CONSIDERATIONS BEARING ON THE QUESTION OF THE ISSUANCE OF AN EXPORT LICENSE FOR A (US) WORDEN GRAVIMETER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01155A000300020193-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2000
• Sequence Number: 193
• Publication Date: January 30, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP79-01155A000300020193-2 :
CIA/BI PN 69'.1911P
30 January 1967
Considerations Bearing on the4Question of the Issuance
of an Export Licence for a'(US) Worden Gravimeter
The US Embassy/Warsaw, In its incoming telegram, Warsaw41607,
dated 4 January 1967, states that the Embassy received a detailed
Polish explanation of the peaceful uses intended for the Worden
gravity meter (such as, Polish geodetic mapping in conjunction with
an international project sponsored by the International Association
of Geodesy) and a judgment is expressed that the instrument will not
be used for prototype purposes.
Pending the receipt of a follow-up Embassy airgram which may
disclose additional details, there is presently no known Polisl _ge9-
detic program being conducted in conjunction with a project of the.
`Tnternational Association of Geodesy with the possible exception of
the international project for the study of the contemporary movement
of the Earth's crust. If this is the project referred to, the Poles
are using it as a specious pretext to obtain the Worden meter.
The Worden gravity meter has no distinctive characteristics that
would make it uniquely advantageous for crustal movement observations.
In facta there are other meters that are more suitable. One Of
these -- preferred by the Soviets -- is the Askania GS-111 produced
by and available from a West German firm. On the other hand,: the
Worden meter offers other advantages -- consistency in data obser-
vations with portability over extensive areas -- which make it more
suitable for geodetic or geophysical purposes than other comparable
Soviet meters. The data obtained for these purposes would not be
made available to the Free World because Communist policy has con-
sistently considered such data as vital secrets whose disclosure to
the US would improve?taiget positioning for missile operations.
This policy has been recently reaffirmed by Soviet refusal tq%,pr`ovide
gravimetric' data to the International Gravity Bureau.
The Poles have long been interested in the procurement of a
Worden meter. In view of the fact that the data obtained'would improve
Communist geodesy, and would be denied to international science, it
olia';y .:) L~ea~;rn nt t}1RL the role~;aur of a Worden meter would b. *. coittr y
Approved For Release 2001,/09/03 CIA-RDP79-01155A000300020193-2.'-
SECRET
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 .Approved For Release 2001/09/03: CIA-RDP79-01155A000300020193-2
stumbling block to international cooperation in this area.
If necessary, these considerations could be transmitted to the
Poles to make them aware that Communist intransigence is the.basic
Concurrence:
AGD/GSD/SI
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 :,CIA-RDP79-01155A000300020193-2
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