LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO SECRETARY OF STATE RE: CAPTURE OF THE USS PUEBLO BY THE NORTH KOREANS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010065-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2001
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: February 1, 1968
• Content Type: LETTER

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Y
February 1, 1968
The Honorable Dean Rusk
Secretary of State
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
The Committee on Foreign Relations asks that you provide
certain information and material relating to the Pueblo incident.
During your meeting with the Committee on January 26 a number
of Senators asked that you provide certain specific information on
the Pueblo affair. The following questions and requests for informa-
tion confirm the earlier requests, elaborate on a few of them, and
ask for addition information which individual members desire.
Would you please provide the Committee at the earliest
possible time with the following information:
(1) A complete description of the development of the
intelligence collection plan which included the use of the Pueblo
and other vessels.
When was this plan approved?
Who participated in the decision?
Did the missions differ from area to area?
The name of the highest official in the United States Government
who is aware of the day-to-day operations of such ships as the Pueblo.
How many United States vessels are now capable of this type
of activity, including vessels such as the Maddox which acquired such
a capability in short order?
(2) Why is it necessary to send a ship so close to the international
waters of another state in order to collect intelligence information?
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
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Specifically, what is the dividendin intelligence data from
holding a ship at 13 nautical miles off a coast line as opposed to,
say, Z5 or 30 miles? More generally, could this information be
collected by aircraft or satellite ?
(3) What agency or agencies have operational responsibility
for the Pueblo? Does the Navy determine the ship's track? Does
the National Security Agency have overall responsibility for the
Pueblo? What is C.I.A. 's role?
(4) Was the Pueblo the first such intelligence ship to go into
waters off North Korea? If not, what were the dates and missions
of its predecessors? What individual or individuals made the decision
to send the Pueblo into waters off Korea? When was that decision
made ? Were you as Secretary of State, aware of the timing of the
mission ?
(5) The Committee would like to have copies of all operational
instructions and mission concepts relating to the Pueblo. If any
cable or other communication concerning the Pueblo contains reference
to prior messages and instructions, the Committee wishes to have
such messages. For example, the copy of a communication sent to
the Pueblo provided by Assistant Secretary Macomber contains
reference to four additional messages or instructions. The Committee
wishes to have these as well.
(6) The press, and particularly certain magazines, have given
purported verbatim texts of messages coming from the Pueblo during
the hours of the harassment and attack. Presumably this information
was received at Naval and other communication centers in the Japan-
Korea area. The Committee would like to have all such messages
on "intercepts. "
(7) What is the nearest estimated nautical mile distance the
ship was from North Korea, at any time, including the point of seizure?
Give a complete description of the attack on the Pueblo.
(8) Copies of radio communications of the North Korean
Government prior to the attack relating to United States or South
Korean harassments or attacks against North Korea.
(9) The text of any statements made by the North Korean
representative to the Korean Armistice Commission concerning
provocations by either the United States or South Korea. It is the
Committee's understanding that on or about January 20 the North
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Korean representative warned the United States representative about
such activities as the Pueblo's mission. Was that information made
available to the Department of State ? At what time ?
(10) In his statement of January 26 before the United Nations,
Ambassador Goldberg read the text of an "intercept" from a North
Korean patrol craft. Please provide the Committee with the text
of all such intercepts from North Korean vessels during the attack,
during the few days before the attack, and for 48 hours after the attack.
(11) Full details of any South Korean infiltration or guerrilla
activities against North Korea by land or sea during the two week
period before the Pueblo incident. Administration information indicates
there were some 500 "incidents" in 1967. How many of these were
South Korean in origin?
(12) An explanation of why the Pueblo did not carry heavier
weapons or was not provided with a military escort while off North
Korean waters.
Full instructions relating to the conduct of the Pueblo's officers
in the event of attack including instructions regarding the destruction
of equipment or scuttling the vessel.
Full description of all intelligence equipment aboard the Pueblo
and an estimate of how much was captured.
Full description of the skills, training and affiliation of all
personnel aboard the Pueblo. For example, are the U. S. Navy ratings
of most of the men a convenient way of including men working for
another organization or agency? How many of the men have Korean
language skills and/or served in Korea?
(13) A detailed chronology with time clearly specified as to when
news of the harassment, and then the attack, reached American forces
in Korea, in Japan, and in Hawaii. A similar chronology covering
the receipt of information and the action taken by officials in Washington.
(14) What aircraft were available for possible response to the
attack? What military commanders made the decision not to send
available aircraft to the aid of the Pueblo? When were these decisions
made? Who gave the order to divert the USS Enterprise? When was
this decision made ? Was this the decision of the Secretary of Defense
or the President, or were they informed after the carrier had been
diverted? Was the Pueblo flying the United States flag throughout its
mission?
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(15) When in our history was the last time an American
vessel was boarded on the high seas in international waters; and
the ship taken as a prize?
(16) What is the number and composition of foreign personnel
in South Korea from countries other than the United States?
(17) Is our commander still referred to as the Commander
of United Nations forces?
(18) Was the Pueblo being shadowed during this period by a
Soviet surveillance ship? If so, would that vessel have information
relating as to whether the Pueblo was outside North Korean territorial
waters at all times?
(19) Does the Administration believe we have the men and the
equipment to handle another ground war on the mainland of Asia
without the use of tactical nuclear-weapons ? If so, on what do we
base this estimate given the present deployment and commitment of
our forces?
(20) If we do not intend to use tactical nuclear weapons in any
ground war in Korea, should we not start promptly to take steps to
reduce our commitments in other parts of the world?
This letter is being circulated to all members of the Committee.
There may be additional questions from Members of the Committee
at a later time.
Sincerely yours,
/s/
J. W. :Eulbright
Chairman
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File in Senate Foreign Relations File,
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