LETTER TO THE HONORABLE THOMAS MORGAN, FROM BRENT SCOWCROFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A001300160014-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2008
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: June 16, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

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?
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 16, 1976
NSC review completed - may be declassified in
full Dear Mr. Chairman:
This letter is in response to your request for comments on
H. Res. 1295.
It is our view that this resolution is an inappropriate instrument
for considering the kinds of activities set forth in H. Res. 1295.
We believe that, regardless of the country involved, information
on any activities such as those mentioned in H. Res. 1295 should
be dealt with only by the appropriate committees of Congress
with due consideration for protecting against public disclosure
of information which could be harmful to the nation's foreign
policy and national security. In addition, the adoption of
H. Res. 1295 would be wholly inconsistent with the purpose
of Section 662 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
That provision, which resulted from the work of your Committee,
was enacted specifically to keep Congress advised of any infor-
mation such as that sought in the resolution of inquiry. If the
r.esolution is now adopted, it would vitiate the procedures set
up for this very purpose.
Based on the above consideration, it is our belief that approval
of the H. Res. 1295 by the Committee on International Relations
and the House of Representatives would be incompatible with
the public interest.
The Honorable Thomas Morgan
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.
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THOMAS S. MORGAN. PA.. CHAI
WAYNE L. MAYS. OHIO
L. H. i'OU.NTAIN, k.C.
DANTE B. FASCELL, FLA.
CHARLES C. DIGGS. JR.. MICH.
ROBERT H. C. NIX. PA.
DONALD M. FRASER. MINN.
BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL. N.T.
LEE H. HAMILTON, NO.
LESTER L. WOLFF. N.Y.
JONATHAN S. DINGHAM. N.Y.
GUS YATRON. PA.
ROY A. TAYLOR. N.C.
MICHAEL HARRINGTON. MASS.
LEO J. RYAN. CALIF.
DONALD W. RI EGLE. JR. MICH.
CARDISS COLLINS. ILL.
STEPHEN J. SOLARZ. N.Y.
HELEN S. MEYNER. N.Y.
DON bOH1CER. WASH.
GERRY E. STUDD5. MASS.
EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, ILL.
PAUL FINDLEY. ILL.
JOHN H. SUCHANAN. JR.. ALA.
J. HEHBERT BURKE. FLA.
PIERRE S. DU PONT. DEL.
CHARLES W. WHALEN. in., OHIO
EDWARD G. BIESTER. JR.. PA.
LARRY WINN. JR.. KANS.
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN. N.Y.
TENNYSON GUTER. OHIO
ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO. CALIF.
MARIAN A. CZARNECKI
CHIEF OF STAFF
(IT -
Inuutttffee 'Pit 4 ttiIn-1Ccttli iu 1C~~ttTt12t5
_XcaisE of Pcfiresentufit7es
n51tlluzfan, ~_~. 20515
June 14, 1976
The Honorable Gerald R. Ford
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
JUN 14 1976
I am writing to request your comments on a resolution
of inquiry which was introduced in the House on Friday,
June 11, 1976, and referred to the Committee on International
Relations.
Enclosed are two copies of'the resolution, H.Res.
1295, directing the President to provide the House of
Representatives certain information with respect to any pay-
ment made by the United States to influence Italian politics.
As you know, the Committee must act on this resolution
within 7 legislative days beginning today. We will appreciate
receiving your comments as soon as possible but no-later than
Thursday, June 17, 1976.
.Sincerely yours,
_A~A_ `,,, &iA--1
Chairman
TEM:rkbm
Enclosure
CC: The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
NSC review completed - and takes no action
on document
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0c1:\ G I :) ;SS
IN 'J'JiJ; TIOU-SIB OF :1''I1%l :S
refei-red to the
Of
That not J.at:er J_0 days after the d, to
?'cCt~i:l_c%;1 Of i:hJ_S 7"f soJ.ilt].on, ~- ?resi_i;c?t S_i3J.~ furnish
the ''once Of Repre$ c-n'. it.>_ves l roiJo's':: e ? inf -
(1) Within 5 years p ~:cr _.. g e c=-ate on hick
innfori:at]_on is furnished .;1% to L-''?^. s rC_`SLi_ili:?f,ri
a?-id if
~:~?t~::tl, h;~S -:1y pers ..n. :~C'.1-CJ.i?? ciiy ci.Vl~ i.':Il
o tai?, :eli?;ii}Jel of
Forces , or person cinder
con :r:act) acng C11 behaIf O_ _-:e t'-, cd St. t:?s Coven-i
....;~L ter _t1y agency or other_ :.-. ltality ,i ' ~-d
of the U L~
St; ties Cover_?_,i.?_11t paid or of r==ed to pay any f is -CIS
diJ::.ctly or ind? rect7_y--
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(A) to file t i ::T1 y
~
. ~,::rty
t_11e):eof, to ::T':y otl]t-r_ L1,~).i_i.i.r:l
i 0111 t_n t ly or y
1)15. t a
Ur ly other O
T:,e . ei: of ::11y Stich P-3)... y o?1: or to any
govc:rn::,ent of fi.t.i al or any cz dil:1te ,:Or any local
or ]]ati.cl,~a7. political office in Italy; or
(B) to any 11e~:sp:i~er, radio, television, ad-
verti.si_ng, or_ other ireci~.: ;:t?lat:c_d ev:a::ily or
entity (or any C?i; plo _'c or c-ot t:11t'rcof) '..':?1i ch
has Z??i_t:11111 its pri.T:nn:y area of i.--ii pact ::ily part Of
Italy?
