LETTER TO THE HONORABLE JOHN MARSHALL BUTLER FROM ALLEN W. DULLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R003800020004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 13, 1958
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/05/07: CIA-RDR
The Honorable John Marshall Butler
United States Senate
Washington 25, D. C.
I have your recent letter inquiring whether there has been any
evidence of "Red merchant marine subversion" at American ports in
recent years.
We are naturally most concerned with any subversive activities
directed at the United States from outside the country, and work very
closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this regard. This
would of course include any attempts to use merchant ships to gain access
to United States ports. As you correctly assume, much of this material
is of a classified nature. I would therefore suggest that one of our
experts call on you personally and brief you on the details.
As you probably are aware, our work is almost exclusively
overseas. Any information obtained by us regarding the use of merchant
ships for subversion against the United States would be passed to the
appropriate agencies. In addition to the overall interest of the FBI in
the internal security of the country, principal responsibility for port
.,security rests with the Coast Guard. Mr. A. Gilmore Flues, the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. is responsible for Coast Guard
r i ttera.
Our Legislative Counsel will ascertain your desires in regard
to ling further briefed on this subject.
Sincerely,
Rewritien.-LBKirkpatrick:rm (13 Dec 58)
Orig ,$ . - addressee 1 - DCI
1
Allen W. Dulles
Director
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Approved For Release 2002/05/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R003800020004-7