REPORT ON THE 26TH SESSION OF THE NATIONAL INTERDEPARTMENTAL SEMINAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06202A000100060001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 19, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 7, 1966
• Content Type: MF

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f SEP 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Training
SUBJECT : Report on the 26th Session of the
National Interdepartmental Seminar
Background
1. The 26th Session of the National Interdepartmental Seminar (NIS)
on problems of U. S. overseas development and internal defense was
held at the Foreign Service Institute from 11 July to 5 August 1966.
The participants were from these Departments and Agencies:
CIA
6,
quota
8
State
29,
quota
16
USIA
12,
quota
12
AID
23,
quota
15
DOD
20,
quota
13
Totals
90
64
6863
2. Of the 90 participants, 76 were preparing for specific assignments
overseas -- 26 to countries of Latin America; 21 to Africa; 14 to the
Far East and South-East Asia; 14 to the Near East, Middle East, and
South Asia, and 1 to Russia. The participants included 2 ambassadors
(1 was nominated after the session), 2 general officers, 1 consul general,
and 5 deputy chiefs of mission: Elliott P. Skinner, Ambassador to
Ouagadougou; Leo Cyr, Ambassador to Kigali; Air Force Major General
William T. Daly, Chief of the U. S. Military Supply Mission to India;
Army Major General Ward S. Ryan, Chief, MAAG, Arabia; Grant
G. Hilliker, Consul General to Recife; William J. Barnsdale, DCM,
Blantyre; Gerald A. Friedman, DCM, Bangui; William C. Kinsey,
DCM, Kigali; Charles G. Stefan, DCM, La Paz; James M. Wilson,
DCM, Manila. Also among the participants was Allen S. Whiting,
Chinese Affairs specialist of the Department of State, Deputy Principal
Officer, Hong Kong. Of CIA's six participants one was a Station Chief
25X1A ) and one was a Deputy Chief of TSD, For a listing 25X1A
of CIA participants see Attachment A.
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25X1A
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CIA Support
3. CIA support included a visit of the entire Seminar to Langley,
lecturers, panelists, and seminar discussion leaders, as well as
briefings by Agency officers. The Day at Langley again included visits
to the Operations Center, Project WALNUT of the Records Integration
Division, and the intelligence exhibit by the National Photographic
Interpretation Center. Presentations in the auditorium were also
given by these officials:
Colonel White - CIA in the Intelligence Community
he CIA Field Station
- CIA Operations in Counterinsurgency
The Day was concluded at the NIS auditorium with a panel
discussion on the work of the Agency with E. Drexel Godfrey, Sr.
and as panelists and with myself as chairman.
During lunch in the North Cafeteria, Ambassador Kidder was hosted
by , Ambassador Skinner by , Mr. 25X1A
Wilson by Mr. Richardson, and Major General Daly by 25X1A
Upon completion of the NIS, assistance was also given in arranging
for a follow-up briefing of Major General Daly by 25X1A
25X1A 5. With the exception of all of the officers
listed in paragraph 4 gave presentations in either Country Team
meetings or small Seminar discussion groups,
appeared before the entire Seminar. Each rated high marks for his
contribution. Of the remainder, I was able to attend the presentations
25X1A by and again both rated high marks. In previous
sessions I had attended presentations by
and it came as no surprise that they too had been extremely effective.
Favorable comments were also received on the presentationsby
(who appeared twice),
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6. On the whole the Day at Langley went well but for some
reason it did not seem to be quite up to the standard of the 25th
Session. There was only one question asked of the three lecturers
in the auditorium, and that by Ambassador Kidder of Colonel White.
Possibly another factor was the size of the class which made it
somewhat crowded for the afternoon visits. In their critiques to
Ambassador Kidder, only 20 of the 90 participants commented
specifically on CIA. Of that number, 3 commented favorably, 10
both favorably and unfavorably, and 7 unfavorably (Attachment B).
