1725Z 22 June 1967 transmitted message text from
American Embassy, Valletta to
Commander, Sixth Fleet and
Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Ten and
Commander, Task Group Sixty Point Two

 A. MIDEAST CRISIS HAS PLACED MALTA IN DELICATE POSITION
DUE TIES WITH BOTH ARABS AND ISRAEL. GOVERNMENT STRONGELY
PRO-WEST AND WELCOMES SIXTHFLT VISITS, BUT OPPOSITION HAS
TRIED TO USE VISITS TO EMBARRASS GOVERNMENT FOR LOCAL POL-
ITICAL REASONS. EXCESSIVE EMPHASIS OF VISIT ON SUCH SHORT
NOTICES MIGHT BE SEIZED UPON BY OPPOSITION.

 B. PUBLICITY AND SPECULATION ON USS LIBERTY NOW DECLINING.
PROPOSED FUNCTIONS MAY DRAW UNDESIRABLE ATTENTION TO LIBERTY.
BELIEVE BETTER LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE.

 C. CLOSING SUEZ CANAL DRASTICALLY REDUCED BUSINESS AT DOCK-
YARDS, ISLAND'S MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT
TIME WHEN SITUATION ALREADY SERIOUS IN WAKE OF BRITISH RUN-
DOWN. EMB BELIEVES BEST METHOD THANK OFFICIALS FOR COOPER-
ATION OVER MIDEAST SITUATION AND USS LIBERTY NOT THROUGH SO-
CIAL FUNCTIONS BUT BY BRINGING MORE U.S. NAVY SHIPS TO MALTA
DRYDOCK FOR REPAIRS DURING THIS CRITICAL PERIOD.

2. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE EMB WOULD ENCOURAGE SUCH FUNCTIONS,
SINCE SIXTHFLT HELD IN SUCH HIGH REGARD BY MALTESE. HOW-
EVER DUE PECULIAR SENSITIVITY PRESENT SITUATION, RECOMMEND
VISIT BE AS LOW KEY AS POSSIBLE WITH MINIMUM CALLS, AND ENTER-
TAINMENT RESTRICTED TO WARDROOM DINNERS OR LUNCHES FOR MID-
DLE-LEVEL MALTESE PROFESSIONALS OR BUSINESSMEN.

3. FOR CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO. FOREGOING INFORMATION DISCUSSED
WITH FLAG LIEUTENANT.
GP-4 FELDMAN
BT

Message subject lineage: 222212Z JUN 67 COMSIXTHFLT

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