CLASSIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS IN OER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01086A000900050002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 1, 1973
• Content Type: MF

rr"IN 11PR
Approved For *se 200 0601086 0900050002-7
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller
SUBJECT i Classification of Documents in ?ER
1. In the course of the recent survey of ORR we inquired
into the classification of reports produced by the office.
Analysts and supervisory personnel are conscious of the new pro-
visions for classification, but OER management states that there
is still a problem of ingrained habit that exercises an influence
on practice.
2. Internal office notices formerly were classified for the
most part at the level'of Confidential. The use of symbols in-
stead of spelling out organizational titles now permits issuance
of many such notices at the unclassified level of Administrative-
Internal Use Only. Use of the caveat "sensitive sources and
methods" still appears on documents when its applicability strikes
us as doubtful. No steps have been taken, or are planned, to re-
view past issuances for purposes of downgrading.
3. We requested a review of classification of documents
issued for the periods of 1 July ,through 31 December in both
1971 and 1972 to compare results More and after the new pro-
cedures took effect. This sample iri6ludes Intelligence Memoranda,
Intelligence Reports, Handbooks, and Research Aids issued for
those periods. It does not include the large volume of special
papers produced by the office, nor its many contributions to other
issuances of the community. While the figures indicate an increase
in the proportion of lower classification, OER states that this
also reflects a downgrading of some papers in order to permit
wider dissemination. The results are tabulated as follows:
Total for 1971 period - 132
Total for 1972 period -- 92
Una.
2
1.5%
5
5.4%
Conf.
47
35.6%
53
57.7%
Sec.
58
44.0%
27
29.4%
Sec CW
11
8.3%
1
1.0%
TS CW
4
3.0%
2
2.2%
TK
9
6.8%
4
4.3%
ouo
1
.8%
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Approved For Release 2001/
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4. As an outgrowth of this inquiry one question emerged that
you may wish to consider in terms of how it may apply to the. Agency
in the future. In the event that there is a Congressional inquiry
into the background and conduct of the war in Indochina, it is
likely that the Agency would be requested to provide documentary
material for those conducting the study. This could range all the
way from requests for specific documents to entire collections of
reports. Obviously; the considerations affecting declassification
and release of material are manifold -- they range from clandestine
reports that might reveal sensitive sources to DDI reports the
sensitivity of which related primarily to the fact that the subject
was under consideration at policy levels at the time the paper was
prepared. In the event that such requests are made of the Agency
it would beuseful if advance consideration had already been given
the problem, in order that a prompt and reasonable response could
be made. In this connection, OER states that it would take three
knowledgeable persons. some four to six weeks to ?onduet a deelassi-
fication review of the six sate drawers of reporta.en the Indochina
War that it has for the period,1965-197.
E gi ed), I llliam V., $r,6-9
William V. Brae
Inapector General
b `i6r.
roved For Release 2001/ Cit~ . b B01086A000900050002-7
 le 201407/27: CIA-RDP80B6A000900050002-7
MEMORANDUM" FOR: ER
A re-do of ER 73-781/2 (now dated 14 rather
than 12 Feb 73) ...... para 2 text changed.
O/IG/cm
14 Feb 73
(DATE)
lease 2001/07/27 : CIA-RDP80B01086A000900050002-7
FORM NO. lol REPLACES FORM 10-101 (47)
I AUG 54 WHICH MAY BE USED.
 Approved For Releas 01/07/27: CIA-RDP80BO1086A0009 0002-7
GFD:bec (15 Feb 73)DRAFT
Dep
,uty~irector for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Plan
MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Assistant for Vietr/amese Affairs
.rector of National E/timates
fication
SUBJECT: Development of Guid41ines for Declassi-
1. The conclusion of the conflict'in Vietnam raises the
possibility of a Congressional inquir)into the background and
conduct of the Indo-Chinese war. Conceivably this Agency could
be required to provide documentary material in support of such
an inquiry. Such requests could range from specific documents
to entire collections of finished intelligence reports. Obviously
the considerations which would affect possible declassification in
release of the material are myriad. Equally obviously, it is not
worthwhile in terms ofnanpower allocations to anticipate such
an inquiry at this time andinitiate declassification review actions.
Such a course could/result in a considerable waste of manpower.
2. I believe that it is possible at this time to put our thinking
caps on and develop within each concerned Directorate and Office
preliminary guidelines for the potential declassification of documents
Approved For Release 2001/07/27 : CIA-RDP80BO1086A000900050002-7
 Approved For Releas 01/07/27: CIA-RDP80B01086A0009050002-7
relative to the Indo-Chinese war. I would appreciate it if you would
assign someone this task, advising me of the guidelines established
for your area of interest upon completion of the effort.
Approved For Release 2001/07/27 : CIA-RDP80BO1086A000900050002-7
 Approved Forfiele 1/07/27: CIA-RD
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U4cL SIFTED ti. El ONLY
ROUTING AND RECORD. SHEET
Inspector General
TO.. (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
2-7 [ SECRET
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
I
UNCLASSIFIED
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