Several participants commented on the excellent briefings by
25X1A
7. Of the 6 CIA participants, 5 submitted internal Agency
critiques on the NIS (Attachment C). These are thoughtful critiques
containing several suggestions for improving CIA's participation in
the NIS. In them our participants indicate that they clearly profited
from the Seminar and at the same time that they were able to do much
in their discussions with other participants to further an understanding
of CIA, and its work.
8. With minor exceptions, this Session of the NIS was carried out
as scheduled. Among the senior U. S. Government officials who
gave presentations were Under Secretary U. Alexis Johnson; William
S. Gaud, Director of AID; Governor W. Averell Harriman; Major
General W. R. Peers; Sherman Kent. For the most part, the participants
found the Seminar to be very worthwhile. In some of their critiques
to Ambassador Kidder the view was expressed, however, that a good
deal has been learned since the NIS was established, but that this is
not sufficiently reflected in the Seminar. The more senior and experienced
participants believed that the Seminar is not aiming at a high enough
intellectual level and is including too much that is routine and basic.
9. This general assessment of the Seminar is in accord with views
held for some time by Ambassador Kidder and several of the faculty
advisers. Although few changes can be made in the 27th Session (12
September - 7 October), Ambassador Kidder hopes to make major
changes in the Seminar beginning with the 28th Session (21 November -
16 December). A good deal of thought and effort are already being
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given to these changes.
25X1A
25X1A
CIA Faculty Adviser
to the NIS
10. With respect to the proposals approved by Mr. FitzGerald
for strengthening CIA's contribution to the NIS, Ambassador Kidder
has given approval to include as many of them as possible in the
27th Session. In particular, he would like to see included the panel
discussion on Trends in Communist Subversion and the case study
on the MEMNON These presentations will be in addition to
that given by Colonel Rite plus the one on the CIA field station.
A presentation will also be included on CIA intelligence support in
counterinsurgency situations.
cc: DDP, DDS, DDI Training Officers
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NATIONAL INTERDEPARTMENTAL SEMINAR
11 July - 5 August 1966
25X1A
Office
DDS/Logistics
DDP/CA Staff
DDP /TSD
DDI/ORR
DDP/AF
DDP/SOD
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 Extracts from Critiques of the 26th Session
-+ Cut the Langley visit to 1 /2 day field trip to view facilities we visited
in afternoon and work Colonel White's talk into program at FSI. Unless
briefers at Langley are better prepared and prepared to talk somewhat
more openly.
Speakers 2 & 3 at Langley were unsatisfactory.
CIA morning speakers at Langley unsatisfactory.
CIA unsatisfactory to the extent that the presentations were too general.
A few specifics would have been of interest to me.
- } It would perhaps sharpen up the visit to CIA if some time were devoted
before the visit to a general orientation so that we will be in a better
position to question the speakers.
- } Have a feeling that the CIA belongs under both headings (satisfactory
and unsatisfactory).
-+ Spending entire day at CIA was disproportionate. It went to a level
of presentation by and large not germane to the course and in some
respects I think questionably over-concrete. Suggest a morning on
intelligence with speakers from each of the three main components
of the intelligence community (CIA, State, DOD) and including a panel
discussion.
CIA was superficial, except for the Photo Lab (NPIC Exhibit) and the
last speaker of the morning.
CIA lacked operational level credibility and balance.
+ CIA's presentation, while excellent, was too brief. Seems to me,
the speakers, (particularly the last speaker) could have gone into
a little more depth.
The visit to CIA's operations center was most informative from the
viewpoint of being able to see first hand how that Agency keeps current
with crisis areas.
-+ CIA -- although an attempt was made to present as frank a presentation
as possible, it appeared that lecturers from this Agency were running
with "blinders on. "
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25X1A
The Langley visit can be improved by spending more time there in
the following manner: a. more time in the National Photo Interpretation
Center (NPIC Exhibit). This was fascinating and very well presented.
b. Command Center. Either spend more time so that we can ask
questions, or eliminate visit to Command Center. c. the lecture on
machine records was fine, but the visit to the equipment itself was
not necessary. Here it could have been more meaningful if they had
"asked" the computer for background on Col. Abel or perhaps Co.
