HEARINGS OF THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE ON HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS 3 AND 9 TO ESTABLISH A JOINT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP71B00364R000600080031-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2006
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: February 23, 1961
• Content Type: MF

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23 February 1961
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Hearings of the House Rules Committee on
House Concurrent Resolutions 3 and 9 to
Establish a Joint Committee on Intelligence
Matters
1. This memorandum is for information only.
2. On this date I attended, as an observer, the hearings of the
House Rules Committee on H. Con. Res. 3 and H. Con. Res. 9 to
establish a Joint Committee on Intelligence Matters. These resoiutiekrs
have been introduced by Representatives Edna Kelly (D. , N. Y.) and
Leonard Farbstein (D. , N. Y. ).
3. The full committee was present. (A list of the committee
membership is attached.) The only witness to appear was Represent;t :ive
Clement J. Zablocki(D. , Wis.), who has also introduced joint coma- tree
measures. In opening today's hearings, Chairman Smith referred to these
resolutions as measures to "investigate the intelligence agencies. "
4. Mr. Zablocki said that his interest in intelligence sternna
from his membership on the Foreign Affairs Committee and various trips
which he has taken abroad. He feels that the intelligence program ctreld
be improved and coordinated, and that at the present time there was no
one agency responsible for the coordination of the U. S. intelligence effort.
At the time of the U-2 incident Zablocki reminded the committee of tae
various measures pending before that committee on this subject, but agreed
with the position of the Chairman that it was not then the appropriate time
for consideration of such proposals. He also told the committee that,
while there had been intense opposition to the establishment of a join!
committee in the past years, present indications are that such strong oppo-
sition does not now exist.
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5. Mr. Zablocki emphasized that his proposal did not call for
an investigation of the Central Intelligence Agency or any other intelligence
agency, but rather proposed the establishment of a watchdog committee:
to determine whether there was proper coordination of intelligence
activities and whether the existing intelligence structure was proper.
Chairman Smith said that he had been disturbed by events which have
occurred in the past, apparently without foreknowledge on the part of
this Government. He said it made him wonder whether our intelligence
is adequate. Zablocki said that while he was concerned about the
conflicting statements which were issued concerning the U-2 incident
he was more interested in conducting a review of the structure to
determine whether it was adequate. He said he felt all of the various
intelligence organizations within the military and elsewhere should
remain in existence but felt that a joint committee, established along
the. lines of a Joint Committee on Atomic Energy could establish a closer
liaison between the intelligence activities and the Congress. He said he
thought it would be helpful to Mr. Dulles to have such a committee. Hie
added that the Hoover Commission had made specific recommendation
on this subject and had noted the absence of any real surveillance of one
activities and fiscal accounting of CIA. He said that the CIA is virtually
exempt from the general principle of a check of the executive by the
legislative branch. Zablocki pointed out that under his resolutions a
joint committee would be composed of members of the Armed Servic4,' 6,
Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees.
6. In the question period, Representative Brown, the ranking
Republican member of the committee, took Zablocki to task for referring
to recommendations by the Hoover Commission. It was Brown's coetention
that these were recommendations of a task force of the Commission nd
not the Commission itself. Brown said he had served on the committee
that had established CIA and one of the purposes of the Agency was thee
coordination of U. S. intelligence activities. He also mentioned that he
had been chairman of the subcommittee that had investigated the Bogota
situation, and commented on the absurdity of a situation which then
existed of having intelligence reports cleared through ambassadors. brown
said he felt Zablocki's proposal was too broad in that it included the !BI
and could require testimony on extremely sensitive matters. He also
reminded Zablocki of the general feeling of the Speaker against the
establishment of joint committees. Mr. Brown also queried Zablocla
as to whether he had discussed his proposal with the leaders of the
Appropriations Committee, for it was his impression that the ranking
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members of the Appropriations Committees made a careful check
on the funds expended for intelligence activities. Zablocki replied
that he had not discussed his prosposal with the leaders of either
the Appropriations or Armed Services Committees who, he said,
have "predetermined views on this subject. " Brown also mentioned
that if there was concern as to the conduct of the intelligence effort,
the Committee on Government Operations had jurisdiction to look
into such a matter.
7. Representative H. Allen Smith raised a number of questi :)ns
with Zablocki concerning the effect of his measure on the FBI. (Smitt
stated that he had previously been employed by the Bureau.) He asl1ed.
Zablocki if he expected such a joint committee would query the Bureau
as to its sources. When Zablocki replied in the affirmative, Mr. Sn=ith
said he felt this would be a very dangerous practice and could result
in leaks and attempts at blackmail against members of the comritte e
staff. Zablocki replied by saying that he felt the problem would be ~1cr
worse than that confronted by the Joint Committee on Atomic Energg'.
8. Representative Hoffman echoed many of the sentiments
expressed by Mr. Smith, adding that when the number of people having
access to sensitive information increases, the danger of disclosure
also increases.
9. The committee will conduct further hearings at some time
in the future when other interested Representatives are available to
testify.
Assistant Legislative oua 's
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RULES COMMITTEE
HOUSE OF RPuPRESENTATIVES
87th Congress
Smith, Howard W. (D.. Va.), Chairman
Colmer, William M. (0., Miss.)
Madden, Ray J. (D., lad.)
Delaney, James J. (D., N.Y.)
Trimble, James W. (1)., Ark.)
Thornberry, Homer (D., Texas)
Boiling, Richard (D., Mo.)
O'Neill, Thomas P., Jr. (D., Mass.)
Elliott, Carl (D., Ala.)
Sisk, B. F. (D., Calif.)
Brown, Clarence J. (R., Ohio)
Reece, B. Carroll (R., Tenn.)
St. George, Katharine (ft. , N. Y. )
Smith, H. Allen (R., Calif.)
Hoffman, Elmer J. (R., Ill.)
T. M. Carruthers, Clerk
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