Shultz Testifies Envoy Went Behind His Back

Secretary of State George P. Shultz said today he was “shocked” to learn that White House officials and the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon--behind Shultz’s back--conducted consultations on secret dealings with Iran aimed at freeing Americans held hostage in Lebanon.

Shultz told the House Foreign Affairs Committee he learned of the back-channel communications over the weekend, in response to a State Department call to all U.S. embassies for information about the funds transfer. He said Ambassador John Kelly in Beirut replied that the secret discussions had occurred.

Shultz said he has ordered Kelly back to Washington “to be available to the FBI and other appropriate investigative bodies.”

Shultz, quoting a message from Kelly, told the committee the ambassador said, “I met in Washington in July or August, 1986, with (former National Security Adviser) Robert McFarlane, who briefed me on the hostage negotiations involving arms to Iran as an inducement” to free the hostages.

“Between the dates of Oct. 30 and Nov. 4, 1986, I had numerous conversations with Lt. Col. Oliver North and Richard V. Secord relating to the hostage negotiations with Iran,” Shultz quoted Kelly as saying.

“During that period I received and sent numerous ‘back-channel’ messages to and from the White House, Adm. (John) Poindexter, concerning the hostage negotiations. Those messages were transmitted and received in what is referred to as the ‘privacy channel,’ using CIA communications facilities,” Shultz further quoted Kelly as saying.

Shultz said that following routine practices, Kelly’s messages were destroyed in Beirut.