WHO IS SERVED BY KY SLANDER?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000200030018-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2004
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: April 20, 1968
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2004/07/07 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200030018-4
Froit Editt 63Gcr
Papa . Pap PcQ.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
T It ES-UNppIO I
Li-ldg,9b ? 2 01968
5-171,135
r 1~~ Served by Ky Slander? `
A report from an unnamed and
:.publicly unverified source which
brands South Vietnamese Vice
President Nguyen Cao Ky as an op-
ium smuggler has been released by
the Senate subcommittee on fcr-
In the pro-
cess, a heretofore unknown CIA op-
eration has been exposed.
The Defense and State Depart-
ments have properly refused to
- comment on the unverified report
because publication of the docu-
ment by itself may seriously dam-
age U.S.-South Vietnamese rela-
tions and perhaps damage the war
effort against the Reds and prolong
the conflict in Southeast Asia.
Vice President Ky may be a foi-
mer opium smuggler. He may even
have used C4 facilities to do so, if
the operation did exist.
It is doubtful that any highly
placed Oriental could be found to-
day who has not dabbled in some
form of illegal trade at one time or.
another in his life. But it is not
clear what the Senate subcommit-
tee is seeking to accomplish by re-
leasing the report.
Technically speaking, the
committee members have used
their official position with its atten-
dant immunity from suit to slander
and libel the second ranking mem-
ber of the foreign state. Ignoring
the common law rules on which
this nation bases its judicial sys-
tem, the subcommittee has ac-
cused a man but concealed the ac-
cuser.
Worse yet, the subcommittee
has openly admitted to U.S. partic-
ipation in a covert act against an-
other nation, and bared the outline
of an alleged subversive. plot
against the Ho Chi Minh regime.
The report thus destroys the cover
for similar operations and provides
the Reds with one more thing about
which they may be outraged to the
point where they delay truce talks.
Release of the report constitutes
an obvious attempt to influence
U.S. foreign policy through the use
of secret documents and to destroy
the effectiveness of Ky as a leader.
It is difficult to understand why the
report was made.
If it was in retaliation for Ky's
sub- sharp remarks against this coun-
try, then it was a childish act that
hrows doubts on the maturity of
the subcommittee members: and
their ability to deliberate on weigh-
ty -matters. Vice President Ky is
entitled to his own opinions and no
one has insisted that he like this
country, nor should anyone seek to
muzzle him: such a tactic would be
more in keeping with Red impe-
rialism.
The destruction of the CIA oper-
ation is inexcusable, if such a proj-
ect existed, and the use of unknown
sources to smear a man is unthink-
able. It should not be overlooked,
when probing the probable causes
for the release, that Sen. Ernest
ruenin D-Alaska, has not been .
a supporter of t e administration'
policies in Vietnam.
Approved For Release 2004/07/07 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200030018-4