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1105Z 18 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
U.S.S. Liberty

P 181105Z JUN 67
FM CINCUSNAVEUR
TO USS LIBERTY
INFO USCINCEUR
AMEMB VELLETTA MALTA
ASD PA
COMSIXTHFLT
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
1. ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY FILED 17 JUNE FROM MALTA
BY COLIN FROST STATES QUOTE SENIOR CREWMEN OF THE
U.S. NAVY SHIP LIBERTY ARE CONVINCED THAT ISRAEL'S
AIR AND TORPEDO ATTACK ON THEIR SHIP, WHICH COST
34 AMERICAN LIVES, WAS DELIBERATE. A RESPONSIBLE
SOURCE SAID FRIDAY IN VALLETTA. THEY HAVE TESTIFIED
TO THIS EFFECT TO THE NAVY INQUIRY COURT NOW IN
SECRET SESSION ABOARD THE SHIP. THEIR BELIEF WAS
BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE ISRAELIS HAD ENOUGH
TIME TO IDENTIFY THE SHIP AND ON THE INTENSITY OF
THE ATTACK UNQUOTE.
2. STORY LATER STATES QUOTE OFFICIALLY, LIBERTY'S
TASK WAS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICAN
EMBASSIES IN THE WAR TORN MIDEAST THAT WERE
PLANNING AN EVACUATION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM
THEIR AREAS. BUT ALL MILITARY MEN IN THIS FORTRESS
ISLAND LONG VERSED IN THE WAYS OF WAR TAKE IT FOR
GRANTED THAT THE LIBERTY WAS ALSO UNDER ORDERS TO
INTERCEPT AND EVALUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OF
FIGHTING ISRAELI AND ARAB FORCES. FOR FOUR HOURS
BEFORE THE ATTACK THE SHIP HAD BEEN UNDER CONSTANT
SURVEILLANCE FROM ISRAELI PLANES CIRCLING OVERHEAD AN
INNER QUOTE WE WERE FLYING OLD GLORY AND IT'S
ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T KNOW WHO
WE WERE, END INNER QUOTE ONE SURVIVOR SAID UNQUOTE.
3. WHILE SOME OTHER MATERIAL IN STORY WAS RELEASED
BY OFFICIAL SPOKESMEN, THE ABOVE QUOTES APPEAR TO
BE BASED EITHER ON AUTHORIZED INTERVIEWS OR THE
REPORTER'S CONJECTURE. SINCE HE EXPRESSED A STRONG
BELIEF THAT THE ATTACK COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTAL
TO THE TF 100 PAO BEFORE LIBERTY ARRIVED AT MALTA,
THE LATTER POSSIBILITY IS NOT UNLIKELY. AT THE SAME
TIME, THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE HE ATTEMPTED TO
CONVERSE ON THIS SUBJECT WITH LIBERTY CREWMEN
ASHORE. BECAUSE OTHER REPORTERS MAY ATTEMPT TO
FOLLOW UP, YOU MAY FEEL IT APPROPRIATE TO REPEAT
PREVIOUS ADMONITION TO YOUR FINE CREW TO REFRAIN
FROM SPEAKING ABOUT MATTERS UNDER INVESTIGATION
UNTIL FINDINGS OF COURT OF INQUIRY HAVE BEEN
ANNOUNCED.
GP-4
BT

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