DECONTROL AND DOWNGRADING OF SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A002000050007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 18, 1968
• Content Type: MF

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18 September 1968
Limited Distribution
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
MEMORANDUM FOR HOLDERS OF USIB-D-46.2/6
SUBJECT : Decontrol and Downgrading of Satellite Photography
'REFERENCES : a. USIB-D-46.2/6, 11 September 1968
b. Memorandum to Members of the NSAM 156
Committee, subject: Draft Report on Dis-
armament Aspects of Satellite Reconnaissance
Policy, 9 September 1968
c. USIB-D-41. 12/28 (COMOR-D-7/445), 23 May 1968,
Limited Distribution
1. In executive session at the 13 September USIB meeting with the
Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in attendance,
Admiral Taylor outlined for the Members the principal points in the draft
report on Disarmament Aspects of Satellite Reconnaissance Policy
(reference b. ) which is to be considered by the NSAM 156 Committee. He
noted in particular that the draft report in the section dealing with Formal
Security Procedures stated that while not essential to the conduct -Of the
disarmament talks, it would be highly desirable to downgrade the fact that the
United States conducts reconnaissance satellite operations from its present
classification of "TOP SECRET - TALENT-KEYHOLE" to "UNCLASSIFIED".
He said that the report further argues that this action would greatly
facilitate consultations with our Allies and with Congress; would ease the
conduct of the negotiations themselves; would simplify the preparation and
dissemination of intelligence analysis; and would be necessary at some
stage in presenting the proposed agreement to the press and the public.
2. Although the draft report stated that the information on the
results of reconnaissance satellite operations, and information relating to
those operations, should continue to be subject to the restrictions of existing
classification systems, Admiral Taylor suggested that verification in a dis-
armament agreement would include the use of satellite photography and that
the proposal as outlineddn the draft report would make the task of controlling
the reconnaissance photography much more difficult.
NRO review(s) completed.
Approved For Release 2006/03/17: CIA-RDP79BOl70 l~yv waF"g'l~ai1li