The newly released JFK assassination files have unveiled a surprising Australian connection to the investigation. Thousands of documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination revealed correspondence between the former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and CIA Director Richard Helms. What other secrets might remain hidden in the partially redacted or illegible JFK files?
Australian Intelligence Chief’s Secret Concerns
The release of previously classified JFK assassination documents has revealed an unexpected Australian connection to one of America’s most traumatic historical events. Among the thousands of documents recently declassified by President Donald Trump were handwritten and typed notes from the CIA during the Warren Commission investigation, including correspondence between Sir Charles Spry, then-head of Australia’s intelligence agency ASIO, and CIA Director Richard Helms.
Sir Charles Spry explicitly argued against declassifying information about an investigation into a potential Canberra connection to Kennedy’s assassination. The investigation had been triggered by anonymous phone calls made to the American embassy in Canberra around the time of Kennedy’s death, which prompted a CIA probe into suspected Russian agents in Australia and a possible Soviet connection to the assassination.
The declassified JFK assassination files have revealed a connection to Australia
Colonel Charles Spry, a fifth-generation soldier and former head of Australian Military Intelligence, was recruited by Prime Minister Robert Menzies as director-general of ASIO pic.twitter.com/WeeSIDvP9u
— Clown Down Under 🤡 (@clowndownunder) March 19, 2025
Protecting Intelligence Operations and Relationships
In his communication with the CIA, Sir Charles Spry expressed significant concerns about revealing the agency’s presence in Australia. “‘It has never been officially stated that there is a ‘C.I.A. Canberra Station’ or that there are C.I.A officers in Australia,'” Spry wrote, fearing that publishing the probe could expose sensitive intelligence operations and spark unwanted press and parliamentary questions.
William Nelson, in a memo to Richard Helms, endorsed Spry’s position, writing, “‘Sir Charles’ letter to you recommends against declassification of the Warren Commission document.'” The CIA officials ultimately agreed with this assessment, recognizing the valid points made by the Australian intelligence chief about protecting both operational security and diplomatic relationships.
🚨🇦🇺 🇺🇸JFK FILES: CIA AND AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE SECRETLY BLOCKED WARREN COMMISSION RELEASE
A classified letter from Richard Helms to Australian Security Intelligence chief Sir Charles Spry reveals secret efforts to keep Warren Commission document CD-971 hidden from the public.… https://t.co/SoNLGSleLO pic.twitter.com/ISFN1UxzXp
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 19, 2025
Trump’s Push for Transparency Meets Historical Challenges
The document release came as part of Trump’s broader campaign for government transparency, with the declassification of approximately 80,000 pages of new material. Robert Kennedy Jr. supported this declassification effort, while JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg criticized some of the media coverage surrounding the documents.
Despite the release, historians and researchers have faced significant challenges in interpreting the information. Many documents were old, faded, and sometimes illegible, with heavy redactions still obscuring potentially important details.
Historians David J. Garrow and John Greenewald Jr. have criticized both the organization and accessibility of the files. The documents revealed other intelligence cooperation between the US and Australia, including ASIO’s requests for American intelligence on US citizens invited to anti-war movements in Australia.
One particularly significant finding mentioned in a document stated: “‘Information touched on several areas including possible Soviet connection supplying money to individual in U.S. to assassinate President.'” This tantalizing detail highlights the Cold War context in which Kennedy’s assassination occurred and the international dimensions of the investigation that followed.