CLASSIFICATION OF CG/COCOM/CHINCOM DOCUMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00328A000100510087-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 87
• Content Type: MEMO

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CONFIDENTIAL
SENT TO: USRO/ST Paris
SUBJECT: Classification of CG/COCOK/CHINCOM Documents
REFERENCE: POLTO A-307
1., In accordance with paragraph 7 of the reference despatch, the
'Department is sending a circular instruction to interested posts notifying
25X1A them of COCOM action on downclassification and authorizing the general
rule of "confidential" classification for EXCON messages which was sot
forth conditionally in the final sentence of W f June 13, 1955, subject
to exceptional cases where higher classification is warranted., e.g. CAS
reports 20 With respect to paragraph 6 of the reference despatch, llashington
classified Secret
that are agrees that the USDEL should recommend formal downgrading of the China
laterally
disseminated Special List and the old International Lists.,
in the field.
3. With respect to paragraph 5 of the reference despatch, it is not
planned to make a further review of the partially downgraded documents in
question because of the recent date of the security review, unless the
USDEL considers that the failure to downgrade in toto certain of the
documents in question is proving to be an obstacle to the general rule of
"confidential" classification,
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
ITR:ECD:RBWright:fej Cleared withs ICA/MDAC - Mr. Tilson
12/1/55 Defense - Mro Martino
Commerce - Mro George
Mr, Garrett
EUR/RA -- Mr, Buckle
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CIRCULAR INSTRUCTION
Subjects Classification of EXCON Communications
25X1A
COCOM Document 2045
COCOM Document 2083,
COCOM Document 1901, Annex B
1. The reference instruction indicated that the addressee posts
would be notified when agreement had been reached in COCOM to accept a
US-proposed list of key documents for downgrading from "secret" to
"confidential", Agreement has been reached as of November 3, 1955 on
such a list of documents; the list is set forth in COCOM Document 2045
as amended by Document 2083, and appears in its authorized version as
Annex B to COCOM Document 1901, Posts maintaining files of COCOM
documents may take note of the downclassification of specified documents
as may be appropriate for their purpose
2. COCOM agreement upon a key group of downclassified documents
means that a general rule of "confidential" classification for future
25X1 C
documents and for EXCON communications will now prevail. EDAC and ACEP
committee documentation will follow a general rule of "confidential"
to the maximum extent possible.
classification ~ The addressee posts should now operate on the presumption
that all EXCON messages meriting classification will be "confidential"
rather than "secret", subject to exceptional cases where higher classifi-
cation is warranted, such as "secret" disseminated laterally
in the field.
ITR:ECD:RBWright:fej ICA/MDAC - Mr. Tilson
12/1/55 Commerce - Mr. George
Mr. Garre
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RA - Mr. Buckle
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CONFIDENTIAL
This copy has been reproduced
to meet internal needs of CIA.
It must not be released or
shown to any person outside
of CIA.
Paris
POLTO A 307
Nov 10, 1955
WASHINGTON
SUBJ:
Security Classification CG/COCOM/CHINCOM Documents
REFS:
(A) POLTO A-207 to 'Washington, Sept
(B) COCOM Doc 2045, pouched Oct 3;
(C) Forthcoming COCOM Doc 2083;
(D) TOPOL A?19, Aug 1.
30;
1, As indicated in Ref C. COCOM on Nov 3, with certain exceptions,
unanimously accepted the Ref B US proposals for downgrading 82 "basic"
Committee documents from "Secret" to "Confidential." The agreement was
final, i.e., not subject to any reservation period. The COCOM Secretariat
will issue the list of downgraded documents as an annex to Doc 1901, which
is the Committeees general agreement on security classification. The 10
documents not agreed for downgrading are listed in Para 3 below.
2. USDEL believes that the action taken will substantially achieve
the aim-(Ref D) of permitting the overwhelming majority of future Committee
documents and related EXCON communications to be classified "Confidential."
However, under the agreed Committee rules, delegates are still free,to
request a higher (or lower) classification for individual records of
discussion which they believe to merit treatment other than "Confidential"
and also to submit memoranda with classifications other than "Confidential."
3~ The German delegate, with the Chairs support, objected to
partial downgrading of individual documents, on the grounds that it would
cause administrative inconvenience. The German delegate also objected to
the downgrading of COCOM Doc 1426.01/8 (bearings) and to paragraph 72 of
CG Paper XIV (shipping).`' Therefore, the following documents in the Ref B
US proposal will retain the "Secret"classification0
JCMyurson :mmd
CONS L 10 Nov. 1955
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1i S.W
CONFIDENTIAL
Consultative Group .paper XIV. . COCOM Document 1643
Consultative Group paper XII COCOM Document 1426001/8
COCOM Document 565 COCOM Document 1614?00/3
COCOM Document 777 COCOM Document 1614o0O/3
COCOM Document 1475 COCOM Document 161400/5
4, 44hile some of the documents mentioned in the preceding paragraph
may be of some importance for current work, for example, those on shipping
and CG paper XII, which includes the listing criteria, USDEL still believes
that this will not unduly hamper the aim of having "Confidential"
classifications on current material, including shipping and item matters.
USDEL has asked other delegations, at their convenience, informally to let
us know whether, apart from Doc 1426.01/8, para 72 of CG paper XIV, and the
other portions specified as "Secret" by the US, they had any substantive
objection to downgrading the above documents.
5. As mentioned in the initial US submission on this subject (Ref B),
USDEL has informed the Couinittee that further downgrading proposals might be
forthcoming in the future. If, as a result of further study, Washington
finds it possible to recommend downgrading in toto for all or some of the
documents originally recommended for partial downgrading, that would appear,
most useful,
6. USDEL notes that the original list of documents for downgrading
received from Washington (Ref D, attachment), did not specifically mention
the China Special List, or the old International Lists, i.e., Does 182, 183,
184, Docs 358,,l, ,2, .3 and 700.1, .2, .3, with annexes and amendments.
However, since it did include the China Consolidated List which duplicates
the substantive coverage (but not the wording in all cases) of both the old
International Lists and the China Special List, USDEL assumes that there is
no objection to treating the latter as "Confidential." Confirmation of this
point would be appreciated, If Washington has no objection, USDEL believes
it would be worthwhile to recommend formal downgrading of the China Special
List and the old International Lists.
7. USDEL assumes that the Department will inform all interested Missions
of the downgrading action taken by COCOM as well as supplying any further
guidance (if necessary) on classifying EXCON communications,
CONFIDENTIAL
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