2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET

MESSAGE HANDLING INDICATOR: STAFF

CONF: SLOoto

DATE-TIME GROUP: 161827Z

CITE: DIRECTOR

MESSAGE REFERENCE NUMBER: 125981

INFO: FILE ELLR8, IP/AMS, LA&OLC

TO: LISBON INFO LONDON MEXICO CITY. Y

RYBAT UNINTEL RNVIEW Y

1. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS WHO CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING ASSASSINATIONS OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAS TOLD STATE THAT THEY INTEND TO PURSUE LEADS IN PORTUGAL, UK AND MEXICO RELATING TO JAMES EARL RAY, CURRENTLY SERVING TIME FOR KING, MURDER. THEY BASING THIS INTEREST ON INFORMATION THAT RAY WAS IN LISBON BRIEFLY IN MAY 1968, SHORTLY BEFORE HIS APPREHENSION IN LONDON IN JUNE 1968.

2. MR. G. ROBERT BLAKEY, CHIEF COUNSEL AND STAFF DIRECTOR OF COMMITTEE SAYS SELECT COMMITTEE TOLD STATE THAT HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH "CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP" WITH APPROPRIATE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL POLICE AND HOPES TO ENLIST THEIR ASSISTANCE INCLUDING ACCESS TO THEIR FILES AND IN LOCATING AND INTERVIEWING POTENTIAL WITNESSES.

3. DEPARTMENT HAS SOLICITED EMBASSY SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW BLAKEY SHOULD PROCEED.

DO NOT REPRODUCE RETURN TO CIA

AUTHENTICATING OFFICER: IMPDET

CL BY: 06494

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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET

MESSAGE HANDLING INDICATOR: STAFF

CITE: DIRECTOR

MESSAGE REFERENCE NUMBER: 125981

1. WISH TO CALL ABOVE TO ADDRESSEES' ATTENTION IN EVENT STATIONS ARE SOLICITED FOR ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE. RTACTION IS COOPERATING FULLY WITH BLAKEY AND COMMITTEE INCLUDING ALLOWING THEM ACCESS TO DIRECTORATE RECORDS, AFTER SUITABLE SANITIZATION FOR SOURCES AND METHODS. HOWEVER, BELIEVE COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS TO INTERVIEW POLICE AND WITNESSES AND RESULTING USEFUL INFORMATION OBTAINED, IF ANY, IS LARGELY OVERT FUNCTION WHICH CAN BEST BE HANDLED BY LEGATTS OR OTHERS WHO WOULD ALSO BE IN A POSITION TO BE PUBLICLY QUOTED OR IDENTIFIED IF NECESSARY.

2. STATIONS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE EMBASSY BEST ADVICE IF SOLICITED BUT REQUESTED TO AVOID INVOLVING STATION OFFICERS IN NEGOTIATIONS EVEN IN THEIR COVER CAPACITIES. IF CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH THAT THIS UNAVOIDABLE, PLEASE ADVISE HQS BY CABLE SO THAT THE MATTER CAN BE APPROPRIATELY HANDLED WITH BLAKEY AND DEPARTMENT.

ORIG: O/SA/DO/O (SOVERN); COORD: OLC (CUMMINS), DC/LA (CLAUDER), (HAWKING), C/LA/(EX), DX/EUR/BC (SEEMOON), C/EUR/IB (BERGER); AUTH: SA/DO/O (KATROSH); REL: DC/EUR (ESTES).

DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 1977

ORIG: MASOVERN

UNIT: O/SA/DO/

EXT: 1542

DC/EUR

AUTHENTICATING OFFICER: IMPDET