Foreign Relations,
1969-1976, Volume E-5, Documents on Africa, 1969-1972
Released by the
Office of the Historian
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 2, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
INFORMATION
FROM: Marshall Wright
SUBJECT: Somali Seizure of the Midnight Sun: “Progress” Report
Thus far, this situation has neither deteriorated, nor improved.
On the good side:
–There has been no publicity, either on our side or on that of the Somalis.
— The Somali authorities have not yet officially charged the vessel
even with navigational violations, much less with espionage.
— The Somalis have, finally, approved access to the five detained
Americans by one of our consular officers. He will be travelling from
Mogadiscio to Chisimaio on July 4.
— The atmosphere in Chisimaio is calm and friendly, with the
Americans stationed there included in the official Independence Day
celebrations on July 1.
— General Siad’s Independence Day message was totally bereft of any
anti-American tone, which is notable in itself and may indicate that
the Somalis are not contemplating making a big deal out of the Midnight
Sun.
— The five detained Americans are apparently being kept in a hotel and are being well treated.
On the bad side:
— The Somalis have cancelled a visit to Chisimaio scheduled to begin on July 3 by a U.S. destroyer.
— It has now been a full week since the Midnight Sun was seized and
we have not yet been able to come to grips with Somali authorities on
what will be necessary to affect the release of the vessel and its
detained crew.
— We have good indications that the Somalis do not believe that the
seismic research equipment aboard the Midnight Sun is truly seismic
research equipment.
The most worrisome part of this matter is the way it must appear to
a Somali, even a fair-minded one. From their point of view, this is
what happened:
— An unauthorized vessel penetrated their territorial waters.
— It refused to respond to a query from a coastal observation post.
— After a long chase it was overtaken by a Somali patrol boat.
— It was flying no flag.
— It refused the patrol boat’s order to heave to until fired upon.
— It then ran up an American flag and on investigation was found to
be full of very sophisticated electronics equipment. Obviously, from
the Somali point of view, the strong suspicion arises that they have
intercepted an American “spyship”.
In fact, the ship is clean as a hound’s tooth. (I have had Peter
Jessup check this out carefully.) We are playing it cool, lest
excessive interest on our part serve to confirm Somali suspicions of U.
S. Government involvement. State wanted to take the initiative in
canceling the naval visit but I dissuaded them from this for which they
are now quite glad. We have afoot a scheme by which the owner of the
vessel will bespeak the help of an international oceanographic research
outfit in persuading the Somali authorities of the bona fides of the
Midnight Sun. The worst part of the situation that has obtained for the
last week, our inability to have access to the crew members, has now
been removed. We are still getting full cooperation from the owner and
the charterer. All things considered, I think we are on the best course
in letting the Somalis take their time in establishing what is, in
fact, the truth. It is, however, by no means clear yet that this
approach will work — and it is still a distinct possibility that we
may get a “spyship” incident out of all this yet.
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