FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI 247
[poor xerox copy; cut off at the top]
C[__]RATION LIMITED PANAMA
POST OFFICE BOX 4150 PANAMA CITY. 5 REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
YOUR REF OUR REF DATE: 14 July 1971
________________________________________________
Secret
Mr. John Mitchell
Attorney General
Justice Department
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
We feel that it is very definitely your concern when official
representatives of the United States Government make threats against the
lives and safety of Americans and other nationals abroad.
Such threats were made to our Company officials on Tuesday, July 13th, by
Mr. Jack Galbraith, Vice-consul from the American Consul in Casablancs,
and in the presence of witnesses.
Mr. Galbraith was sent to Safi, a port in Morocco, by his senior Mr.
Nelson in order to help obtain the death certificate of Miss Susan
Meister, a young American who unfortunately committed suicide aboard our
vessel on June 25th. The full particulars concerning her suicide are
contained in the enclosed documents.
Already in a state of shock over this tragedy, we are now dreadfully
concerned over the welfare of our 380 officers and crew. Such officials
as Mr. Galbraith and Mr. Nelson, have no right to link the name of the
President of the United States with criminal actions and threats. They
have no right to blacken the name of the C.I.A. to foreigners and to
Americans abroad. They have no right to leave us frightened and
desperately worried over the lives of all the men, women and children
aboard our vessel.
In the hands of our attorneys in three countries we are placing the full
documentation of this matter with orders to immediately release it to all
news services should any further black propaganda campaign or any violent
action or sabotage or damage occur with regard to this vessel.
[page 2]
_Page 2_
The ill-advised actions of Nelson and Galbraith came only 72 hours after a
mysterious attempted coup against the head of state of this country and
such public allegations against the President and America could well
trigger a new situation that would threaten American lives and property.
If this is you Ambassador's policy here, he too should be recalled.
We ask that you take immediate steps to have these officials recalled and
have them tried for their criminal actions and threats.
Further, we ask the assurance of your Government that no such actions will
be carried out against our vessel and those who sail in her, and ask that
such assurance and acknowledgement be sent to me immediately.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Norman H. Starkey,
Captain
cc: The President of the United States
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The Secret Service
