RESUME OF OCB LUNCHEON MEETING, 12 NOVEMBER 1959

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002700030006-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: November 12, 1959
• Content Type: MFR

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80B01676R002700030006-6
12 November 1959
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Resume of OCB Luncheon Meeting, 1.2 November 1959
PRESENT: Mr. Allen, Gen. Cabell, Mr. Gray, Mr. Harr,
Mr. Irwin, Mr. McCone, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Saccio,
Mr. Scribner, Mr. Smith
1. Meeting of Interagency Working Group on Disarmament
Mr. Gray indicated that a meeting of the Interagency Working
Group on Disarmament would be held some time next week and that
the DCI would be notified of the exact time, when it is known.
2. Cuban Brochure
The Board then turned to a discussion of the inflammatory
brochure in English issued by the Cuban government, which purported
to show the casualties and damage inflicted by the alleged bombing
raid over Havana. In answer to a question as to what is being done
to refute these charges, Mr. Allen said that he was not aware of any
USIA plans in this connection.
3. Release of the Movie "On the Beach"
The next subject was the forthcoming release of the motion
picture "On the Beach, " based on the novel by Nevil Shute of the same
name. It was pointed out that the theme of this story, which deals
with the ultimate destruction of all life in the world as the result of
the use of nuclear weapons, poses psychological difficulties for the
U. S. in view of the dependence in its current strategic plans on the
availability of such weapons. It was felt by some members that the
U. S. stand regarding the continuance of nuclear tests would also be
made more difficult by the world-wide release of this movie.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80B01676R002700030006-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80BO1676R002700030006-6
It was suggested that selected U. S. embassies might be
queried as to their ideas on what counteraction, if any, might be
taken. Mr. Allen said that the USIA field offices had already been
advised that the official line to follow is that the U. S. does not
endorse this story. It was felt that the ambassadors should be given
a chance to be made aware of the latest USIA guidance before they
formulate suggestions for further action.
4. Situation in Panama
Mr. Harr asked whether any contingency planning was under
way in connection with the situation in Panama. It was noted that
there are a number of operational problems involved in any such
planning, most of which concern the Army. It was also noted that
the U.S. recognizes that the Panamanians retain residual rights to
the Canal Zone and that American tenure is based on a perpetual
lease. Some discussion ensued as to the possible advantages of
State's publicizing this recognition by the American Government, but
no firm decision was reached.
5. MSP Program for Turkey
Mr. Gray told the Board that the Report and Operations Plan
for Turkey were scheduled to be discussed at the 18 November meeting
and that the Report would presumably be forwarded to the NSC. He
said that a problem arises in connection with the MSP Program in
Turkey inasmuch as the specific policy guidance regarding force levels
for that country expires in FY 1960. Mr. Gray said that some
difficulties had arisen as to procedure, in the consideration of these
papers by the Board Assistants, having to do largely with whether
either the OCB or the NSC should properly concern itself with details
of this kind.
The consensus of the Board was that it was not appropriate for
either of these bodies to attempt to work out details of military force
levels.
6. Overseas Personnel
Mr. Harr noted that the papers submitted to the Board by the
principal OCB agencies at its 30 September meeting, having to do with
the personnel of these agencies stationed abroad, had been the subject
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80BO1676R002700030006-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80B01676R002700030006-6
of a great deal of interagency discussion. He suggested that so
many basic problems are reflected in this situation that the papers
should perhaps be presented to the President in order to ascertain
his views as to possible reductions. Mr. Scribner cautioned that if
this were done the matter should be presented to the President in
such a manner that he would be likely to react in a positive way
toward the problem.
The Board agreed that Mr. Harr should proceed along these
7. Validity of National Intelligence Estimates
Following up the discussion of the previous week's meeting,
General Cabell stated that SNIE. 100-4-59 and NIE 13-59 had been
re-examined and that it was felt that the conclusions were still valid,
with particular reference to the situation in the Taiwan Straits.
C. P. CABELL,
General, USAF
Deputy Director
Distribution:
Orig. - DCI files
1 - DDCIIIr f4 p- "I'- ,
1 - DD/P
1 - BA/OCB
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP80B01676R002700030006-6