THE WHITE HOUSE ' WASHINGTON i • I October 31 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT ' 0 ci FROM ro SUBJECT 0 J n Covert O erations in Chile 0 0 i 0 l It is my view that there is some background information that you shot $l w 0 I I t I consider in addition to the points contained in the decision paper These are 2 0 I' 0 l matters that I mentioned to you briefly In my opinion they are signifi- - i 0 cant and should be considered in any decision you might make 'I' First there is di vision among those in the Coordinating Group on L ol o r o Intelligence Activities This division in some instances is reflected by I subordinates These differences arise over several key points set out below 1 The point is made by Hyland Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence Matters that much of the information to be covered in the open hearings is contained in the assassination report which the Select Committee has indicated they would like to publish Hyland is one of the three persons from the Administration who has read the report 2 Hyland indicates the Secretary of State and former CIA Director Helms have given the Committee apparently in Executive Session this evidence I It must be assum d this testimony is contained in the assassination eport I DECLASSIFIED l i -J tJ' AI lflAllthQ lly------- -- - 1W r B NARA Oatt ' -2- Addi ti anally there is some material from Nixon in possession of the Committee which spells out this operation 3 In a rather surprising change of attitude Hyland in the Thursday morning meeting began to speak in terms of the value of givirt'g 0 the Committee as much as we can in order to ride out as quickly as possible thts 0 co adverse period which should end shortly and thus get the hearings behind us 4 Former Ambassador to Chile Korry retired is 0 0 apparently a J source of great concern to State as a witness before the Select Committee ffi 0 Apparently his appearance will be highly damaging inasmuch as 0 u t he is knowledgeable and able 0 c 5 Likewise there is great concern about the public testimony ava8- o r able to the Committee from a former military attache who knows the whole st 'y 6 David Phillips a former CIA official who was involved in the Chile operation will have to be put on notice that he is bound by his secrecy agreement in order to prevent him from testifying in open session 7 These anticipated relevations in public hearings by former United States officials engaged in the operation appear to be raising a question as to whether it may be necessary to put an Administration witness into the hearing to be certain the other side of the story is told The fact that former officials testify is dminishing the force of the argument for non confirmation by the United States Government i i t