LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM ERNEST G. CHILTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000100070019-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: September 10, 1963
• Content Type: LETTER

oved!Ge'r Release 2003/11/06: CIA-RDP80B 768000100070019-6
Sept. 10, 1963
STAT
The President
The White House
NSC REFERRAL Washington, D.C.
NOT REQUIRED Subject: The C.I.A. and the foreign policy of the United States
Dear Mr. Pre s ' t .,* 1-r" _ .-
Increasingly the newspapers report the active partici-
pation of the CIA in foreign countries; training and sup-
porting shock troops in Vietnam, preparing raiders against
Cubg. I wonder if this activity is the intent of the charter
under which the organization was created or even if it is in
the best interest of our government.
Of course, being a secret organization, I obtain only
fragmentary views of these activities, but those that come
to light are disturbing. No doubt, you recall the fiasco
of the Cuban invasion. We now hear that the CIA supports
new active forces th harass Cuba. The news about President
Diem's shocktroops and their support by the CIA cannot have
escaped you.
I wonder whether the picture created in the world by
these.lactivities is to your liking and whether it reflects
the real intentions of the United States Government. It
seems as if it justifies many of the traits ascribed to us
by the Communists such as the support of undemocratic forces
and the suppression of peoples' interests.
Are the short-term gains or the few pacified reactionary
votes in Congress worth this damage to the long-term policy
of the United States? Do we want to justify the Communists
in their view 6f us and give them the tacit right to emulate
us and to put might before right?
I urge you, Mr. President, to return the CIA to its
rightful position of an information-gathering agency and
to inform our people and the world of this decision.
Respectfully yours,
cc: Sen. `Thomas H. Kuchel
Seta. Clair Engle
Ernest G.'Chilton
Approved For Release 2003/11/06 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000100070019-6