C.I.A. ALLEGATIONS Ford decides on inquiry panel

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33734, 6 January 1975, Page 13

C.I.A. ALLEGATIONS Ford decides on inquiry panel

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 5. President Ford has decided to appoint a panel of distinguished Americans to lay bare at least some of the long-guarded secrets of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. The Justice Department, he says, is already investigating whether the C.I.A. has broken the law.

The panel, whose members have yet to be named, will investigate accusations that the agency has carried out illegal intelligence activities within the United States. It will also determine whether safeguards are needed to prevent such activity in the future, and make appropriate recommendations.

The establishment of the Citizens’ Commission, announced by the White House last night, follows reports in the “New York Times” that the C.I.A. kept files on 10,000 Americans and was responsible for widespread surveillance of Americans in the United States. The commission of five or seven members, all of whom

will be drawn from outside the Government, will have three months in which to complete their investigation. Their findings will be made public. In a statement accompanying the Executive order establishing the "blue ribbon” panel, Mr Ford made it clear that most of the C.l.A.’s secrets would remain inviolate: he said that it was vital to maintain an effective intelligence and counterintelligence capability, and that the agency had had a

notable record of many successes in protecting America’s national interests and in avoiding armed conflict. “Because of the very nature of its operations, however, such successes and achievements cannot be divulged publicly,” Mr Ford said. He also disclosed that the Justice Department was “looking into such aspects of

the matter as are within its jurisdiction.” Asked later to elaborate, a White House spokesman would say only that' the department had in the last few days “begun to look into violations of the law.” . . .

The Citizen’s Commission will not have subpeona powert— and probably will not need it, since its investigation will deal with Government officials and documents. Its report will be sent to Congress, where a number of committees are already planning investigation of the accusations against the C.I.A. In an acknowledgement that the commission’s inquiry would not block the Congressional investigations, Mr Ford said he hoped that the committee would consider its findings and recommendations.

Last night’s White House announcement came after President Ford had had a long talk with the Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger) and a brief meeting with Mr Richard Helms, now the United States Ambassador to Iran, who headed the C.I.A. during the period covered by many of the allegations in the “New York Times.” The White House said that the meeting was at Mr Helms’s own request.