbers of requests, about 800, received by the Agency in a. period
of several weeks. This has created a taxing burden on Agency as =et:
Prompted by the recent amendments to the Freedom of
Information Act last year, a separate office was established to handle:
requests under the Act. However, the large volume of requests
received in such a short period of time far exceeded our expectations.
Regardless, we are exerting every effort to avoid undue delays, All
available Agency personnel are being utilized to reduce the large
backlog. Certain personnel are also being temporarily reassigned to
help out. This diversion of personnel, however, must not jeopardize
the carrying out of the Agency's mission.
you understand our position in this matter.
I appreciate your interest on behalf of and trust: that
Sincerely,
/s/ W E. Colby,
W. F. Colby
Director
.uistrloutlon: Urigina - Addressee 1 - DCI 1 - DDCI 1 - ER %
1 - OLC Subject 1 - OLC Chrono I - C /IRS
OLC:PLC:fmc (tvned 22 Anr;l 1Q7g1 1A_1C1 in~)~Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/10/27: CIA-RDP77MOO144R000300080028-4
 ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
OLC 75-0842/A
Legislative Counsel
6121
DATE
28 April 1975
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
Director
/
c-
lJ/i C/
Attached for your signature is
2.
a letter to Representative
Kastenmeier in response to his
th
t
tt
i
l
3
ng concern
a
er express
e
the Agency is not being responsive
in the handling of requests under
4,
the Freedom of Information Act.
This has been coordinated with
the FOI coordinator.
5.
25X
1
6.
! c
Legislative Counsel
O LC
7D49
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Attachment
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