Classification, Declassification and Downgrading Procedures

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04007A000300050037-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 28
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 22, 2001
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: December 24, 1946
• Content Type: MF

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e i For 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP78 a 000300050037-4j 3
STATE-WAR-NAVY COORDINATING COMMC''LTEE
SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25+, D. C.
I
! ;i~'IG ANDlil'~I FOR
Subject:
Enclosures:
December 24, 1946
25X1A9a
en ra Intelligence Group
Classification, Declassil'ication and
a.
T.
C.
Downgrading Procedures
Serial No. 198
Serial No. 196
MI -3
1. Enclosed herewith is a copy of the second draft
of a proposed Security Advisory Board policy relative to
the procedures to be followed by nonmilitary agencies in the
downgrading and declassification of classified material. It
is realized by the Security Advisory Board that the Central
Intelligence Group cannot be considered as a "non~ritxy p?
agency" and therefore will not be affected by this policy.
in view of the interest of the Central intelligence Group
in the protection of "intelligence sources and methods" in
federal agencies and departments, however, it is believed
that you might be interested in reviewing this regulation.
Any comments and recommendations which you might wish to
make will be considered by the Security Advisory Board.
2. The first draft of this regulation was re-
viewed by the Library of Congress, the National Archives,
the Publication Board, Joint Security Control, the Bureau
of the Budget, the Cryptographic Security Coordinating Com-
mittee, and certain interested offices in the State, War, and
Navy Departments. Suggestions made by these agencies have
been incorporated in the second draft wherever practicable.
The regulation is now being forwarded to the Security Of.Licers
of nonmilitary agencies for comment before being issued as
a Security Advisory Board policy.
.3, You will note that a deadline of January 20, 1946,
has been set for the return of comments from the Security
,Officers. It will be appreciated if any comments which you
I'might have could be returned by that time.
4. viI-3 and Serial No. 196, also enclosed, are
information copies only.
For the Security Advisory Board:
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Ui~Ci_i IFI, D COPY NO. _
iT1,TE-1 Ah-NAVY CGGRDIIb,b1-,T'ING CGS-I,,:ITi.~E
Si CURITY ABVISCRY BGAitD
Lecember 23, 1946
i;:O rN,
DU1id1 FOR Security Officers
Ncnriilit .ry Fedor,-;l Lep-:,rtments and Agencies
Subject; Classificr:tion, Ucclas sification, and
Downgrc..ding Procedures
1. The, c.,?nclosura9 e draft of proposed decl,-s,iii-c~,tto-l
~ ~ .
~l dowrnirrading procedure for nc;nmilitary fedc rsJ departments
rd lgc:nci :s is submitted to Security Officers for their.
comments and sugFu stions before being issued as P. policy
by th:? c:ci,r i_ty Advisory Board..
2. It is requested that you review the enclosure
and re port any suggestions or comments which you may have to
the Security Advisory Board 9 State-War-navy Coordinating
Co~~~i~eiittee9 Room 7119 5122nd Street, b.v. ., WashinpAon 259 D.C.,
on or before January 20, 1946.
3. This proposed regulation has been previously
rc;vi.ewed by curtain interested agencies from a policy s tcndpoint,
and their comments have been incorporated in the draft where
practicable.
For the Security Ldvisory Board
25X1A9a
Scecretary
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 Approved For
UNCLASSIFIED
SAB
Date
P-lages 1-27
aQi-r 464/02 : CIA--000300050037-4
COPY NO.
STATE-WAR-NAVY COORDINATING CO &:ITTLE
SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD
CLI:SSIFICAATION5 DECLASSIFICATION, AND DOWNGRY',DING PROCEDURES
Note by the Secretary
1. The Security Advisory Board has bc:e,n engaged in a careful
study of the overall problem of downgrading and declassification
of classified official material. jLfter consideration of the
problem as it is presented in numerous agencies, the Board has
reached the conclusion that eventual downgrading and declassificatioW
cannot be accomplished except by hard work and attention to detail)
if compromise of classified information is to be prevented.
Although SAB does not set forth any new and startling
procedure for downgrading and declassification, it does bring
together under one cover all appropriate downgrading and
declassification guides and offers ready reference for Security
Officers of federal departments and agencies.
2. In carrying out the provisions of this paper, two
important tasks become the responsibility of the Security Officers;
a. All personnel should be familiar with the current
classification guides contained on Pages 8-15 of
this paper. In addition , all personnel who will, be
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working on declassification and downgrading should be
f aarmiliar with the requirements on Pages 16-2~__9 inciusive
The proper indoctrination of such personnel should be
accomplished by, or under the guidance of, the Security
Officer,
ba If the problem of downgrading and declassification
is a simple one, it can probably be handled by a Security
Officer alone. If there is any bulk of m aa.terial, a
Downgrading and Declassification Committee might be given
full authority to downgrad and declassify all material
originated by the agency or department, when it has been
determined that the material no longer deserve its
original classification. The Security Cfficer should
supervise the establishment of such a Committee and where
possible, serve on the Committee.
3. The services of the Secretariat of the Security Advisory
Board arc available, to any government agency that wishes to set up
such a m chani :m, rind the advice of the Board may be solicited
whenever desired on declassification and downgrading problems.
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t; J i., r: n. T Ii, J.1,,D
T1,BLE OF COIJTLNTS
I- a ,
Section I Definitions........... ........?????? 5-7
Section II Current Classification Guides........ 8-15
1. 1 Word on Current Cla8sification ............. 8
2. Authority to Classify ....................... 9
To Sr cr c t or 3ccrc-t ..................... 9
U. Confidential or Restricted ............... 9
c. Procedure Within Departments and Agencies
The 1Aontal Approach to Clessific,~ .tion........ 10-11
--i Curbs for Classifiers ........................ 12-15
a. GerneraI .................................. ]_2
b, Preparation ...........................EN'1 IS REMOVED
cl. CVERCL1.`3SIFICTION
Overclassifice_tion will be avoided. It causes unnecessary delay
in the transmission of' documents and depreciates the importance
of cl,,ssified information in the mine