LETTER TO JMM FROM LLM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000100030001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 17, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100030001-7
17 December 1971
system will not
let me certify
As you asked, I have reviewed with GLC and JGO the CRS proposal
to make 18 unclassified reference aids based on open sources available to
libraries through a Library of Congress program. We would recommend
as follows:
a. The final approval should be the DCI (the proposal is set
up for DDI approval only).
b. While this would not necessarily be a program that OLC
would recommend at its initiative, there are no overriding reasons
to object if it is felt that the release of this material will serve the
interests of the Agency. (This position relates solely to the standard
reference aids referred to in the proposal and not to any other
unclassified material of a substantive nature, e. g. , the Fiat report.
1. The Agency is a secret organization
and should remain so and this is the way
Stennis believes we should behave.
2. Is there anything else of an
unclassified nature which we would not
want to release but which would be
difficult to withhold with this as a
precedent.
1. The material is unclassified
and could be subject to a public
request under freedom of informa-
tion.
2. Voluntary release of unclassi-
fied information may be helpful if
we go to battle on legislation or
reviews seeking to stop over-
classification.
This is really a matter of balancing benefits against risks. Assuming
the material meets our normal standards of professional excellence, it is
difficult to perceive how these apparently prosaic and noncontroversial reference
aids could cause us any problems. [It is to be noted that the material could be
distributed on a nonattributable basis but CRS is recommending'that it carry the
CIA imprimatur as well as the CRS attribution. If attribution were removed
the material would still serve a useful purpose, but direct Agency credit may
be lost in some instances. ]
Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100030001-7
 Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100030001-7
17 Dec. t 7l
Mr. Maury said he would
support our position as
attached and asked that we
relay our views to CRS.
Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100030001-7
 STATINTL
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STATNTL
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STATINTL
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
through a Library of Congress
program:
(a) While this would not neces
sarily be a program that OLC
would recommend at its initiative,
there are no overriding reasons to
object if it is determined that the
release of this material will serve
the interests of the Agency. (This
position relates solely to standard
reference aids and not to any othe
unclassified material of a sub-
Approved For
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
Mr. Maury has asked me to
reference aids based on open
sources available to libraries
proposal to make 18 unclassified
relay our views to you on your
stantive nature, e. g. , the Fiat
report. )
(b) It is assumed that the
final approval would rest with the
Director.
(c) It is to be noted that the
material Could be distributed on
a nonattributable basis but you
are recommending that it carry
the CIA imprimatur as well as the
CRS attribution. If attribution
were removed the material could
still serve a useful purpose, even
if direct Agency credit is lost in
some instances.