Pentkovsky (sic). Somehow the CIA mission, etc., was rather
obscurely covered, perhaps on purpose. If it had not been for the
splendid effort of our group adviser, , I would not have
grasped the full impact of what the Agency does. By his down-to-
earth manner, friendly and easy discussion of personal experiences
really made a major contribution to our understanding.
On the whole, most presentations (on the Government agencies) were
adequate. I think an inordinate amount of time was spent by some
of the agencies, especially USIA and CIA on the legal basis for their
organization. The CIA trip, although interesting, was not particularly
informative. I assumed that CIA would have a computer and an
operations center and did not have to be shown these. I was impressed
25X1A with some of their speakers I could have profitably
25X1A spent three hours in seminar discussion on youth instead of
only one hour.
I thought that getting the group more familiar with CIA was an excellent
idea.
CIA -- The return for the day's field trip was not commensurate with
the time spent.
- CIA -- Recommend that this be approached from the standpoint of what
CIA can do for the Country Team and not what the CT can do for CIA.
The trip to Langley did not give an insight into CIA. and material presented
could have been presented here.
-+ CIA -- More time should be spent on this Agency with searching questions
"planted.
-+ CIA -- Although most interesting, I think this Agency's presentation
could have been more substantive.
-+ CIA -- Mechanics of operation in Langley was overemphasized; would
have liked more on overseas operations, i. e. , how sources of information
are obtained, evaluated etc.
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STUDENT CRITIQUES
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-FRET
12AUG1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: CIA Representative, National Interdepartmental
Seminar
SUBJECT . Critique on 26th Session of National Interdepartmental
Seminar
1. In accordance with your request, the following is submitted
for your consideration:
a.. Value to the Agency of our participation in the Seminar -
The Agency is deeply involved and concerned with the counterin-
surgency problem. This course provides the best means of reflecting
in true perspective not only U. S. policy overseas, but the inter-
workings and interrelationship of the various representative
components of our government. It is extremely important that
senior representatives from these components understand this
Agency's objective. With such understanding, they are in
better position to recognize opportunities where they can be
of greater service. Complete compartmentation increased incidence
of components working at cross-purposes.
b. Value to our students of attendance at the Seminar -
The principle beneficiary of this course would be senior DD/P
personnel who would reasonably expect to participate in the
country team approach at all overseas stations. Other personnel
such as support personnel would derive somewhat less than this
maximum benefit, but it should still be a highly desirable
essential element of a training program for personnel who are
being assigned overseas or are working in the type of job in
Headquarters where a good appreciation of overseas problems and
activities is desirable. The principle benefit for all of
our students is that the course identifies the scope and
fabric of U. S. policies overseas. Participants are provided
the privilege of seeing the part played by other elements of
our government and to see in true perspective the relative part
being played by CIA.
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SUBJECT: Critique on 26th Session of National Interdepartmental
Seminar
c. Evaluation of our participation - On the whole, our
participation was effective and well-received. It would
probably be preferable to reschedule the lecture "Role of
Intelligence in Internal Defense" so that it would be given
prior to the Seminar's visit to Langley. The NPIC briefing
was the most effective portion of the tour. The briefing
in connection with the visit to RI did not adequately cover
the scope of the problem. Perhaps it was assumed that the
students already had a background in this phase of the work.
In country team VII of CIA was invited 25X1 A
to brief the team on the His comments and
assistance were most helpful and very much appreciated by 25X1A
the entire team.
d. Overall evaluation of the Seminar with regard to its
objectives - I would consider this course to be one of the
most stimulating courses I have had the privilege of taking.
The quality and level of the lectures were exceptional. The
spirit of cooperation and team effort generated by participation
in country teams was unusual. In our particular team, every
member made an effective contribution in producing the team
paper.
