LETTER TO HONORABLE MELVIN PRICE, CHAIRMAN FROM W. E. COLBY DIRECTOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 28, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For R I ia(l4/ ~LE`/- E 7AA~ Q00800100005-1
OLC 75-0370/a
28 FEB 1975
Honorable Melvin Price, Chairman
House Armed Services Committee
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
This is in response to your request for my comments on
matters raised in House Resolution 205 with regard to the Central
Intelligence Agency.
H. Res. 205 would direct the Secretary of Defense to furnish
to the House of Representatives within 10 days certain information
relating to developments in Chile in 1972 and 1973. This subject was
addressed by the President during a news conference on September 16,
1974 (copy enclosed). Further, information on Agency activities
with respect to Chile has been provided to committees in the Congress.
It is believed that regardless of the country involved, information
on activities undertaken by this Agency abroad to help implement foreign
policy and protect national security should be dealt with by committees
of the Congress with due consideration for protecting against the
disclosure of information which could be harmful to the Nation's
interests. This approach is consistent with the committee structure
established for the oversight of this Agency, the enactment of Section 32
of Public Law 93-559 (copy enclosed) and the establishment of the Select
Committee on Intelligence pursuant to House Resolution 138.
In view of the above considerations, it is my hope that H. Res. 205
will not be approved.
Sincerely,
fs/ W. E..Colby,
W. E. Colby
Director
CRC, 10/22/2003
Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1
 Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1
Distribution:
Original - Addressee w/encl
1- DCI
wo/encl
1
- DDCI
wo/encl
1
- ER
wo / encl
1
-- DDO
wo/encl
1
- OGC
wo/ encl
1
- C/LA
wo/encl
1 - OLC Chrono wo/encl
YOLC Subj w/encl
OLC/LLM:bao (28 Feb 75)
Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1
 D/DCI/IC
D/ DCI/ NIO
Compt
ACTION J
Remarks: (Al6trc~ at-7
DATE
4
A ,proved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP746684A
CUTIVE SEClkit'
RETARIAT
Routing Slip
1/14
INITIAL
8'00005-1
Da ?
 F, I WARD HEBERT, L.A.
CHARLES E. BEE'INETT, FLA. Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800~t~W4KINSON, ALA.
SAMUEL S. STRATTON, N.Y. G. WILLIAM WHITEHURST, VA.
RICHARD H. (CHORD, MO.
WCIEN N. NEDZI, MICH.
WILLIAM J. RANDALL, MO.
CHARLES H. WILSON, CALIF.
ROBERT L. LEGGETT, CALIF.
FLOYD V. HICKS, WASH.
RICHARD C. WHITE, TEX.
BILL NICHOLS, ALA.
JACK BRINKLEY, GA.
ROBERT H. (BOB) MOLLOHAN, W. VA.
DAN DANIEL, VA.
G. V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY, MISS.
HAROLD RUNNELS, N. MEX.
LES ASPIN, WIS.
RONALD V. DELLUMS, CALIF.
MENDEL J. DAVIS, S.C.
PATRICIA SCHROEDER, COLO.
ABRAHAM KAZEN, JR., TEX.
ANTONIO B. WON PAT, GUAM
BOB CARR, MICH.
JIM LLOYD, CALIF.
LARRY MC DONALD, GA.
THOMAS J. DOWNEY, N.Y.
aotj(ngton, D.C. 20515
February 24, 1975
The Honorable William E. Colby
Director of Central Tntel'11j6n-ce---
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C.
FLOYD D. SPENCE, D.C.
DAVID C. TREEN, LA.
GEORGE M. O'BRIEN, ILL.
ROBIN L. BEARD, TENN.
DONALD J. MITCHELL, N.Y.
MARJORIE S. HOLT, MD.
ROBERT W. DANIEL, JR., VA.
ELWOOD H. (BUD) HILLIS, IND.
ANDREW J. HINSHAW, CALIF.
RICHARD T. SCHULZE, PA.
AS~~uflva Registry
Dear Mr. Colby:
Reference is made to H. Has. 205 introduced in the House
of Representatives on February 19, 1975 which would direct the
Secretary of Defense to furnish to the House of Representatives
within 10 days certain information with regard to the Department
of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency.
