McFarlane Told of Failure to Reveal Saudi-Contra Tie : Left Letters Before Suicide Attempt Saying He Wanted to Tell All He Knew of Funding Offer, Paper Reports

Former National Security Adviser Robert C. McFarlane left letters before his unsuccessful suicide attempt last month that discussed his failure to disclose Saudi Arabian offers of assistance to the contras, it was reported today.

The Washington Post, quoting unnamed informed sources, said that just before he took an overdose of Valium Feb. 9, McFarlane left a letter to his attorney, Leonard Garment, and to officials investigating the Iran-contra affair that discussed millions of dollars in Saudi contributions to the U.S.-backed contra rebels in Nicaragua.

McFarlane’s letter said that he had not revealed all he knew about foreign contributions to the contras, the newspaper said, and that he wanted to leave a full and truthful record of his knowledge.

He also penned one-page confidential letters to Sens. David L. Boren (D-Okla.) and William S. Cohen (R-Me.), chairman and vice chairman of the Senate panel investigating the Iran-contra affair, and to Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.), chairman of the House select committee.

Thought Donation Was Made

The letters to congressional members said a “foreign national” offered to contribute to the contras and McFarlane thought the donation had been made, the newspaper said.

Before the Valium overdose, McFarlane had testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that he had heard about the Saudi contribution from Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger and Gen. John Vessey Jr., then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

After the attempted suicide, McFarlane gave further information to investigators and said the offer of aid was made by Saudi Ambassador Bandar bin Sultan, who denies that any contributions to the contras were made by himself or other Saudis, the newspaper said.

The report of the presidentially appointed Tower Commission that looked into the Iran-contra matter says McFarlane stated the following in a written response on the matter:

“In May or June of 1984, without any solicitation on my part, a foreign official offered to make a contribution from what he described as ‘personal funds’ in the amount of $1 million per month for support of the FDN,” the largest rebel army in Nicaragua.

$25 Million in 1985

McFarlane said he later learned the contributions continued in 1985 and came to $25 million that year.

FDN bank records show receipts of $32.5 million that contra officials say were from “unknown foreign sources” from July, 1984, through March, 1985.