LETTER TO THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. MURPHY FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160024-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 14, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: August 6, 1974
• Content Type: LETTER

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6 August 1974
The Honorable Robert D. Murphy
Chairman of the Board
Corning International Corporation
717 Fifth Avenue
New York, N. Y. 10022
Dear Ambassador Murphy:
Pursuant to our conversation, herewith, is a rough draft of a
possible approach to your study of the role of intelligence in foreign
policy. I am sure you would want to expand this with some of the
more specific suggestions given to you by the staff, but this might
provide an overall approach. If you have any further questions on it,
.1 would be delighted to respond.
Thank you again for your courtesy in consulting with me on this
important matter. I will give it every support possible.
Sincerely,,,
/s/ "Bill
W. E. Colby
Director
Attachment .
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Distribution:
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Dear Bill:
As the Commission on the Organization of the Government for
the Conduct of Foreign Policy moves from the briefing phase to
the phase of study in depth of some selected features, I would
like to outline for you our approach in the area of intelligence.
Intelligence obviously plays a major role in the formulation
and execution of foreign policy. We would like to identify
that role clearly and look at various ways intelligence could
make an-even better contribution to foreign policy deliberations.
This will require us to be aware of some of the organizational
aspects of the intelligence relationship to foreign policy and
to assess the ways in which intelligence contributes to foreign
policy, from the raw report to the finished estimate. We must
also cover the degree of success our intelligence has and can
hope to have in accurately reporting events abroad.and
projecting their likely future directions. Lastly, I think we
must include a review of the political costs involved in
.intelligence operations where they do cause problems for,
foreign policy. As a related but somewhat separable issue,
we will need to identify the role in our foreign policy of what
is. called covert action and come to some judgments on its
desirability, extent and decision-making process.
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On the other hand, I do not view the Commission's function
as reviewing and making recommendations on the organization of
our intelligence services and community, its budgets, personnel
strengths, etc., or the details of its operations and
procedures. The Commission will not be conducting an investigatio
of the organization of intelligence itself but, rather, the
role of intelligence as it affects the conduct of our foreign
policy. In order to make informed judgments on the latter, of
course, we must be aware of some of these matters as necessary
background, but I want to assure you that the thrust of our
work will be in the latter category. I share what I know is
your great concern about the necessity to protect the sensitive
operational aspects of the intelligence effort. We will
conduct our inquiry and maintain our records so as not to.
expose such matters.
As I believe you are aware, Mr. Kent Crane will be directing
the intelligence aspects of our inquiries. He will commission
several studies by individuals within the intelligence community
or by acknowledged experts outside of it. I would like him t
discuss with you the specifics of these studies and the
individuals who will undertake them to be sure that the
appropriate clearances can be obtained and to discuss with you
the appropriate staff support and access arrangements to the
intelligence community which will be necessary. I would expect
Kent to work with your officers in dealing with the other elements
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of the intelligence community in addition to the CIA, under
the general charter of the Commission, of course- I have
attached a first cut at an outline of some of the matters
Kent will be studying, and I hope that you and he can discuss
this and any improvements which might be useful.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Murphy
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INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY STUDIES
1. Statutory and Other Authority. A review of the statutory
base for the intelligence community, to include the authority
of the CIA, the directives of the NSC, and Presidential
instructions such as the November 5, 1971, directive. This
should also ,include a review of the special legislation applicable
to intelligence (such as, the unique authorities of the Director
of CIA over personnel and finances), the espionage and
communications intelligence legislation, and current proposals
for modification of the legislative authority of the intelligence
community and its protection of intelligence sources and methods.
2. Organization. A study of the way in which the intelligence
community interfaces with foreign policy formulation; the
independence of the CIA, the roles of the departmental intelligence
entities such as DIA and INR; intelligence relationships at
working departmental levels, field entities, and national policy
levels (e.g., WSAG, etc.); the role of the Ambassadors.
3. Congress and the Public. To what extent does the Congress
benefit from intelligence? To what extent can intelligence be
made available to assist the Congress in decision-making? To
what extent can intelligence better inform the American public?
4. Control of Intelligence. Executive and Congressional
controls on intelligence operations;; executive and Congressional
influence on intelligence appreciations; procedures for
evaluation of intelligence risks and resources.
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5. The Utility of Intelligence. The accuracy of intelligence
reports and judgments; to what extent does intelligence contribute
to policy formulation? How is its utility affected by its
palatability, presentation, participation in sensitive policy
deliberations, etc?
6. Covert Action. Review of the arguments for and against
covert action; procedures for control; alternatives to association
with intelligence.
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