Clark Clifford is Also Aiding Algerian Operations in the U.S.

Former Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford also is associated in helping the Algerian government’s operations in the United States and has worked with former Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst in the latter’s services to Algeria, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has learned. The United States and Algeria have not had diplomatic relations since 1967.

Unlike Kleindienst, however, Clifford, who was within the late President Johnson’s inner circle, was said to be involved as a lawyer for the Algerian governmental corporation, Sonatrach, that handles the country’s oil and gas operations in the U.S. and not the Algerian government as such.

Clifford is, therefore, not listed as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice on the ground that as a legal counsellor he is exempt from the Foreign Agents Registration Act. according to a Clifford law partner. James Stovall. Kleindienst is registered, his own report at the Justice Department shows, as “legal counsel for business circles. Congressional relations and relations with the various official government bodies in Washington, D.C., and the rest of the United States.”

FUNCTIONS OF CLIFFORD, KLEINDIENST OVERLAP

Stovall told the JTA that three to five years ago the law firm of Clifford. Waneke, Glass, Mcllwain and Finney was retained by Sonatrach, which is an acronym for the Algerian Gas and Oil Corporation. “To the extent that Kleindienst represents the government and we represent Sonatrach.” Stovall said, “our functions overlap and we both are consulted by Abdesselam or his associates.” B. Abdesselam is Algeria’s Minister of Industry and Energy and hired Kleindienst. paying him $10,000 in salary and $2000 in expenses monthly.

Sherif Guellal, Algeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, is Sonatrach’s chief representative in the U.S., Stovall said. He identified Guellal as president of the U.S. subsidiary. Sonatrach. Inc. Frank Schultz of Dallas, Texas has been a director of that corporation for a number of years, according to Stovall. The Clifford law firm. Stovall pointed out, represents Sonatrach before regulatory agencies such as the Federal Power Commission and on contracts in various parts of the U.S.

Kleindienst, in discussing his representation, said he represented Algerian interests “jointly” with Clifford. His own duties. Kleindienst said, is arranging meetings between members of Congress and U.S. government officials with Algerians about Algerian energy policies. He said he was unable to recall the names of Americans he had helped to meet Abdesselam. The former top law officer in the Nixon Administration and Senator Barry Goldwater’s Presidential campaign manager in 1964, said he had visited Algeria six times.