DEBRIEF OF TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, 8 JUNE 1978

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01554R003200250030-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 3, 2006
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: June 9, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 200610,0 A-RDP80BO1554R003200250030-1_
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9 JUN 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Debrief of Testimony Before the House International
Relations Committee, 8 June 1978
1. I briefed the Committee on the evidence we have about Cuban
participation in the Katangan invasion of Zaire. I had no other people
present from the Executive department on the grounds that I wanted to
minimize the number of people exposed and to ensure there were no
controversies between who leaked if there were a leak.
2. I gave the testimony basically in accordance with the outline
with a new preamble that emphasized the seriousness of the leaks we
have been facing and a new section in the middle inserted at the top
of page 9 pointing out that weren't likely to be any
more "hard" evidence in this case. 25X1
3. In the question period the following issues came up:
a. Representative Diggs took a dig at my reported meetings
with Senator Clark, reported briefings with the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee without briefing their committee, and our
lack of initiative in coming forward with information that
would be of use to them. He specifically said that I had recently
written him a letter and promised to do better but that "we'd
heard that before."
b. Representative Fraser asked whether there were disagreements
within the Intelligence Community on this assessment. He, in a
thoughtful way, said he was concerned that the President might
get out in front of the intelligence Director in making a strong
statement and then the Director would be in a difficult position
not to come forward and justify that statement. I indicated that
there were not particular disagreements within the Intelligence
Community on this one and that I intended to have the fortitude to
stand up and tell the President if he were out in front of the facts.
c. Representative Meyner asked whether we had good photo-
graphic information about the FNLC camps in Angola. I had to
waffle on this one, simply saying that there were a lot of camps
up there but the difficulty was telling whose were which. I'd
like to know whether we really have spotted Chicapa and other
training camps in that area of Angola. MORI/CDF
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d. Representative Lagomarsino asked about the relationship
between the FNLA and the FNLC. Were they fighting with each
other? Were they in contact? I really couldn't answer that one.
f. Representative Studds asked why there had been no reports
to the International Relations Committee under the Hughes-Ryan
Amendment. There was a lot of embarrassment here as Chairman
Zablocki and I both tried to answer the question without answering
it. Zablocki mentioned that last December they'd called for a
meeting and sent out notices and that Studds' representative had
come to the meeting but they had made it for members only. Studds
didn't remember. anything about it and wanted to see the call notice.25xi
h. Congressman Whalen asked what the situation was with the
Katangan gendarmes when the Portuguese were in control of Angola
and repeated the question of the FNLA vs. the FNLC.
i. Representative Cavanaugh wanted to know precisely which
of the sources I had cited to him the President knew about before
he made his statement. I said I declined to answer that. I thought
that was part of the privacy of the Executive Branch deliberation
process.
j. Representative Solarz asked if we had any questions we'd like
him to ask Castro next Monday when he's in Havana.
Rep. Solarz drove hard on the issue of why we would
give more detailed source information to the intelligence
committees than to the international relations committees.
Chairman Zablocki said that that was because they had
different rules and the other members of the Congress
couldn't have access. Solarz thought that was a very
reasonable point but then simply suggested that we go off
the record so that no other member of Congress could have
access if I told the source data to the International
Relations Committee. I held my position that we had to
keep the numbers down and if I were to tell the same
full information to all committees, I would end up telling
less information to everybody.
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k. Rep. Solarz asked about how many Katangans there
were altogether. I said 5,000 to 7,000. I'd like to have
that checked..
There were many other questions which I didn't take notes on or don't
recall.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Director
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