REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE, WARNING SYSTEMS SURVEY COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00549R000200010021-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2013
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: October 28, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP61-00549R000200010021-0
ZU Octobet, ;73.7
. 4 NIC No S-7-3050
Copy 16 of 125 fee?
REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE, WARNING SYSTEMS SURVEY COMMITTEE
(Approved ey the !AC, 14 May 1957) Zirt its original fre57
NAME:
Warning Systeres :Fee ve-, CorreeTtlee
MISSION:
To determine leer 2yOW; prceefely presew wd powntial in tc I igerice a:lection
methods, sources ore' ecneviueon chore-tele ecte provid nfone* which may be essential
for advence warnirig c tdiree Soviet Wee heerVe vc.tion
C, JUSTIFICATiC i'1:
1. The requirements i?n DCID V2, Pane E -1: 'Develop and oteeate on a
current and continulei basis the. Veatch Conunitteo intelligence Nan for systemcstiz ng,
energizing, and coordiiveting threugh appropriate channels the world-wide collect on
by US agencies of infoenotioe and pertinent to the Watch Ceernittes mission "
2, The reconenendatien in 1AC4) 57/14, 7 September 1955, the Post Mse ern
on NIE II-6-55, that the Watch Come/rifles ceoiribute evaluations of i9s operatimal
cespabi'ities whenever estimates of probable intelligenee waining are under consideratiori.
FUNCTIONS:
1, The Committee tvi'.1 cry out, under etre direction of the AC Gird baerd
on information furnished by each IAC zjerscy i$.,ysternatic survey of present rine potential
US intelligence systems which may be capable ot previding informatior on which advonce
warning of Sino-Sovie. Bloc hostile netion may 1:pri based,
2 The Committee will prepere cid ferwerd to 1AC agencies lie,s of questions
based on the criteria es set forth ie Section E re, oppropriate, These questions will be
directed toward dettereining the ccpobiPties if the agencies to provide warning rot.orma-
tion bearing on appropriate indiccri-ors of Sino-Soviet Bloc hostile action' A conpiehensive
general list of such indicators has been developed be the NIC and will be submittel to
*ha ageecies for revieie und to the IAC for eppro,ici in the course of the envoy.
3 Each IAC rgency II utilize the queTtions, eriterin, and the general list
of indicators in determirOng is cculailities to provide essential advance warning
information. Provisior will be ?maces for discussion between members of the Cony itee
and opi.eopriatie members of lAC agencies refeardine any additional points which may be
suggestai b agency ez plies to the Cceenittee's lists of questions
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4. The Corenittee, during the course of the survey, will not concern itself
with details of Operstions, identities of sources or sensitive operational techniques of
source systems utilised by IAC agencies.
5. As agreed by USCIB at its meeting on 9 August 1957, the Warning
Systems Survey Committee will include sources under USCI8 cognizance in its
survey. As apprepricde, specialists in those sources may serve on the Committee
and provide technical support in order to assist in the conduct of that portion fsf the
survey.
6. The Consreittee will prepere a final report based on replies from and
discussions with IAC agencies which will comprise on analysis of the capability
of the US intelligence community to provide ?despots warning information on a
timely basis. Recommendations will be mode for improving the warning capalsility
where appropriate. The final report will be forwarded to the IAC and to the Wach
Committee of the !AC. The Committee will submit quarterly prowess reports to
the IAC during the eourse of the suovey.
7. The Committee will consider itself dismissed when the IAC has taken
action on Its final report.
E. CRITERIA;
1. The survey will cover certain general criteria as to the capabilities and
vulnerabilities of various types of SOV7VeS both at present and under anticipatel emergency
conditions during periods of high international tension and prior to the outbreak of
hostilities. It is recognized that the criteria applied will vary among the types of
maces under review. Criteria to be employed will include:
With relation to the capabilities of a given source:
(1) Its ability to cover targets of warning significance.
(2) Policy or other limitations on its employment
(3) The present trend in this ability.
(4) Its potential for developmental breakthroughs in coverage capabilities.
(5) Its potential for expansion of coverage under alert conditions.
(6) Threats to its use or effectiveness under emergency or poshodilities
conditions.
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(7) Its vuinerrability to deception, manipulation or doubling bock?
(8) Availability of alternative sources cr methods which couhi provide
similar coverage in event of its loss.
(9) Its susceptibility to rapid reassignment to other targets twist
emergency conditions.
b. With relation to the capabilities for the rapid and timely transmission of
information from a given source:
(1)
Past performance under emergency conditions in terms of imeliness,
productivity, etc,.
(2) Reporting time factors under normal and under Mel. conditions Nen
Reid back to Washington analysis organizations,
(3) Vulnerability of transmission channels to satucation with high
volumes under alert conditions.
(4) Availability of alternative standby, amino.ry o duplicato transmission
channels in emergencies.
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP61-00549R000200010021-0