Norman F. Dacey - Criminal Complaints about Israel Lobby arms smuggling and espionage

Norman F. Dacey demands Justice and State Department action on credible allegations of Israeli arms smuggling and espionage

"That the Justice Department was apparently aware of the operation [Haganah arms smuggling rings as depicted in the book, "The Pledge"] at the time is suggested by the fact that it brought charges against a handful of lower-echelon persons, only one of whom was ever jailed. None of the important people in the operation were charged, including more than a dozen prominent lawyers." Norman F. Dacey, October 29, 1970

Documents

Author Norman F. Dacey turned the cozy estate-planning industry upside-down after publishing How to Avoid Probate in 1965. The book sold 2 million copies. Though he was not a lawyer, Dacey advised Americans on how to structure their estates to avoid the costs, delays, and publicity of probate by setting up trusts. Dacey engaged in fierce battles with various bar associations who tried to shut down publication of the book by claiming he was practicing law without a license. The tenacious Dacey returned fire, filing scores of libel and First Amendment lawsuits.

Dacey was also outraged by the lack of due law enforcement over Israel lobby espionage and arms smuggling. As head of American Palestine Committee, Dacey attempted to force the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute surviving members of the Haganah arms smuggling network in the United States. He also encouraged the criminal prosecution of AIPAC's executive director after Morris Amitay obtained classified missile data. Both the U.S. Department of Justice and US Department of State refused to take any action on Dacey's well-documented complaints. However, the Justice Department Foreign Agents Registration Act section did increase pressure on the registered foreign agent of one Israeli front operation mentioned the complaints, the Jewish Agency for Israel.

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Contents

09171970_DOJ_Pledge.pdf

On September 17, 1970 Chief of the Foreign Agent Registration Act section James L. Weldon Jr., receives a summary of American Zionist operatives involved in smuggling conventional weapons into Palestine for Jewish fighters as documented in the Leonard Slater book, "The Pledge." An extract prepared at the Justice Department includes two parts.

"The first part presents a synopsis of the subject matter of the book: the names of major characters in the book are included in this synopsis.

The second part lists twelve individuals who are included both in The Pledge and in registration materials filed by the Jewish Agency--American Section ~ Inc. for the years 1943 through 1948."

10071970DOJ_DACEY.pdf

Assistant Attorney General J. Walter Yeagley responds to Norman F. Dacey denying that the Justice Department has files on Haganah smugglers that would "enable us to comment on or evaluate the allegations contained in Mr. Slater's book. (which is not accurate, see the Abraham Feinberg and Nahum Bernstein archives). Yeagley

Yeagley refers the case to the U.S. Department of State. "...since these allegations relate to exporting munitions without a State Department license, we are forwarding your letter to the State Department for any information or comments they may be able to furnish to you. Moreover, we note that in the event the alleged shipments of munitions violated our laws, prosecution at this time would be barred by the statute of limitations."

10121970FBI_Pledge.pdf

On October 12, 1970 Assistant Attorney General J. Walter Yeagley forwards Norman F. Dacey's complaint to the Director of the FBI. "Mr. Dacey's letter relates to allegations of unlawful exportation of military supplies by Zionists in the United States during 1946, 1947, and 1948 There is also enclosed for your information a copy of our reply to Mr. Dacey."

10121970STATE_Pledge.pdf

On October 12, 1970 Assistant Attorney General J. Walter Yeagley forwards Norman F. Dacey's complaint to the Secretary of State. "There is enclosed for your information and any action deemed appropriate a copy of a letter to the Attorney General dated August 31, 1970 from Mr. Norman F. Dacey. Mr. Dacey's letter relates to allegations that military supplies were exported without a State Department license to Palestine during 1946, 1947, and 1948 by Zionists in the United States."

10291970dacey.pdf

On October 29, 1970 Norman F. Dacey responds to the Justice Department, disputing their timely knowledge of crimes committed.

"That the Justice Department was apparently aware of the operation at the time is suggested by the fact that it brought charges against a handful of lower-echelon persons, only one of whom was ever jailed. None of the important people in the operation were charged, including more than a dozen prominent lawyers. Mr. 8later's frank disclosure of what went on may cause some people to conclude that the Department's prosecution at the time was somewhat selective. Most people will be shocked to learn that the fact that the crime has only now come to light permits the malefactors to go unpunished. It would seem that at the very least. the Department would wish to publicly express its indignation at the act described while explaining that it was powerless to take action now. If the police were to discover that I had committed a murder ten years ago for which I could not now be brought to justice, I am sure that they would feel an obligation to disclose their discovery of the crime. To hide the fact of criminal violation of the law, though belatedly discovered would properly be regarded by the public with some strong suspicion, particularly when the offenders were all members of the Bar sworn to uphold the law. However well time may have insulated them against criminal prosecution, they are still liable to censure or disbarment by their colleagues."

ARCHIVE

On December 31, 1970 the US Department of Justice reviews the Jewish Agency's claims of "reconstituting" itself, finding the narrative and documents submitted to be "sketchy." On June 30, 1971 the American Section of the Jewish Agency for Israel closes down, reemerging within the World Zionist Organization.

11091970_state_no_action.pdf

On November 9, 1970, John W. Sipes, Director of the Office of Munitions Control, informs Dacey that the Department of State will take no action.

"I wish I were able to be more responsive to your [Norman Dacey's] question about whether certain shipments were made in violation of the law. The fact that 1 have not read the book THE PLEDGE and I do not know the facts of any arms exports that may have taken place between 1947 and 1949. Moreover. to answer your question 1 would have to research the laws and regulations that were in effect during those years. To obtain the information you seek. therefore. would consume a great deal of time that my staff and I are unable to afford.

In this connection, you should understand that the strictures on arms exports in the 1940. were administered by the Munitions Control Board which became defunct in 1954. The Mutual Security Act of that year changed the terms of reference under which arms exports were previously controlled, and there is no one in the U.S. Government today, to the best of my knowledge, who would be familiar with the activities of the Munitions Control Board, the procedures under which it operated, and the details of the laws and of the Board-established regulations.

It appears to me that the best way for you to get the answer to your question would be to have the laws and regulations of the 1948 researched by an attorney. "