25X1A
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8 August 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: 1000 Glebe Road, 25X1 A
Room 807
SUBJECT Critique of National Interdepartmental
Seminar, 11 July - 4 August 1966
GENERAL
1. I feel that the NIS is a worthwhile exercise, both
in terms of the Seminar itself and CIA participation in it.
In my opinion, both the Seminar and CIA participation could
and should be improved. In my critique of the Seminar (that
I presume is available to you), I noted some areas of possible
improvement. My comments on your a-d subject outline follow.
CRITIQUE - COMMENTS
2. (a) I think that there is a very considerable value
to the Agency, in participating in the Seminar. The value
lies in two important areas:
A. Agency personnel participating have an
opportunity to give the participants
from other agencies a good impression
of the professionalism and knowledge
inherent in CIA officers, and the other
participants' gain a concrete knowledge
of the Agency from our presentations.
B. The CIA participant has an opportunity
to broaden his outlook on world affairs
and increase his awareness of other
agency capabilities.
3. I observed among the participants with whom I talked
in the subject Seminar a general ignorance of how CIA functions
and CIA's role on the Country Team,, (Their attitude was not
one of hostility, but rather of interest. Their initial comments
displayed a feeling that CIA operations are in some way "spooky"
and perhaps reprehensible, but they were ready to hear otherwise.)
I believe that their visit to the Agency and our presentations
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25X1 C
disabused them of these notions - they seemed to be favorably
impressed. Our participation also gave us an opportunity to
impress upon other agency participants, the usefulness of the
4. (b) The CIA participant gains from hearing a number
of interesting presentations on world affairs and the functions
of other government agencies, and from the opportunity to
exchange ideas with senior officers from other agencies. It
is of very considerable value to the CIA participant that he
learns in some detail of the functions performed by other
agencies. He is thus in a better position to focus on the
CIA role within this framework. The general presentations
(Political, Development, Sino-Soviet Confrontation, Economic
Development, Economic Warfare, Ambassador Berger's and Governor
Harriman's talks, etc.) can help to broaden the CIA participant's
outlook toward operational problems.
5. (c) I think that CIA participation is good, but it
could be improved. In my opinion, the one day at the Agency
(half of which was spent mainly on the mechanical aspects of
intelligence reporting and data management) was not enough,
given this opportunity to make ourselves known to this group
of fairly high level officers from other agencies. My specific
comments and criticisms are as follows:
A. Mr White's general presentation on the
organization and functioning of the Agency
was a good introduction.
25X1A B. presentation on the Field
Station was good, but necessarily spotty,
due to the short time allowed. The same
25X1A may be said of presentation.
C. The morning presentations seemed to me
(and three senior non-Agency participants
commented on this) to lack unity, in terms
of the purpose of the Seminar.
D. I suggest that
presentations be com ine into a sin -
entation designed to show how a CIA Station
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obtains and reports intelligence indicating
the development of an insurgency situation
in a given country, how this information is
elaborated and refined in Country Team dis-
cussion, how coordinated recommendations are
made to Washington, what happens in the S.I.G.
and I.R.G., and what actions result.. .with
what effect. Either a real past case could
be used for this, or a case with the desired
ramifications could be manufactured.
E. I think it would be useful to have the group
divided into those going to Asia, Africa,
Latin America, etc. and arrange that the
appropriate CIA Division Chiefs brief each
group. In addition, it might be useful to
have the participants going to a given
country talk with the Branch Chief or Desk
Chief covering that country.
F. I feel that the presentation on the "Role
of Intelligence in Internal Defense" deserves
more attention. Your presentation was good
and appreciated by the participants (four
non-Agency participants told me that they
were impressed by the specific examples you
gave - the information given to Secretary
MacNamara on what a certain country leader
would request of him, etc.). However, I
think that this presentation might best be
given by a COS or senior Station officer
recently returned from a country in which
there is an insurgency situation. In addition,
the fact that other members of the Country
Team (the AID Mission, MAAGs, etc.) and their
personnel in the field have access to valuable
information and should report this - should
be emphasized.
