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8 9° @ NY 100-168897 - . "Phe New York-Times", a daily New York City newspaper, in its edition of April 1, 1971; carried an article entitled, "Liberals Seek ‘War Crimes' Inquiry". () The article by JOHN W. FINNEY was datelined March 31, Washington and reported that with the aid of some Vietnam veterans, a group of liberal Democrats soumht today to prevail upon the House Armed Services Committee to conduct a public inquiry into alleged war crimes ‘in Vietnam. J Representative F, EDWARD HEBERT, Chairman of the. House. Committee was seeking in turn to prevent the liberal group from holding its own informal inguimy if the committee aid not proceed with public hearings.) BOBAECKHARDT of Texas, BENJAMIN S,XROSENTHAL Af Queens, YF | yp. piY JOHN G.YDOW of upstate New York a BNER J. AMIKVA of " Tlitnods~---~held a news. conference to voice their case for public committee hearings into whether Uniited States troops had violated the rules of war in Vietnam, @v The article noted that "Against a backdrop of teidbiston cameras, four of the 5 aos Rtepresentatives efi Ad A ——~—__} One purpose of the news conference, it stated, was to let six Vietnam veterans give brief stattements describing various acts of torture and killing of ciwilians that they said they had witnessed in Vietnam. {) The article continued noting that the veterans, were associated with the Citizens Commission of Inquiry into US War Crimes in Vietnam. J The spokesman for the veterans wass identified as JEREMY R{FKIN, who reportedly said that "Miylai is only the tip of the iceberg" and that First Lieutenant WILLIAM L, CALLEY, Jr., who was convicted yesterday of premeditated murder was being "scapegoated in order to Geflect attention from the generals and the politicians." \) For several months, the article reported, the veterans group attempted to get the Armed Services Committee to hold public hearings into their allegations. Unsuccessful, the turned for help in January to the group of 11 Democratic liberals, neaded by Mr. ECKHARDT. ¥J - 14 -