Office of the Historian

358. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron) to Secretary of Defense Brown and Director of Central Intelligence Turner1

Washington, April 18, 1979

SUBJECT

  • South Africa Spy Incident

Because of the political consequences of the seizure by South Africa of the camera and film from the Defense attache [less than 1 line not declassified] the Department of Defense [less than 1 line not declassified] should prepare a report for the NSC providing in detail the circumstances leading up to the expulsion of our attaches. This report [2 lines not declassified] lapses in procedure or normal practice for this activity that may have contributed to the incident and corrective actions taken. The report should be available by April 25.

David Aaron
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Unfiled File, Box 149, [South Africa]: 5/78–4/79. Secret.↩