Speech #920071655

But if the gentleman feels that I have challenged his personal integrity. he is justified in arguing against the alleged challenge. Apparently the great document caper which I described in my June 26 speech touched a nerve with the gentleman. Here are some of the things I said. and I quote: He was briefed by State Department officials before his departure and was told (please note this) that a USIS study had been done of one camp which housed refugees from 200 villages In the Plain of Jars area. The significant point is that Mr. McCloskey was told of the report before he left. When informed of its existence. he requested copies and was told that the survey could not be furnished him. but a fivepage summary could be made available which had already been given to Senator Kennedy. The summary was delivered before his departure. (Please note again. he asked for the survey. knew of Its existence. and received the summary before he departed.) After his return from Laos. my colleague testified before Senator KENNEDYS Subcommittee on Refugees and stated that he did not see the copy of the summary until the morning of April 14. a fact of which I implicitly believe. In the same testimony at page 141 of the transcript. he states. and I quote: It was in reading it [the refugee book] over at 6:00 oclock that morning in the Ambassadors house that I came across the reference to this survey for the first time. (Please note the words "for the first time.") In my speech on June 26. I asked this question: How does this square with his request of the State Department before he left Washington for copies of both the survey and the summary? I can readily understand why my colleague interprets these remarks as an attack upon his integrity.