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1819Z 15 August 1967 transmitted message text from
Secretary of State to American Embassy, Tel Aviv


R 151819Z AUG 67
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0175
BT
S E C R E T STATE 20917
EXDIS
1. ISRAELI CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EVRON CALLED ON UNDER-SECRETARY
ROSTOW AUGUST 14 AND DELIVERED A COPY OF TESTIMONY AND JUDGE'S
DECISION ON LIBERTY INQUIRY. EVRON SAID COPY ALSO GIVEN TO
NAVAL ATTACHE, EMBASSY TEL AVIV. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION,
EVRON SAID JUDGE HAD HAD BENEFIT OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY
USG PRIOR TO INQUIRY. HE ALSO HAD HAD POWER TO SUBPOENA
WITNESSES AND ALL APPROPRIATE WITNESSES HAD BEEN CALLED.
EVRON ASKED THAT DOCUMENT BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL AND
RESTRICTED BUT AGREED TO ALLOW TRANSMISSION TO SELECTED
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON THIS BASIS.
EVRON ALSO SAID IT BETTER IF NO FURTHER PRESS STATEMENT
NOW MADE SINCE INTEREST IN INCIDENT APPEARS TO HAVE DIED DOWN,
BUT IF USG FEELS STRONGLY THAT STATEMENT SHOULD BE MADE HIS
GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT OBJECT. ROSTOW POINTED OUT THAT HIS
PREVIOUS SUGGESTION ON ISSUANCE OF STATEMENT MOTIVATED BY
HIS BELIEF THAT IF CRITICISM ISRAELI TROOPS INVOLVED IT
BETTER ISRAEL GOVERNMENT ISSUE STATEMENT.
GP-3.
RUSK
BT