I would appreciate it if you would review H. Res. 205 and
provide me with your comments at an early date on matters raised
in that resolution with regard to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Melvin Price
Chairman
a.*. 300o t of 3epretentatibe
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES'
Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1
 It is now law F& a qt 4/t6MuPEIA-R 1a1904400608b(3$ 05 11itariiy, economically,
niately'$16'billion of Federal money has gone back/ to diplomatically, and otherwise
States and local units of government so that they,''ean
from New. York to California, or Michigan to Floriila; or
communities in one. State or another, have tot y dif.
ferent problems.
And this vast amount of Federal money going without
restriction for deeisionmaking at the local and State level,
I think, is a great achievement for a RepublicanAdminis-
tration. And this Administration is going to c ntinue it.
We want the legislation extended so that thi j effort will
get even stronger in the months ahead. .
So, I think we can take credit as Repul1 icans for a
program that is very meaningful and very su stantial. But
there are other things that have to be done; and they in-
volve the area of foreign policy-
I always said and I believed then that Ainerica and the
world was fortunate to have a great star / man in Henry
` Kissinger as our Secretary of State. An 1 have learned
to an even greater degree how effective how able, what
a great teammate he is as he and I work on the problems
involving peace throughout the world.
We have peace at.the present time. a have peace for ?
several reasons. One, we have peace?ecause the United
States is strong militarily. And we are/not going to weaken
our national security, despite. the pressure from some
sources.
Peace is related to strength. Weakness inevitably brings
{
on tear. History tells us that story. r/ -
In the interim while we are keepringstrong, we are going
to. make conscientious efforts to pegotiate with the Soviet
effort one. of negotiation, not r}ecessarily confrontation.
We are going to be working intimately with the prob-
lcros of the Middle East, tryutg to move forward the suc
`cessful efforts of disengagement which took place last fall..
We will concentrate in seeking to obtain a just and
'durable peace in that very difficult area of the world, but
-'` that is not the only area where we must concentrate. The
a_ ;.Pacific, where over a period of about 10 years almost
60,000 Americans lost their lives-that was a great sacri-
fice, a sacrifice for an ob~ective that many Administrations,
not just one, felt was in the best interests of the United
States and the world a large.
We cannot afford to throw away the sacrifices of those
people. So, we must maintain our own strength and help
our allies who are ing to retain the gains that were
made in Vietnam d elsewhere in the Pacific.
We have the p blem of Western Europe. The key to
peace in the minds of many is the strengthening of NATO.
We are workin r~to keep better cooperation, stronger mili-
tary and econo c policies moving ahead.
I am encouraged, and we are going to be meeting from
time to time /Secretary Kissinger and others, with those
who can have a meaningful impact on the NATO or-
When you look at the other areas'--Latin Aij erica,
we are not going to neglect Latin America. We are going -
to work for greater cooperation there, and the Activities
of Dr. Kissinger in this area in the Iast.5 or ,months
We are not going to neglect Africa, We have and we
will continue to work with, those nations in/that area of
the world, ;
So anyplace you go, our broad policy of global peace.
will get our first and top attention laecaus~ if we are going
to keep peace, we can solve more. Basil . our problems at
home.
As I close, let me just thank all of you for thewonderful? -
job you did in endorsing Mary Louise and Dick. Let me
thank George for his tireless efforts, effective ones, and.
let me thank the Republican le.&ership in the House,.
Hugh Scott, John Rhodes, and their associates, and let
me express to my staff that. ha
that I am grateful, and we are
to move with the- Republic
country. It is vital far us to ca
I think we can do a great jo
Thank you very kindly. ?.
wort: The' President spoke at-
e been so helpful to me Jrt
ovin;, and we are going
workers throughout the.,
our banner high, because
for the country as a whole:.
Earlier in the day, the President had held a brealafast' meeting Kith .
members of the nominating committee of the Republican Nationalit
Committee at the White Hous'c
Prior to the luncheon, m bers of the Republican National Cora-
mittee had elected Mary Ii ise Smith of Iowa as Republican Na-
THE PRESIDENT'S
NEWS CONFERENCE . OF
SEPTEMBER 16, 1974
THE PRESIDENT. Ladies and gentlemen, this press con-
ference is being held at a time when many Americans are
observing th e Jewish religious New Year. It begins a period
of self-examination and reconciliation. In opening this
press conference, I am mindful that the spirit of this holy
day has a meaning for all Americans.
In examining one's deeds of the last year and in assum--
ing responsibility for past actions and personal decisions,
one can reach a point of growth and change. The purpose
of looking back is to go forward with a new and. enlight-
ened dedication to our highest Values. -
The record of the past year does not have to be end-
lessly relived, but can be transformed by commitment to
new insights and new-actions in the year to come.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am ready for your questions.
