121. Editorial Note
On January 25, 1966, Robert J. McCloskey, Director of the Office of News at the Department of State, telephoned Under Secretary Ball to inform him that news stories were alleging CIA involvement in the October 1965 kidnapping of Moroccan opposition leader Ahmed Ben Barka in Paris. Noting that he had checked with the CIA and was satisfied, [Page 180] McCloskey said that he planned to deny U.S. Government involvement. The Under Secretary suggested that McCloskey telephone Bundy at the White House and tell him that Ball was “reasonably satisfied” that there was nothing to this. (Johnson Library, Ball Papers, Algeria [6/18/65–1/25/66])
On January 28, Ambassador Bohlen reported from Paris that during an off-the-record meeting with journalists, French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou had stated categorically that there was not the slightest indication of involvement of any U.S. intelligence service in the Ben Barka affair. When asked why he did not say this publicly, Pompidou said that it would be inappropriate for him to raise the subject without any official reason. (Telegram 4435 from Paris; Department of State, Central Files, POL 30 MOR)