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MORI DocID: 1451843

SECRET

DD/P/[?]RYL

21 December 1971

MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller

SUBJECT: Meeting with MAG Group

1. I met with the MAG group this morning for little over
an hour, and I set forth as candidly as possible those counter-
intelligence and counterespionage responsibilities of ours overseas
which make it mandatory for us occasionally to take an interest in
American citizens overseas. I explained the requirements placed
on us by the Department of Justice for overseas checks, and also
the fact that our normal overseas operations against Soviets and
others some times produce leads to Americans in conspiratorial
contact with our Communist targets.

2. I was asked about our having sent Agency representatives
to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968 and I
explained that I never heard of such a thing and did not believe it.
I pointed out that, as they knew, the press had reported fully on the
Agency participation at the beginning of the sky marshalling program
and I assumed they saw nothing wrong with this. They agreed. I
also pointed out that, at President Kennedy's funeral, with scores
of important foreign personalities here, the Agency lent some assistance
to the Secret Service, and here again the group understood that this
was a legitimate function.

3. The group made it clear that their concern was over the
Agency image if the general public were aware that some of our
activities, wherever they took place, were targeted against Blacks.
I said that we did not target against Americans of any color in this
country, and that the Clandestine Service was color blind when it
came to carrying out its overseas CI responsibilities and it would
continue to be so.

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