Mr. Cormier [Frank Cormier, Associated Press).
_ Volume 10-Number 38
Approved For Release 2004/0.1/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R00080010.0005-1
i
 iurraerinvestigatton,1. am wonaeringwny the nego41auu1e3 with Mr. Nixon's representatives were conducted strictly
between the counsel in your office without bringing.in
discussions with either Mr. Jaworski's representatives or
those from the justice Department.
THE PREsmzrir. In the first place,. I did receive a
memorandum, or legal opinion, from the Department of
Justice which indicated that in the opinion of the Depart-
ment of Justice, the documents, tapes the ownership of
them--were in the hands of the former President. And
historically, that has been the case for all Presidents.
Now, the negotiations for the handling of the tapes and
documents were undertaken and consummated by my staff
and the staff of the former President. I believe that they
have been properly preserved, and they will be available
under subpoena for any criminal proceeding. Now, the
Special Prosecutor's staff has indicated some concern. I
am saying tonight that my staff is working with the Spe-
cial Prosecutor's staff to try and alleviate any concerns
that they have. I hope a satisfactory arrangement can be
worked out.
Q. Mr. President, during your confirmation hearings
as Vice President, you said that you did not think that
the country would stand for a President to pardon his
predecessor. Has your mind changed about such public
opinion?
THE PRESImENT?. In those hearings before the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, I was asked a
hypothetical question. And in answer to that hypothetical
question I responded by saying that I .did not think the
American people would stand for such an action.
Now that I am in the White House and don't have to
answer hypothetical questions but have to deal with
reality, it, was my judgment, after analyzing all of the
facts, that it was in the best interest of the United States
for me to take the action that I did.
I think if you will reread what I said in answer to that
hypothetical question, I did not say I wouldn't. I simply
said that under the way the question was phrased, the
American people would object
But I am absolutely convinced when dealing with
reality in this very, very difficult situation, that I made
the right decision in an effort-an honest, conscientious
effort-to end the divisions and the turmoil in the United
States.
Mr. Lisagor [Peter Lisagor, Chicago Daily News].
Q. Mr. President, is there any safeguard in the tapes
agreement that was made with Mr. Nixon, first, with their
destruction in the event anything happens to him, because
should not the tapes be kept in the White House until the -
Special Prosecutor has finished dealing with them?
THE PRESrDENT.. The tapes and the documents are
still in our possession, and we are, as I said a moment agog
working with the- Special Prosecutor's office to alleviate
any concerns they have as to their disposition and their -
availability.
The agreement as to destruction is quite clear-cut. As
long as Mr. Nixon is alive and during the period of time.
that is set forth, they are available for subpoena.by a court
involving any criminal proceedings. I think this is a neces-
sary requirement for the protection of evidence for any
Q. Mr. President, recent Congressional testimony has n?--
indicated that the CIA, under the direction of a commit-
tee headed by Dr. Kissinger, attempted to destabilize the
Government of Chile under former President Allende.
. Is it the policy of your Administration to attempt to
destabilize the governments of other democracies? -
THE PRESIDENT. Let me answer in general. I think
this is a very importani question.
-
Our Government, like other governments, does take
-
certain actions in the intelligence field to help implement
foreign policy and protect national security. I am informed
reliably that Communist nations spend vastly more money -
than we do for the same kind of purposes. - - .
Now, in this particular case, as I understand it and
there is no doubt in my mind-our Government had no -
involvement whatsoever in the Allende coup To my
knowledge, nobody has charged that. The facts are we
had no involvement in any way whatsoever in the coup -
itself. . ?
In a period of time, 3 or 4 years ago, there was an effort
being made by the Allende government to destroy opposi-
tion news media, both the writing press as well as the
electronic press, and to destroy opposition political parties. -
The effprt that was made in this case was to help and
assist the preservation of opposition newspapers and elec.
tropic media and to preserve opposition political parties.
