MEETING WITH DANIEL MANELLI, HOUSE INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE COMMITTEE STAFF, RE HAITI INVASION OF 1966

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010181-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2006
• Sequence Number: 181
• Publication Date: January 6, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2007/03/07 CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010181-0
6 January 1970
MEMORANDUW FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Daniel Manelii, House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee Staff, re Haiti Invasion of 1966
1. 1 met with Messrs. Robert Lishman, Chief Counsel, Daniel
Manelli, Staff Attorney, and James Kelly, Investigator, Special Sub-
committee on Investigations, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, in Mr. Lishrnan's office, 2323 Rayburn Building, at 11:00 a. m.
and reviewed with them certain testimony provided by CBS representatives
with regard to the abortive invasion of Haiti attempted by the Maeferrer
group In 1966. The meeting was completely informal and resulted from
Mr. Manelli's call of yesterday afternoon requesting that I meet with him
this morning.
2. In brief, Mr. Manelli outlined that CBS representatives, pri-
marily Mr. Jay McMullen, CBS producer, have presented in appearances
before the Committee information relating to contacts with the Central
Intelligence Agency which, if not rebutted in the record, will tend to cloud
the issue by leaving unresolved the question whether governmental approval
or national security Interest: were in fact involved in the particular matter
oof the abortive Haitian invasion of 1966.
Approved For Release 2007/03/07 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010181-0
 Approved For Release 2007/03/07 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010181-0
4. It is apparently the feeling of Representative Harley Staggers
(D.. W.Va.). Chairman -A the full Committee, Representative John Moss
(D., Calif.). who actually occupied the chair during much of the hearing.
and the Committee staff that the allegations by CBS that they had tacit
approval of CIA. If CIA hadn't actively fostered the invasion attempt, are
patently ridiculous. Nevertheless, the allegations are contained in the
record.
S. Ur. L ishman. requested that consideration be given formal
denial of the allegations by a letter frorr: the Director to the Chairman.
After discussion of the point at some length, he suggested that if such a
letter is not feasible consideration be given to appearance of an Agency
representative in executive session to repeat the information already
provided (by the undersigned) that information received by the Agency on
this matter had routinely been passed to the FBI and the Bureau of Customs
who have the prime responsibility in the Executive Branch in such matters.
This would allow the Committee in their report to deny the CBS allegations
of governmental approval and Identify the "denial" on the basis of testimony
taken in executive session without further identification of the testimony as
to source.
6. The meeting was a very friendly one. Almost complete deference
was shown f .)r Agency security considerations and judgments in this matter.
It was also noted as an aside that information has been received over the
weekend by the counsel that CBS may be mounting a counteroffensive against
the Committee on the general theme of ridiculing the Committee and Its
Chairman for their "bumbling" in national security affairs about which they
know nothing. I advised Mr. Lishrran that I would relay the Chairman's
request and that I saw no need, at least for present, for a formal request by
letter fry- m the Chairman for Agency assistance in this matter.
. Mr. Houston has been advised.
rs,
Assistant Legislative Counnse
- Subj
I - UGC
~i 1 - Chrn
DLC/JQO:srn1 (7 Jan. '70)
Approved For Release 2007/03/07 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010181-0