GAO REQUEST FOR POST-MORTEM ON THE MAYAGUEZ AFFAIR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A000800100013-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2006
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: July 21, 1975
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 32;.IA'80M01133A0008001000
21 July 1975
'GAO Referral Not Required'
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: GAO Request for Post-Mortem on the Mayaguez Affair
National Intelligence Officer
for South and Southeast Asia
1. Mr. Michael Oppenheimer of the General Accounting Office
(Code 189, ext 5550) telephoned me at 1030 hours 21 July. After intro-
ducing himself, he stated that the GAO was undertaking a post-mortem
study of the Mayaguez affair at the request of the House International
Relations Committee. The latter committee had asked the GAO to prepare
two things: (a) a detailed chronology of the events and all US Govern-
ment activities surrounding ,the Mayaguez incident, and (b) an analysis
of how the US Government's "crisis management system" worked during
the episode. Mr. Oppenheimer indicated that the director of the GAO
project would be Mr. Charles Hylander, the Deputy Iirector of the
International Division of the GAO. Mr. Oppenheimer and four or five
other GAO staff officers would be working on the investigation.
2. Mr. Oppenheimer then stated that he had read my 15 May 1975
testimony before the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations
Committee, and that he wanted to talk to me and "my people" concerning
the Mayaguez. He added that the GAO would be requesting a number of
documents from us. He further stated that the GAO had sent a lengthy
letter to the NSC "last week" (date not further specified) asking for
detailed information on what various US Government agencies had done
during the Mayaguez affair.
3. I responded that I had no objection to talking to him, but that
the proper channel for this request was through the CIA's Legislative
Counsel. I indicated that I would pass the information-in paragraphs 1
and 2 above on to the Legislative Counsel's office and that we would
then call him back. I said that I knew the Senate Select Committee
was also interested in the Mayaguez incident and expressed the hope
that the Agency would not be asked to do the same thing at different
times for different committees of the Congress. The conversation ended
amicably on that note.
cc: Mr. Cary, OLC
Mr. Carver, D/DCI/NIO.
Mr_ Walsh- ADDI
STATI NTL
Approved For Release 200 Fafi JCK D C}t 101133AO00800100013-6