Fraser rejects call for C.I.A. probe, attacks ex-agents

Press, 26 May 1977, Page 9

Fraser rejects call for C.I.A. probe, attacks ex-agents

International

NZPA Canberra The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has reaffirmed his Government’s refusal to hold an official inquiry into allegations of clandestine American Central Intelligence Agency operations in Australia.

“I am satisfied with the assurances I have received from elements of my own Government and from President Carter personally through his Ambassador that neither the United States Government nor its representatives are involved in improper or inappropriate activities here," he told Parliament. Mr Fraser said he had reviewed United States Government activities in Australia and “found them to be fully consistent with the interests and policies of the Australian Government and people." His statement was couched in terms apparently designed to damp down the political furore which broke late last month when Christopher Boyce, an American code clerk convicted of spying for the Russians, claimed during his Los Angeles trial that the C.I.A. had deceived successive Australian Governments and manipulated Australian trade unions.

Boyce was due to be sentenced tomorrow, but the sentencing has been delayed to June 20 to allow more time for a probation report to be prepared. His codefendant, Andrew Daulton Lee, is due to be sentenced on June 20, too, but this is also likely to be delayed). The Prime Minister categorised Labour Opposition attacks on the C.I.A. and its [demands for a commission of inquiry as "not merely politically self-serving but naive.” He said that in recent 'times "the activities of the C.1.A., unlike most other forI eign intelligence services, I have been kept under close I scrutiny by the United States Congress and that allegations of improper activities by the representatives in Australia of any foreign Government have in the past, and would in the future, be regarded just as seriously by my Government! as they have been by previous Australian Govern-I ments,” he stated.

! He then attacked two former C.I.A. agents, Messrs Victor Marchetti and Phillip I Agee, who in interviews ’with the Australian press in Washington and London accused the C.I.A. of spy [activities in this country and ' named alleged undercover C.I.A. agents attached to the United States Embassy in Canberra.

Without directly naming Marchetti and Agee, Mr Fraser said: “We have seen some former members of the C.I.A. making, for their own motives, hearsay allegations, some of which would appear to come within the ambit of what is known as “disinformation" or the attempt to gain political ends through false and misleading information."

Mr Gough Whitlam, the Opposition leader, charged Mr Fraser with “irrelevance l and pusillanimity” and [declared, “the Prime Minister has resolved to say nothing, and say nothing he did."