6. If the above recommendations were used, the Seminar
coverage of CIA might be as follows:
A.M.: CIA in the Intelligence Community
Intelligence in Internal Defense
25X1A P.M.:
(on the existing schedule)
3
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A.M.: Groups briefed by Division Chiefs
Groups talk with Branch and Desk Chiefs
P.M.: How CIA Functions in the Country Team and
in Washington (the coordinated operational
approach noted in D above).
7. (d) I think that the Seminar achieved its objectives,
but these objectives could be achieved in three, or perhaps
two, weeks rather than four. It seems to me that too much time
is given to the role of the American military and this involves
a good deal of repetition. The two most important things the
Military have to contribute are Civic Action and the training
of indigenous Military in counter insurgency. Civic Action
was discussed in general terms, but at no time was the Civic
Action function described from beginning to end (how planned,
how funds obtained and allotted, how program directed, specific
cases, etc.). There was no presentation on how the indigenous
Military are trained in Civic Action and no description of
specific cases. The Special Forces' presentation at Fort Bragg
was an interesting picture of training for indigenous people
and Special Forces action, but this is a particular limited
use of our armed forces. So also with the use of facilities
in the USAF Special Air Warfare Center. I think that the role
of the United States Military could be adequately covered in
a full morning presentation on Civic Action and an afternoon
of briefing and films at the Pentagon.
8. There was a good deal of duplicative coverage of how
counter insurgency was born and the OIDP. One one or two hour
session would appear to be enough of this.
25X1A
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10 August 1966
SUBJECT Critique of National Interdepartmental
Seminar
1. Relating to the Seminar itself as a whole, I would
like to state at the outset that it was extremely well managed,
the atmosphere was cordial, the faculty members were most
helpful and cooperative and the content of the Seminar was
both interesting and pertinent, as well as very beneficial.
2. Concerning the value to the Agency of our partici-
pation in the Seminar, it is my feeling that the subject
matter treated during the four week period serves as a good
background relating to the following:
a) The concept and actual operation of a Country
Team, particularly the role of the latter relating to
overseas internal defense planning and policies.
b) The interdepartmental nature of U.S. foreign
policy including the development and implementation
of policy programs.
c) The role played by various agencies of the
U.S. Government in the counter-insurgency field.
3. Speaking personally, although I have been aware
of the problems associated with counter-insurgency programs,
I have acquired a fuller appreciation of the immensity of
the problems at hand. I would imagine that each of the
Agency's representatives left with a similar impression
imbedded in their minds. As a consequence, I feel that each
of us can be counted upon in the future to play a meaningful
role in internal defense planning and counter-insurgency
programs, whenever called upon to do so. Although I found
virtually all of the subject matter quite interesting,
25X1A
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I was particularly appreciative of the Far Eastern and Latin
American portions. This is because of my impending assign-
ment to the Far East and my long and serious interest in
Latin American affairs.
4. Relating to the Agency participation, on the whole,
I thought the Agency representatives handled themselves well
and they provided a meaningful input to the Seminar in
general. The introductory presentations in the auditorium
25X1A were well received; the Seminar participation was well
handled, as was overall guidance and presenta-
25X1A tion and presentation was outstanding, as
usual. The commentaries on the part of the participants
were most favorable concerning the Agency portions of the
Seminar and the representatives who actively participated
throughout.
5. In summation, I found the Seminar a very timely and
beneficial experience. Aside from the Seminar content, I
was able to augment my interagency type contacts and to
acquire a good idea of how they operate and the problems they
have to contend with. I feel strongly that the Seminar
provided me with a good basis for any future participation
on my part in the counter-insurgency field as well as any
possible participation in the country team program. I am
indeed grateful for the opportunity to take part in such a
Seminar.
