MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN NEDZI INTELLIGENCE SUBCOMMITTEE AND FRANK SLATINSHEK ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON 23 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000200020002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 27, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

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OLC 71-2126
27 December 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Chairman Nedzi, Intelligence Subcommittee,
and Frank Slatinshek, Assistant Chief Counsel, House
Armed Services Committee, on 23 December 1971
1. Messrs. Maury an met with Chairman Lucien Nedzi,
Intelligence Subcommittee, and Frank Slatinshek, Assistant Chief Counsel,
House Armed Services Committee, in the Chairman's office at noon on
23 December 1971 and briefed them on the current situation in Laos; the
intelligence community structure outlined in the President's directive of
5 November 1971; the FY 1972 budget and staff personnel strength;
"deficiencies" in the present espionage laws; andl
application for employment which the Chairman inquired about earlier in
the week. Chairman Nedzi asked about the Deputy Director's replacement,
and at the suggestion of Frank Slatinsehk, discussed his (Chairman Nedzi's)
recent press releases.
a. Mr. Maury detailed the recent events in Laos with
some emphasis on:
1. The pressures brought to bear against
Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma by the Laotian
Communist leader, Souphanouvong, to accept
the Communist demand for a complete bombing
halt,
2. The Prime Minister's continued strong
resistence, and
3. Support among his leaders.
Mr. Slatinshek noted for himself and the Chairman that it
looked as if we could have been pushed out of Laos any time
the North Vietnamese decided to commit sufficient men and
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material. Mr. Maury said that although that is a reasonable
conclusion and that things do look difficult, unfortunately, in
this type of warfare matters are never as good as we would like
them to be and most often turn out not quite as badly as we
would have expected. There are certainly difficult days ahead.
3. Intelligence Community Structure
a. Messrs. Nedzi and Slatinshek were given copies of the
unclassified intelligence community chart which sets forth the
additions directed by the President's directive of 5 November 1971.
Chairman Nedzi pointed out that the briefings he has received
from the various elements of the intelligence community since
5 November 1971 have been consistent and completely supported
Mr. Maury's statements. Both he and Mr. Slatinshek were
positive in their statements that they are unable to see that any
real change has been effected in the community by the directive.
4. Deputy Director - CIA
a. The Chairman asked about the current status of the
position of Deputy Director of CIA and was told that we do not
have any definitive information on who the new Deputy will be
although it is assumed that the President will appoint a military
figure in continuation of the precedent that has been followed in
the recent past. Some discussion was had on the relative merits
of a military vs. !civilian deputy in the light of the existence today
of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the need for a freer
passage of information between the White House/Executive branch
community structure.
5. Press Releases
a. Frank Slatinshek raised the question with the Chairman
of his recent meetings with United Press International representatives
and the resultant publicity about the extent of the Chairman's
knowledge of the intelligence community budgets. Chairman Nedzi
was obviously uncomfortable that the question had been brought up
but faced it squarely and in effect thanked Mr. Slatinshek for
raising it on our behalf. He said that he tries very carefully when
he meets withthe press to avoid such situations and said that he
told the press representatives that in his dealings with the intelligence
community he had found cooperation. Even though he did not have
the budget figures, he intended to get them. Chairman Nedzi noted
that this portion of the interview was probably buried or dropped
from whatever items had appeared in the press. He said that this is
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A (610.
most difficult for a person in his position and asked that we not
hesitate to contact him any time in the future if we are in any
way concerned about such matters.
6. FY 1972 Budget and Staff Personnel Strength
a. The Agency FY 1972 budget request was detailed together
with the personnel strengths and permanent staff positions for 1970,
1971, and 1972. Chairman Nedzi in uired whether the President's
contingency fund was also utilized
for matters occurring during the year that had not been anticipated
in the regular budget. It was explained that we have no access to
the President's contingency funds but that some matters that
traditionally would have come from the President's contingency
fund prior to the establishment of the Agency are now charged to the
Agency from time to time. Some discussion was had concerning
local hire and Agency contract employees and it was noted that
these positions are not included in the strength figures. No figures
were given for the numbers of contract or local hire personnel.
7. "Deficiencies" in the Espionage Laws
a. Due to press of time, the Chairman was given an
extremely brief rundown on the studies that have been conducted
on the inability of the Federal Government to prosecute for "leaks"
and unauthorized releases of intelligence information. Some of the
current action being taken by the Agency jointly with the National
Security Agency to insure appropriate treatment of these subjects
in the codification of the Federal Criminal Code were related. It
was suggested that after Mr. Slatinshek has satisfied himself on the
details of the proposed Federal Criminal Code, we would discuss the
matter further with him.
a. Discussed briefly with the Chairman the fact that the
Agency, as all other branches of the Federal Government at the
present time, is extremely limited in its ability to hire new
r pointed out that he had reviewed the
I f i l e and foun that the application had received full
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~.~d,
normal consideration. The Chairman said he did not want
special attention on this case as he had pointed out, and that
our letters to the individual provide an adequate background
for his reply.
9. There are no followups from today's meeting.
Distribution:
Original - Subject
'- Chrono
OLC/JGO:mmc (28 December 1971)
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