'X think this is in the best interest of the people in Chile .
and, certainly, in ourbestinterest.:-
Now, may I add one further comment
The 40 Committee was established in 1948. It has been
in existence under Presidents since that time. That com-
mittee reviews every covert operation undertaken by our
Government, and that information is relayed to the re-
sponsible Congressional committees where it is reviewed
by House and Senate: committees. - -
? It seems to me that the 40 Committee should continue
in existence, and I am going to meet with the responsible
Congressional committees to see whether or not they want
any changes in the review process so that the Congress, as
? VON" 10-Humber 28
Approved For Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R000800100005-1 -
 v
Al' included in t e, ould be closely
kr_ S~crt~ ~c p li?~r3 2 0.1/1cr, CIA-R10PM1 8iM4UR110Q&Wd-Ojf D5h1t thcy.will he-most audi-
well as the President, are fully informed and are fully bility of income tax returns I think Al
h
FURTHER QUESTIONS ON PARDON DECISION
Q. In view of public reaction, do you think that the
Nixon pardon really, served to bind up the Nation's
wounds? I wonder if f:ou would assess public reaction to
that move. ' ..
THE PREsmE;v-r. I ust say that .the decision has cre
ated more antagonism than I anticipated. But as I look
over the long haul with a trial, or several trials, of a former
President, criminal trials, the possibility of a former Presi-
dent being in the dock, so to speak, and the divisions that
would have existed not just for a limited period of time
but for a long period of time, it seems to me that when I
had the choice between that possibility and the possibility
of taking direct action hoping to conclude it, I am still
convinced, despite the public reaction so far, that the
decision I made was the ri-ht one. .
Q. Mr. President, in r gard to the pardon
you talk
,
about the realities of th~ situation. Now those realities,
rightly or wrongly, include a good many people who spec-
ulate about whether or nqt there is some sort of arrange-
ment-they even, some of them, call it a deal-between
you and the, former President, or between your staff and
his staff-resignation in exchange for a full pardon.
ut,LrYccir jtIC cuLU uLC turmCr rrC5luenE, nor oerween my for advice and judgment for' the legal fallout?VV..w....,,...,,..
staff and the staff of the former President, none what- -
OWNERSHIP OF rRESTOENTIAt. PAPERS .`..
Q. Mr. President, Iookirf?Q beyond the Nixon papers and
in view of some criticism in Congress, do you believe we
oi
House papers should rem
as the property of the Gove
THE PRESIDENT. As far I am personallyVconcerned,
I can see a legitimate reason for Presidential. papers re-
maining the property of the Government. In my.oj,,-n case,
I made a decision some yed.rs ago to turn over, all of my
Congressional papers, all Of, my Vice Presidential papers,
to the University of Michigan archives,
As far as. I am concerned, whether they go to 111e:
chives for use or whether they stay the possession of the
Government, I don't think makes too much difference.
I have no desire, personally, to retain whatever papers
comeoutof my Administration.
Mr. Mollenhoff [Clark R. Mollenhoff, Des .Moines
Register and Tribune].
Q. Mr. President, at the last press conference You said,.
"The code of ethics That will be followed will be the. eye-
,
edge, any kind of understanding about this? ample that I set" Do you find any conflicts of interest in
t the decision to grant a sweeping pardon to your life long
THE PRESmpmr. There was no understanding, no deal Gip-1 Ana .,.,.,., ?a......
. Inc question is: Is there or was there
to your knowl-
ACCESS TO TNCOMR TAX RETURNS
TH-IE PRESIDENT. The decision to grant a pardon to Mr.,-.
Nixon was made primarilyy as I have expressed, for the
purpose of tr
in
to heal th
d
t
h
y
g
e woun
s t
'
roughout the coun
Q: Mr- President, sir,.th'ere is a bill that the Treasury t
between Americ
s
d
ry
ans on one
i
e of the issue or the
Department has put forward, I think it is about 38 pages.. other. Mr. Nixon nominated me for the office of Vice
I7
d
thi
bill
hi
d
l
er
s
, w
ch
ea
-
s with getting hold of the re- President, I was confirmed overwhelmingly in the house
turns,-Internal Revenue retr ins, of citizens of the country, as well as in the Senate. Every action I have taken, Mr.
.
you' could take action to.gek those. returns whenever you Mollenhoff, is predicated oh my conscience without any
wanted to, concern or consideration As to favor as far as I. am -
. x wonder if you are aware of this and if you feel that
a _ I
er
you need td get those returns of citizens?
Trrn PRssmxrrr. It is my understanding that a Presi-'
dent has, by tradition and practice and by law, the right
to have access to income tax returns. I personally think
that is something that should be kept very closely held. A
person's income tax return is a very, precious thing to that
individual, and therefore, I am about to issue an Execu-
tive order that makes it even more restrictive as to how
those returns can be handled' And I rio think that a pro-
posed piece of legislation that is coming to me and subse-
quently will be.submitted, as I recollect, to the Congress _
would also greatly tighten up the availability or accessi-
' See page 1176 of this hue.