25X1A
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9 August 1966
25X1A
MEMORANDUM FOR: acuity NIS
oRR/I/A
SUBJECT: Evaluation of Agency Participation in National
Interdepartmental Seminar
As you requested I am sending you my comments on the NI
Seminar.
1. Value to the Agency
The Agency derives considerable value from its participation
in the Seminar. Many of the students had never before been given an
opportunity to learn about Agency operations and affairs from authorita-
tive sources. Toward the end of the Seminar it became clear that some
of the students' earlier misconceptions about the Agency's activities
had been corrected. Through the free exchange of ideas among students,
and through official Agency presentations the Seminar provides an
excellent forum for informing officials from other government agencies
about the role of the Agency overseas and in this respect the Seminar
can contribute to the Agency's effectiveness as a member of the CT.
2. Value to the Student
The Seminar is of value to the student in a number of ways.
With particular respect to DD/I students, not likely for permanent over-
seas assignments, the Seminar provides an opportunity for improving inter-
agency cooperation here in Washington by the attention given to the current
function and operations of the IRG's and SIG's with which the student
may likely become involved and by providing students with an opportunity
to make valuable personal contacts with their contempraries from other
agencies. Moreover, the student gains a deeper appreciation of the CT
and the counterinsurgency problem.
3. Agency Participation
I thought the Agency participation was excellent. The speakers
knew their subjects and fielded their questions well. In particular the
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final agency panel discussions was especially effective and stimulating as
the quality of student questions improved. A small footnote to the over-
all excellence of Agency participation, however, was the failure of
students, principally because they were not sure of the ground rules, to
ask questions of speakers here at Langley on the day of the tour. In
this respect perhaps the sessions would be more stimulating and effective
from the Agency point of view if it could be announced that the question
period was a "no-holds-barred" session to the extent permitted by security
or perhaps even better, plant some questions with Agency students.
4. The Seminar and its Objectives
I believe the Seminar fulfilled its objective. Without exception
the Seminar students that I spoke to agreed that they had gained a deeper
appreciation of the role of participating agencies on the CT in the field
and on the IRG's and SIG's here in Washington. The Seminar was particularly
effective in identifying the seriousness of potential insurgencies in
Free World areas with their adverse consequences for US polcies and in
setting forth certain general preventive courses of action that the US
could follow in tackling potential insurgency situations. In this respect
the CT problem was of considerable practical value. Moreover, the CT
problem was alsocf considerable personal interest to me because it covered
one of my geographical areas of responsibility.
25X1A
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5 August 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR:
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
SUBJECT : Critique of National Interdepartmental
Seminar
1. There is no question in my mind of the real value to the
Agency of its participation in the Seminar, Most of my fellow
students who became acquainted with me opened up to express their
reservations and criticisms of the activities and habits of Agency
personnel they had met overseas, and I think that I was able to
satisfactorily explain the reasons for these sources of friction.
It was also useful to me to have these sources of friction identified.
On the personal level as well I developed the acquaintance of
individuals who will be in my area overseas which should improve
future cooperation, particularly
level direct contact with the Agency and the degree to which the
Seminar participants were permitted an insight into Agency organization
and activities will insure better understanding and cooperation in the
future.,
'On the organizational
The more that we can be candid with these people and the more
that they are made aware of our responsibilities and our problems
in carrying them out, the less they will be inclined to criticize us
and hamper our overseas programs. If one assumes that they are
aware of their responsibilities of maintaining security through
discretion that comes with their grades, then there is no reason to
withhold information on organizational and general operational matters
and problems, since they are in a position to help us with these problems
both at home and in the field, and would generally sincerely like to
help. On the other hand an unreasonable sense of security on our part
increases their annoyance, and they react accordingly. The Agency's
organized participation in the course is excellent as far as it goes.
It could and should go further in responding to their curiosity.
Approved For Release 2000/06/06 : CIA-RP7PTPa9bzu 4000100060001-5
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