(Testimony of )
Mr. Rankin.
if under your responsibility or if you could tell me who would be responsible for it?
Secretary RUSK. Well, I would have to check the actual source of the statement. But I would have no present doubt that it was an officer of the Department who was authorized to make that and for which I would be fully responsible.
Mr. Rankin.
That is all I have.
Mr. Dulles.
Could I ask a question in connection with that?
The Chairman.
Mr. Dulles.
Mr. Dulles.
There was some evidence presented here quite recently when the district attorney of Dallas was here with regard to a message from Washington, from the White House to the attorney general of Texas, who was also here the other day before the Commission, on this point: A rumor had reached Washington that in preparing the indictment there, they were going to put in some reference to an international conspiracy. As a matter of fact, when that was run down it was not a correct rumor. But when that reached Washington, the reaction was rather strong and I think entirely understandable, and word went back to Dallas from high quarters that that should not, hoped that that would not be included in the legal proceedings and papers that were filed in connection with the assassination of the President and charging----
Mr. Rankin.
Unless there was evidence to support it.
Mr. Dulles.
Unless there was evidence to support it. And the district attorney, who was here, testified that he had never considered adding that into it, putting that in the proceedings because if you put it in you had to prove it, and it is not necessary at all. All you need to do is allege a murder with intent, and so forth, and so on. So that that was all pretty well cleared up.
Mr. Dulles.
Did that ever reach your attention, did you know anything about that?
Secretary RUSK. I don't personally recall that particular message. I do recall--
Mr. Dulles.
That took place, I think before you got back, because that took place on the evening of the 22d.
Secretary RUSK. I didn't arrive until----
Mr. Dulles.
You didn't get back until the 23d?
Secretary RUSK. Until the early morning of the 23d.
Mr. Dulles.
Yes.
Secretary RUSK. I do recall being concerned if several different authorities and agencies undertook investigations that would cut across each other's bow or make it difficult to elicit the cooperation of people outside the United States whose cooperation we might need in matters of that sort, I felt myself at that time there ought to be a complete and absolutely thorough investigation by the most responsible authorities and I was glad to see that brought into some order at the time but I don't remember the particular message you are talking about.
Representative Ford.
Could you check to see if somebody in the Department of State made such a call or made such a contact?
Secretary RUSK. Yes; I will be be glad to.
Representative Ford.
And if so so report it for the proceedings?
Secretary RUSK. Yes, indeed; I will be glad to.
Mr. Chayes.
I may be able to supply some information to the Commission on this point because during the night of the 22d when we were examining the data in my office, the files, I did receive a call from Mr. Katzenbach who said that they had heard at the Justice Department, that there was a possibility that this kind of an element would get into the indictment, and said that--I can't remember the exact words that he used--but he conveyed to me that he regarded this as not very good, in the absence of evidence to support it, and said that he was seeking to have Mr. Saunders, who is the U.S. attorney in Dallas, admitted to the councils of the State officials there so that they could discuss these matters as time went on. And that he would try to, I don't know exactly again what he said, but that he would try to see that in the absence of evidence no such allegation was made in the indictment.
I didn't in any sense authorize, and I certainly couldn't direct him to do
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