CIA CHARGES AGENT-AUTHOR VIOLATED OATH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100120050-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2007
• Sequence Number: 50
• Publication Date: November 19, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/08/20: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100120050-6
1,,Q CLEAPPEARFID
ON I>, G? All- 7.- L
c charges.:
Age t-Author,
The CIA charged. yesterday that a
former. spymaster: violated . his;`
,,secrecy- . oath by.. publishing a book::
,'accusing the. agency of bungling ?ia-.
'.the aU o? Vietnam,-but th&:Justice:.
Department decided not to try to stop .
:sale of the book... -
? ,The, book, -Deeeat:'3iit evalr ;
Frank-W::Snepp'flf is now being'dis.?
tributed to- bookstores ?by' Random:
House. without having been submitted ?
to the. CIAforreview..
Ia'a graphic description of the last
two years before Saigon fell, the book
says the, CIA betrayed its agents,
friends and collaborators. ,by.. an -
evacuation from Vietnam in April
1975 that was inadequately prepared
because senior officials had been de-
ceived about Communist intentions.-
- An angry CIA statement said that
"Mr. Snepp has violated his signed
secrecy. agreement and the specific _I
promise made... to-the director (of
the CI'A, Adm. Stansfield Turner),
before witnesses, to submit his book
for security clearance. ??::. ; .:.; ;,;.
?i THB DIRECTOR _Js-. therefore'
consulting with the attorney general
to ascertain what legal steps might-'
be appropriately taken under the cli
cumstances,'.' the statement said.
Sources at the: CIA: suggested that
an effort might be made to get a .
legal injunction to halt distribution of
the book. But a spokesman for: then.
Justice Department said there would
be no attempt to stop the book.
ti.. The spokesman said the-depart'
r ment's civil division .will study. the
- situation over the weekend -- -during :
which lima the book is expected ,by. ?
Random House to go on sale in most of the country.,
The division Al decide Monday whether to take
legal action on the allegation that Snepp violated
his oath.
The oath violation charge is "very touchy," a
Justice official commented. "There isn't any l
criminality in violating the security agreeoent" in'
itself, although a violation could lead to criminal
action, he explained.
WHILE THE Justice Department thus seemed
hesitant about trying to prosecute on behalf of the
CIA, sources close to the case suggested that the
agency has a 'special reason for wanting to appear
tough on this case... :r.... ,; .;:- ? ;:
The agency has been suffering from morale
problems. It is now in the process of firing more
than 800 persons from its spying operations. The
sources thought senior agency officials might be,
worried about further awkward books from dis-
gruntled former agents, and they therefore want to
take stiff action against Snepp in hopes-that it:
Would have a deterrent effect on others.
An agency spokesman said that when Snepp
went to work for the agency in 1968, he signed the
standard secrecy agreement. It promised that he
would "never divulge, publish or reveal by writ-
ing, word, conduct or otherwise any classified
information, including CIA cover arrangements, to
any unauthorized person without prior consent of
.the director of central intelligence or his represen-
"
tative.
Snepp wrote in his book that he decided not to
"submit my manuscript to the agency for clear-
ance and censorship" because the CIA was leaking
self-serving versions of-the last days of Vietnam. It
had thus "forfeited the right to censor me in. the
name of security or national interest.' THE CIA STATEMENT denied any intention of
censoring Snepp::
It said Turner. ? met with Snepp at Snepp's re=
quest on May :.17 "to - discuss a request:, for
information for -a- book Snepp. planned. to . write
about Vietnam.":, Snepp was reminded -oh hisi
secrecy agreement and "his obligation to submit:
his book for security clearance ... (but) it wasl
emphasized that no censorship of facts or opinions
was intended..::: -. :_r ; ,_.-'r1:, ""? :'. ~
"Mr. Snepp agreed to provide the manuscripts
for review," the statement said, and Turner pro-
vided. unclassified information that -Snepp re-i
quested. ? The next thing Turner knew about: the:
book was what he read in yesterday's newspapers, I
the statement said.
Approved For Release 2007/08/20: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100120050-6
STAT