LETTER TO THE HONORABLE BELLA S. ABZUG FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R001100010021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2005
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: April 4, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

I to re-sacc
STAT
STAT
Approved For Rel d& 1)ftT- 'SQ Oi IIGO 10021-9
WASHINGTON, D.C:. 22505
4 April 1975
The Honorable Bella S. Abzug, Chairwoman
Subcommittee on Government Information
and individual Rights
Committee on Government Operations
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 205.1.5
Dear Chairwoman Abzug:
This is in reply to your :Letter of 24 March 1975
requesting further information concerning the Agency's
foreign mail intercept program.
In my testimony before the Subcommittee on 5 March :1975,
I several times stated that the mail intercept program which STAT
included your letters was terminated in 1973. 1 did not
explain the circumstances of this event beyond that fact. A
full review of the experience would indicate that
testimony with respect to this is essentially
accurate. It would also reveal that, in our internal discussion.
within CIA in early 1973, T, as Executive Director, personally
recommended the termination of that project. It. thus stopped,
as stated by in February 1973. Later in 1973,
after reviewing t is and other activities, i issued specific
instructions with respect to various questionable activities
which had come to light as a result of Director .Schl.c~si.nger's
request of all employees for any such matters. In these
directives, issued in August 1973, I specifically i_nstr.uctced
that no United States mail be opened thenceforward. I thus
believe my comment during the testimony before your Subcom-c
mittee was accurate.
The mail intercept program was undertaken during the
height of the Cold War for foreign intelligence and counter-
intelligence purposes. Some Post Office and other. U. S.
Government officials knew of its existence, but there was
no written agreement concerning the project.-
As I have indicated, though I Inon,-~~,~~,a ,, RTAT
r41 u";;~ ~vtluc crl w our. me continuation of the program,
there were no directives or instructions from Government
authorities outside of CIA to terminate the activity.
Approved For Release 2005/11/23 : CIA-RDP80B0l495R001100010021-9
 Approved For Releas 005/11/23: CIA-'RDP80B01495R001IQ 1002'1-J''.
The responses to the supplemental questions based on
xny testimony that you requested are being-submitted to the
subcommittee staff.
Sincerely,
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