LETTER TO WILLIAM J. COLBY(Sanitized)

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 14, 2004
Sequence Number: 
38
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 15, 1973
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2.pdf467.5 KB
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11 3 4S y Approveto,011991 f 4QM02=AiCM,- 80PlO-M$G*JQ'IE6Q038-2 Ot I Y _ C .UNDUCT OF FOREIGN P 2025 .N STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506 October 15, 1973. ` Mr. Willi-am J. Colby Director of Central Intelligence Headquarters, CIA McLean, Virginia 22101 1,O Dear Bill: As Congressman Zablocki''and Dean Wilcox indicated in their recent conversation with you, the Commission is looking forward to meeting with you in November. In preparing for the meeting, the Commission believes it would be especially useful to have a statement setting forth the views of the intelligence community which the members can study in advance and thus make the discussion more profitable. We hope that you will be able to assemble such a statement by the first week in November to permit its distribution to Commission members for the meeting on November 19. To be most helpful, the statement should address all of the major elements of the national intelligence effort in support of ulie-conduct of foreign policy. For this purpose, it is assumed -- and the Commission would like confirmation or correction of the assumption -- that this effort involves the-political, economic, sociological, scientific and military affairs of foreign states, organizations and individuals and that it consists essentially of three principal elements: (a) the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information from the following sources: - open published materials overt reporting - clandestine reporting - communications and electronic penetration - advanced technological systems the preparation through research and analysis, and the dissemination, of studies, reports and estimates (c) covert action in support of policy decisions For each of these elements, the Commission requests an outline of the present organization and procedures particularly in Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 A r d or a 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP80M01133A001?60038-2 Mr. respect to coordination among agencies, an identification of the principal obstacles to improved performance, and recommendations for appropriate action. We hope the statement, in addressing the foregoing matters, will touch upon the following questions in addition to any others which you consider to be of importance: (1) Authority. Has the National Security Act of 1947 proved to be sufficiently sound as a basic authority for the Director of Central Intelligence to fulfill his role both wit i-;respect to the coordination of intelligence for national security and for the management of the Central Intelligence Agency? In particular, a. what are the practical effects of subordination to the National Security Council rather than directly to the President or a department of the government? Should the system be altered? b. can the responsibilities "to correlate and evaluate intelligence relating to the national security" be adequately delineated from the responsibilities of departments and other agencies "to collect, evaluate, correlate and disseminate departmental intelligence"? (Section 102(d)(3)) c. has the responsibility "to protect intelligence ti on sources" proved workable and useful? (Sec 102(d)(3)) d. is the mandate to perform "such additional services of common concern" (Section 102(d)(4)) adequate to the needs of the intelligence community and the-government as a whole? Is the mandate to perform "such other functions and duties" (Section 102(d)(5)) too broad and open-ended? e. has the authority to inspect intelligence of the departments and agencies (Section 102(e)) proved adequate and useful? Approved For Release 2004/02123 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 Approved-For Rele 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP80M01133A~00160038-2 Page 3 'Mr..William J. Co We (2) Requirements. Who are the principal users of intelligence in support of the conduct of foreign policy? What is the present organization and procedure for the preparation and updating of their requirements to guide the intelligence effort? Are such requirements adequate and what recommendations for improvement are suggested? How are requirements handled in crisis situations, and how can that process be improved? (3) Performance and Resources. In the fulfillment of these requirement;s..is the most effective and efficient use made of the resources of the intelligence community? What is the basis for arriving at the optimum level of such resources and their distribution within the community in order to give the most effective support? What resource requirements are anticipated for the future? (14) Evaluation. How effective is the method of evaluating the performance of the intelligence effort in ful- filling the requirements in support of the conduct of foreign policy? What changes are recommended in t1-is regard? (5) Other Intelligence Activities. What is the relation- ship of intelligence activities in support of military-tactical, counterintelligence, or other purposes to the intelligence activities in support of foreign policy? (6) Special Programs. What is the institutional mechanism for coordinating cryptological programs among the several agencies? For managing the advanced technological collection programs? How does this tie in Z'iith other government programs using similarly advanced technological systems? Is there a way to economize in this field and perhaps even produce a more effective government-wide effort? (7) Reports and Estimates. What is the need of the government for coordinated reports and estimates? How are such reports and estimates now produced? Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 Approved For Rele 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP80M01133A 001.60038-2 fair. William J. Colby Page 4 What means are employed to assure that the analyses are forthright, objective, useful to policy makers at all levels of the government, and as free as possible of institutional biases? Should the research and analytical functions be handled in agencies other than those responsible for collection and operations? For policy formulation and implementation? (8) Emerging Needs. How is the mission of the intelligence community changing in the 1970s? What steps are bethg taken to adapt the intelligence effort to new demands for support in such fields as international trade, energy matters, the environment, and narcotics control? (9) Oversight and Accountability. What are the institutional controls through which the Executive Branch and Congress oversee activities of the intelligence community? Are they effective in making the intelligence community realistically responsive to government authorities? Does the public have a right to be better informed about the intelligence business; what improvements should be made in the process of accountability of intelligence activities to the public? (30) Controls. In respect to the activities and operations of intelligence which may impinge upon the conduct of foreign policy or in respect to operations designed to support specific policies, what is the system of guidance and control and is it fully adequate? What is done to assure that approving officials are fully aware of the possible consequences of a given action? What improvements in the sy-stem are recommended? (11) Personnel. Are the personnel procedures for CIA and other agencies in the intelligence community soundly based to recruit and sustain the professional corps necessary for the best intelligence support of the conduct of foreign policy? I-That steps are being taken throughout the community to mitigate the adverse effects of compartmentalization arising. from security requirements in order to achieve greater cross-fertilization of ideas and personnel? Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 y. r ' t?/iA veGFF-o a 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A0DO 1e60;38-2 (12) Budgets. To ghat extent does the DCl have the authority to determine or otherwise oversee the .budget and manpo-urer needs of the various agencies in the i ntelligence con>>~~unity? Should he have greater authority in this regard? Are the present budget resources of the several components of the intelligence community adequate, excessive or insufficient for their contributions to the intelligence effort in support of the conduct of foreign policy? (13) Overseas Establishment. that are the problems of control, coordination, and commnications in overseas establishments as they pertain intelligence? How can these establishments be made more effective and efficient? The Commission is aware that a comprehensive response to these questions could lead to a most exhaustive study and a very lengthy report. We are hopeful, however, that while giving full attention to the important implications of the questions, you'can_ in your report identify and emphasize the most important elements in our inquiry. A copy of this letter is going to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and the President's Special Assistant for-Rational Security Affairs, as members of the National Security Council, with the request that they offer whatever comments they can on the foregoing questions to assist the.Commission in its study. The Commission is most appreciative.of your personal assistance and thato other components of the intelligence community in the fulfillment of our.tasks. Cordially yours, Robert D. Murphy Chairman cc: The Secretary of State The Secretary of Defense The President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 Approved For,ase 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP8 Fo T3o0900 60038-2 The "Murphy Commission" 1. The Commission on the Organization of the Government for the Conduct of Foreign Policy receives its authority from the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1972 (PL 92-392 July 13, 1972). It is a joint Presidential-Congressional Commission (membership at Tab A). 2. The Commission is charged to submit to the Congress and the President findings and recommendations to provide a more effective system for the formulation and implementation of the Nation's foreign policy. The Commission is to study and investigate the organization, methods of operation, and powers of all departments, agencies, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the government which participate in the formulation and implementation of US foreign policy. 3. The Commission is authorized to hold hearings, sub- poena witnesses and secure information directly from any executive department or agency. It may make recommendations with respect to the reorganization of the departments, the achievement of better executive-legislative co-ordination, the improvement of-procedures, and the abolition of services, activities and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of foreign policy. 4. In its "Tentative Program" the Commission said: "In anticipation of their appearances before the Commission, and to assist in the exploration of the subject, departments, agencies, and experts will be asked to submit reports addressing important questions into which the Commission will want to delve." 5. The original plan was to conduct hearings on the Intelligence Community in February 1974, but that date has been changed to 19 November 1973. This is only a small part of the Commission's . entire program. My source tells me that the State Department and its subsidiaries are the subject of much greater interest. Indeed, on 15 and 16 October the Commission took testimony from USIA, AID, and the Peace Corps. Following the DCI, but not in this order, will be the NSC, OMB and the White House, Defense (17 December), State (when Kissinger can make it), the Congressional process, and so forth. There have already been some preliminary hearings with State. Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M0l133A000900160038-2 Approved For ase 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP80M011330900160038-2 6. The Staff of the Commission is arranged as follows: a. State - Bill Bacchus b. Defense - Paul Schratz (Capt, USN, Ret. ) c. Congress - Roger Majak d. Intelligence - Tom Reckford e. Asst. General Counsel - Alan Rudlin f. Staff members at large - Margie Vanderhye and Bill Carter (son of Ambassador Beverley Carter - Tanzania). 7. The major interest in the Intelligence Community is to determine how it serves the policymaker. To do this the Com- mission will examine organization, procedures, relationships, and authorities. It is not yet clear how many witnesses will be called from the Intelligence Community. 8. When the law was written, the Agency managed to insert in the House version language which gave the DCI the right to protect sources and methods. OLC is digging this out for me. It appears, however, that on most grounds the Commission has all of the authority it needs to ask questions and expect good answers. Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M0l133A000900160038=2 Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M0A0900160038-2 ? Commission Members The Commission is composed of 12 members; four each appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the President. The members are: THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. MURPHY - Chairman Corning Glass International New York, New York Senate THE HONORABLE JAMES B.. PEARSON - Vice Chairman United States Senate President DR. DAVID M. ABSHIRE Chairman, Center of Strategic & International Studies, Georgetown University President MRS. ANNE ARMSTRONG Counsellor to the President White House President THE HONORABLE WILLIAM j. CASEY Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Department of State Senate MRS. CHARLES W. ENGLEHARD, JR. . Far Hills, New Jersey House MR. AREND D. LUBBERS President, Grand Valley State College Allendale, Michigan Senate MR. FRANK C.. P. McGLINN Executive Vice President Fidelity Bank Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2 Approved ,Release 2004/02/23: CIA-RDP80M0?A000900160038-2 THE HONORABLE WILLIAM S S. MAILLIARD House of Representatives THE HONORABLE MIKE MANSFIELD United States Senate House DR.. STANLEY P P. WAGNER President, East Central State College Ada, Oklahoma House THE HONORABLE CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI House of Representatives COMMISSION STAFF FRANCIS O. WILCOX - Executive Director of the Commission FISHER HOWE - Deputy Executive Director WILLIAM B. SPONG, JR. - General Counsel to the Commission Approved For Release 2004/02/23 : CIA-RDP80M01133A000900160038-2