CIA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00514R000200090006-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2003
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 21, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Annroved For Release 2003/12/18 - CIA=RDR75g~00f100008=~
21 APR 1972
DD/S&T#
actor tor intemsence
Deputy Director for Plans
Support
for for Science and Technology
independent tficea
(For Distribution to
Level Only)
1. From time to time sonic of our employees express concern over
various allegations or rumors of CIA activities in the United States. The
attached Memeraudam, is designed to clarify this subject so that super -
visors can authoritatively reply to any employees indicating such concern.
It is a a tement of tho facts of the situation. U incidents or activities are
reported which appear to conflict with this statement, they should be re-
ported to appropriate senior authority for resolution (or correction If un-
authorised activities might have occurred).
Z. Because of the possible sensitivity of this description of the
Agency's methodology. this memssandnm is not being given the usual broad
circulation of the "F Yi - - Allegations and Answer all series. Office and
Division Chiefs are urged, however, to use it to inform branch Chiefs so
that its p inU can be readily availabl, to supervisor a to react to express -
miens of employee concern.
Is/ W. E. Colby
W. F. Colby
rec ,ve Director-Comptroller
Approved For Release 2001kTCIA-RDP7
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21 April 1972
ALLEGATION:
In a variety of ways it has been alleged that CIA is working within
the United States, with particular attention to extremist groups.
FACTS:
1. Section 102 of the National Security Act of 1947, subparagraph
D3, states, "The Agency shall have no police, subpoena, law-enforcement
powers, or internal security functions. "
In his speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors on
14 April 1971, the Director stated:
"I can assure you that except for the normal responsibilities
for protecting the physical security of our own personnel, our
facilities, and our classified information, we do not have any
such powers and functions; we have never sought any; we do not
exercise any. In short, we do not target on American citizens. "
In the Director Is "State of the Agency" speech to employees on
17 September 1971, he said:
"I gave a talk to the American Society of Newspaper Editors
last winter, as you know, and I did it for only one purpose. That
was to try and put in the record a few of these denials that we've
all wanted to see put in the public record for some time. And
you can rely on those denials. TheyYre true, and you can use
that as any text that you may need to demonstrate that we're not
in the drug traffic, and that we're not trying to do espionage on
American citizens in the United States, and we're not tapping
telephone lines, and that were not doing a lot of other things
which we're accused of doing. One of the things that tends to
perpetuate some of these silly ideas are jokes that are made
about them, particularly about domestic espionage. Although
the jokes have no basis in fact they nevertheless give us a name
which we don't deserve. I don't say that that makes all that much
difference, but it does make some difference, and this tends to
spill over, so I would like to suggest that if you have it in your
hearts to do so that you speak up when the occasion arises and
try and set the facts straight. "
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2. From time to time some employees have been concerned that
Agency activities might conflict with these statements. They can be
assured that Agency activities do not. For clarification, some activities
which may have been subject to misunderstanding are listed as follows:
25X1
25X1
25'X1
b. Security Investigations. Security investigations are con-
ducted on prospective employees, contractors, and consultants,
and on security problems which arise. These investigations in-
volve a wide range of investigative procedures, including neighbor-
hood inquiries, checks with other Government agencies, review of
credit reports, and interviews with former ensployt.._?s and business
associates. This is essential to assure that our personnel possess
a high degree of personal integrity, sense of responsibility, and
competence and to protect classified information and sensitive in-
telligence sources and methods. The resulting files are held sep-
arately by the Office of Security and are not merged with other
Agency files.
d. Recruitment. CIA recruiters maintain a wide variety of
contacts within the United States, assisting individuals interested
in employment with CIA to learn more about it and to join its em-
ployee force.
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f. Operations. The 1967 Katzenbach Committee report was
approved by the Director in March 1967 and is binding on any of
our relations with American organizations today. It specifically
prohibits covert financial assistance or support, direct or indirect,
to any U. S. educational or private voluntary organization. Any
relationship or operation the Agency has with an American organi-
zation must be and is within these guidelines.
g. Details or Loans. On rare occasions, details of technically
qualified CIA. personnel, technical advice, or loans of CIA equip-
ment have been made available to other U. S. agencies at their
request to assist them to carry out their responsibilities. I
h. Counterintelli ence,and Drugs. To carry out its responsi-
bilities for counterintelligence, CIA is interested in the activities
of foreign nations or intelligence services aimed at the U. S. To
the extent that these activities lie outside the U. S. , including activ-
ities aimed at the U. S. utilizing U. S. citizens or others, they fall
within CIA's responsibilities. Responsibility for coverage of the
activities within the U. S. lies with the FBI, as an internal security
function. CIA's responsibility and authority are limited to the foreign
intelligence aspect of the problem, and any action of a law enforce-
ment or internal security nature lies with the FBI or local police
forces. (CIA's assistance to the U. S. Government program against
narcotics and drugs is handled in the same fashion. )
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