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1563036
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Italy - Investigation of Alleged American Payments to Influence Italian Politics
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1563036
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document
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Italy - Investigation of Alleged American Payments to Influence Italian Politics
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John O. Marsh Files (Ford Administration)
John Marsh's General Subject Files
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1563036
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1976-06-30
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6
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1976
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1976-06-01
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6
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 19, folder "Italy - Investigation of Alleged American Payments to Influence Italian Politics" of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 19 of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 16, 1976 Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter is in response to your request for comments on H. Res. 1295. It is our view that this resolution is an inappropriate instrument for considering the kinds of activities set forth in H. Res. 1295. We believe that, regardless of the country involved, information on any activities such as those mentioned in H. Res. 1295 should be dealt with only by the appropriate committees of Congress with due consideration for protecting against public disclosure of information which could be harmful to the nation's foreign policy and national security. In addition, the adoption of H. Res. 1295 would be wholly inconsistent with the purpose of Section 662 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. That provision, which resulted from the work of your Committee, was enacted specifically to keep Congress advised of any infor- mation such as that sought in the resolution of inquiry. If the resolution is now adopted, it would vitiate the procedures set up for this very purpose. Based on the above consideration, it is our belief that approval of the H. Res. 1295 by the Committee on International Relations and the House of Representatives would be incompatible with the public interest. The Honorable Thomas Morgan House of Representatives Washington, D. C. FORD i GERALD LIBRARY THOMAS E. MORGAN, PA., CHAIRMAN CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI, WIS. WILLIAM B. BROOMFIELD, MICH. WAYNE L. HAYS, OHIO EDWARD 3. DERWINSKI, ILL. L. M. FOUNTAIN, N.C. PAUL FINDLEY, ILL. DANTE B. FASCELL, FLA. JOHN M. BUCHANAN, JR., ALA. CHARLES c. DIGGS, JR., MICH. 3. HERBERT BURKE, FLA. ROBERT N. c. NIX, PA. PIERRE 5. DU PONT, DEL. Congress of the United States DONALD M. FRASER. MINN. CHARLES W. WHALEN, JR., OHIO BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL, N.Y. EDWARD G. BIESTER, JR., PA. LEE H. HAMILTON, IND. LARRY WINN, JR., KANS. LESTER L. WOLFF, N.Y. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, N.Y. Committee on International Relations JONATHAN B. BINGHAM, N.Y. TENNYSON GUYER, OHIO GUS YATRON, PA. ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO, CALIF. House of Representatives ROY A. TAYLOR, N.C. MICHAEL MARRINGTON, MASS. LEO J. RYAN, CALIF. Mashington, D.C. 20515 DONALD W. RIEGLE, JR. MICH. CARDISS COLLINS, K.L. STEPHEN 2. SOLARZ, N.Y. HELEN S. MEYNER, N.Y. DON BONKER, WASH. June 14, 1976 GERRY K. STUDOS, MASS. MARIAN A. CZARNECKS CHIEF OF STAFF The Honorable Gerald R. Ford President of the United States JUN 14 1976 The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: I am writing to request your comments on a resolution of inquiry which was introduced in the House on Friday, June 11, 1976, and referred to the Committee on International Relations. Enclosed are two copies of the resolution, H.Res. 1295, directing the President to provide the House of Representatives certain information with respect to any pay- ment made by the United States to influence Italian politics. As you know, the Committee must act on this resolution within 7 legislative days beginning today. We will appreciate receiving your comments as soon as possible but no later than Thursday, June 17, 1976. Sincerely yours, Jhonnas {. margan Chairman TEM:rkbm Enclosure CC: The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger LIEVARY GERALD P. FORD 10:1ginal of 2d BL RES 1295 SESSION IN THE HOUSE OF PRESENTATIVES Mr. Harrington si;' : thed the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee in RESOLUTION Resolved, That not later the 10 days after the date of adoption of this resolution, the President shall furnish to the House of Representatives the following information: (1) Within 5 years preceding the date on which information is furnished purment to this resolution and if known, has any person (including any civilian employee, member of the Armed Forces, or person under contract) acting on behalf of the United States Govern- ment or any agency or other instrumentality of the United States Government paid or offered to pay any funds, directly or indirectly-- BERALD FORD LIBRARY (A) 1.0 the Italian Christian Democratic party or any member thereof, 10 iny other political party or any other political organization in Italy or any member of any such party or organization, or to any government official or any candidate for any local or national political office in Italy; or (B) to any newspaper, radio, television, ad- vertising, or other redia-related company or entity (or any employee or agent thereof) which has within its primary area of impact any part of Italy? If so, for each such instance, furnish the following information to the extent known: the amount of funds involved; the date on which payment of such funds was offered and if such funds were paid, the date on which such payment was made; the identity of any person to whom payment was made and of the intended recipient of such payment; the instrumentality of the United States Government responsible for such payment; and the circumstances surrounding such payment. (2) If known, were any individuals (A) assigned or otherwise attached to any United States embassy or LIBRARY GERALD ORD ..3- other diplomatic mission, DI (B) employed by my United States or multinational corporation, involved in any way in any payment. or offer described in paragraph (1) of this resolution? In addition, if known, were any funds which were involved in any such payment illegally ex- changed for foreign currency either before or after any payment of such funds? (3) Within 5 years proceding the date on which in- formation is furnished pursuant to this resolution and if known, has any person (including any civilian employee, member of the Armed Forces, or person under contract) acting on behalf of the United States Government or any agency or other instrumentality of the United States Government participated in any meeting, discussion, or other contact with any national of Italy concerning the use of any extrsconstitutional means to solve the Italian political crisis? If so, for each such instance, furnish the following information to the extent known: the iden- tity of any person taking part in any such contact with an Italian national; the date. on which such contact was made; the instrumentality of the United States Government responsible for such contact; and the circumstances sur- rounding such contact. (4) Within 5 years preceding the date on which in- formation is furnished pursuant to this resolution and if FORD i LIBRARI GERALD ÷ known, lins any person (including any civilian employee, member of the Anned Forces, or person under contract) acting on bchalf of the United States Covernment or any agency or other instrumentality of the United States Government (other than any person acting in the course of an investigation of possible violations of any law of the United States) discussed, orally or in writing, with any United States or multinational corporation, or any employce or agent thereof, any payment or the offer of any payment of any funds, directly or indirectly, to any individual or entity described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of this resolution? BERALD TR. FORD LIBRARY 94th 2d CONGRESS! } " RES SESSION RESOLUTION Directing the President to provide to the House of Represen- tatives certain information with respect to any payment made by the United States to influence Italian politics. By Mr. Harrington GERALD LIBRARY ? FORD 10 Referred to the Committee on w.s. GOVERNMENT painting office