-CONDITIONAL AMNESTY A YD THE PARDON DECISION
Q: If your intention was,. to heal the wounds of the
Nation, sir, why did you grant only a conditional amnesty
to the Vietnam war draf` e'aders while granting a full
pardon to President Nixon? . .
THE PEESIDENT. The onl' connection between those
two cases is the effort that I made in the one to heal the
wounds involving the charges against Mr. Nixon and
my honest: and conscientious `effort to heal the wounds
for those who had deserted military service or dodged the V
draft. That is the only connection between the two.
Approved For Release. 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R00080010Q005-1
nt where Presidential IV, bite
n in the Government's hands;
 .MxS'.a:"~. e~r'r -c ,~?-.-..s:; .v;:7.cwm.~3~~'t -1 ~ ~~?~?S'S.1r` r^v. .~7.'w~,~3,. ~?~-~??- :+..~~+~
lottvithst:ir,(liiig cintis(: (3), sub.;ri.tiott (a) shall apply to any
renewal or extension of-any coittniet referred to in Snell j>kix agra pl)
entered iota on or a ter such date of en..tetnient?i
Es:-tniint or any progr:un of Internal Irltelbgrnce? or sur?rcilhllice on
bah tl f of any foreign gov(:nini(.nt within till- United Stat( or abroad.
"(J) with resl)cet to ;i ;ivtance rcrid?red under section :,1:)(e)
oved-'Far Release 2004/01114 -CIA -:R 17NIQQ144R0009. 0300
Bt) STAT, 1004 Pub. Law 93-559. . 10 - " : December 30, 1974
4z usu sius. or 110e U11111LUtns Ur1111e Control anti Safe St ree(s act of 1D(3, with
respert? to ifny authority of the Dri 1:rtforrr.nient Administnltion
or the )federal Biir?r;nr of*] nvestigation uilieh relates to crimes,; of
tic; nature which are ittilawful nailer the l:ltvs of the United
Stites, or with respect to assistance authorized under section.
22 USC 2291.. 4& of this Act; or
"(?) to any contract entered into, prior to the date of enactrneii
of this section with silly person, or,"allization, or agency of the
United States Government. to provide pexsonitel to conduct, or
Repel-]..
nonO of life funds tnnule In?att:thl(? to early not this Act, and
Iloilo of the local currencies generated under tins Act, ::hall be used to
X,olice, prisons, or other laiv en foi?cernent foicoi for any foreign goo--
I:E13rBCI'SA1ILF I)F:{ FLOYJ[F;ti1 rI:UCIG\~t5
IS nltitwt11?!ecI to lie lit) to til,()?'.)i),i)i)t) of the fitrtds in ;de available for
the purj.. ?s of this Act. in c:teh of tha liscal rears 1175 and 197r: to
22 USC 2151, assistance tut ter, j>art I of this :Let, in (1) facilitatin{r open Xud fair
IXTErd.I(;t?:):C6 :1CT[{-rITuS A\U F:XC1E. OYS OF
Sea..;?. The Foreign Assistance Act of 191 is amended by adding
22 USC 2422. `-Si--c. ti62. Lntltt:ttion on Litciligenco ActI1?itles.--(a) 1O f.r?r1m
stirrnilation t.;, reintl>urs:xble aid pt?ort?atns Consistent with part X of
(_CjJtll(. (( Uy or o11 Uea:tlt OI toe LCiu1.t?at J.litelli?"ence .A encc for
opeint.ions in foremi n Corintrios. other than activity s itr Ni,r?:.rl solt't,-
report to and scope of such operation to tine appropriatte comet ittees of t11ea('oti_
-
Congress. j!i'(SS including" the Corli!irittee off FOI-6gn 7:i
, ~. Qcl:itio* ,t5 of the 1Tl:iteEt
States Scurtte and the Ci.:?nlinittee on Foreign .hairs of the 1;)citerl
50 Usc 1541
by the l'resi(lettt. n(t(let timeW it Powers Resolution.
note.
r Release 2004/01/14: CIA-RDP77M00,144R000800100D05-1
2Z USC 24-20. ? tir:C. U t). t'ruh~hit.irrt; Police Tr:ainin~= (n) On :urt1 after Ttily 1, -