PROPOSAL FOR A TRANSPORTATION COMMODITY SECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000200170016-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: December 21, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

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STANDARD FORMNpproved For Release 20 00200170016-8
Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Assistant Director, O/RR
DATE: 21 December 1951
FROM : Chief, D/S
SUBJECT: Proposal for a Transportation Commodity Section
It is proposed that a section be established in the Transpor-
tation Branch to exploit all available sources for data concerning
the transport of basic commodities within the Soviet Bloc.
Mission. The primary mission of this section will be to meet
the spec specialized transportation requirements of various components
of O/RR and outside agencies and to furnish analyses of: Specific
commodity movements; technical aspects of such movements; seasonal
factors and other limitations affecting traffic flows; statistical
data covering quantity, quality and capacity of specialized equip-
ment (petroleum and chemical tank cars, coal hoppers and flat cars,
oil, ore and grain ships, etc.); the effects of new construction of
facilities or changes in equipment inventories on the existing de-
livery patterns between producers and consumers.
Justification. No service facilities of this nature appear
to exist in =intelligence community, This service will make
an important contribution to existing trade data on the Soviet Bloc
and should provide information pertinent to the whole question of
export controls. The long-term cumulative results of this work,
moreover, will greatly benefit 0/RR by providing data essential for
a future study of considerable magnitude on Soviet Bloc freight
transport capabilities,
Personnel. To adequately cover the traffic flow of major com-
modities all forms of transportation, including pipelines, in the
USSR and Satellites of Europe and the Far East, the Commodity Section
should initially consist of 4 junior analysts (GS 7-9) and one senior
analyst (GS-12).
The junior members would be assigned, on request,
to undertake research in the files of other O/RR branches under the
direction of the senior analyst who would be responsible for this
type of activity and mho would supervise the collation of material
uncovered and prepare final reports in a form acceptable to the
requester. This procedure has the approval of the commodity divi-
sions of O/RR.
Approved For Release 2001/11/dT.! W5-00662R000200170016-8 25X1A9a