f I O fo C.-Ch Such ].l1St ante, fl: i'1?].Si1 the foil (i]J?.ng
i.?li or : 1 1.O to the extent t:nc=-: l : the a: OUnt of n i tilids
.>d ;~ the rc i?C on :!7! ch een Ci ' ch r l) S`:S -:as
' ll
O_ f .~_?ed and if such fuj-%e.s ;ere ,
such ,;,.. i ..- i:ade; the identity of any P(-:!--,;#3l'1 to
:l:e .JT' _?'. c~ i' ~C; ~'?)'. ent
e and of
. of such T`. e.Sen t.
,.? ' n-,i ^i J_t of he United
t, r. e i.t1s L L't:.::. ,
St tes GOvei??'?:".~_'?lt I'~':~;1C?'iSible' for such naj'?.-?lt`?; and
t': r_ir cu-._1st. nCe s Surro~T,1C'li.n- Such =j'..':~ nt. .
(2) If r o. n, ;:ere ny jT:.div L dUa1 s (A) assigned or
of ;er:?:ise attached to any United States e~:h?ssy Or
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~~;.;:~-,: di.p 1.~ :_~:-t i.C i~~i :: ;? ~~n , 01 (B) c :: i17.OyCfd by ::ny 111li. vr d
Sta 1: orat.i.Oll, i;"-voiVI'-d 1?1 a ;1y
W.ty in any PaYID(-i)t? Ur offel: c',esc7:i.be.d in
1,;1x-:!;;1:::1111 (1)
of this resolut:i.on? In addition, if k)lo,m, were any funds
which involved in any such p ay,.:ent illegally ex- -
1:or foreign before curre;lcy e1.it)er befreor :Lr
ater any
J
pa yr-;Ollt of such fundS? (3) 11).i:~1 _il 5 years preceding the date Oil :17.(_h i.ll-
for,aation is 1i7:!?].S lld pursuant: to this 3:c- olution and
7.f =:no-._7n, has any person (i_ncluding any civilian e'iiployee,
7;e:.1:ier of the Armed i. orces, or person under Contr aCt)
:_Ct J.))g on Lieh'a1. of the U].)ited States GC:v(?1:iei:iE 11t or any
agency or ot}'e 1.1;N, JN.. 0"'0
E'OWAd0 G. UIS STG +, JN., P.A.
LARRY WINW. JP., I(AN'3.
IIKNJAMIN A. 4ILMAN, N.Y.
l O?,ON GUYPR,Ox10
RODQRY J. f1\GOMAIf IINQ. CALIF.
MAPIAH A. CZAx)4%cKI
CHII[F Of fTAW74
41
44Tir ..R ul Fe5enlatikL-s
June 14, 1976
The Honorable Gerald. R.,Ford
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
bear Mr. President:
JUN 1 4 19-6
I am writing to request your comments on a resolution
of inquiry which was introduced in the House on tF~riday,
June 11, 1976, and referred to the Committee on lnteroati6nal..
Relations.
Enclosed are two copies of the resolution, If. Res.
1295, directing the President to provide the House of
Reprasent.at=ives certain information with respect to any pay-
ment made by the Uaited States to influence Italian politics.
As you know, the Coimnittee must act on this -resolution
within 7 legislative days beginning today. We will appreciate
receiving your coriments as soon as possible but no-.lat?r t:h1;3 n
Thursday, June 17, 1976,
Sincerely yours,
Chairman
TEM:rkbm
Enclosure
CC: The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
NSC review completed - and takes no action on
document
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of such funds?
(/j \'77.t:li:i.n 5 f!a~?:S 1~1:rrc_cI t.t1U i:':r (.~.;L'J~ on a_c h in-
f c) i T:o11 S.s f tIj:115..31 ed put:suz:llt: to f
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