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from any bad publicity in connection with this or any other similar thing.

Mr. Baron. But based on the discussion at this meeting you would assume that the CIA would have the authority to proceed to mount an assassination effort against Lumumba?

Mr. Dillon. No, I said that they would certainly have the authority to plan. It is a close question whether this would be enough to actually go ahead with it. But certainly the way this thing worked, as far as I know, they didn't do anything just on their own. I think they would have checked back at least with the senior people in the State Department or the Defense Department.

Mr. Dawson. Would they have done that in such a way that it would be available to appear on the public record at any time?

Mr. Dillon. Maybe not. It might have just been a call from the Secretary of State, Mr. Herter, or possibly the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Baron. Do you have any independent recollection --

Mr. Dillon. -- and Gordon Gray. I think they would have kept him notified, because he was sort of central in this thing, they wouldn't do anything without his at least knowing about it.

Mr. Baron. Did you have any independent recollection of being made aware of this Special Group meeting that we have

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