"TREASURE ISLAND" PROJECT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00706R000100230034-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: February 9, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

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Office Memorandum ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
To : For the Record
FROM : Chief, FDD
SUBJECT: "Treasure Island" Project
DATE: 9 February 1951
1. Col. Dale D. Brannon and Maj. C. J. Moore of Plans and
Policy Staff, A-2 visited Chief, FDD this date to discuss proposed
changes in the operation of the Air Force "Treasure Island" Project.
2. Col. Brannon stated that their first problem was in lifting
the restriction of the 1 January 1948 date from "Treasure Island"
operations. When "Treasure Island" was started Air Force had
requested CIA comments and CIA had noted that there would be no
duplication of any material worked on prior to 1 January 1948.
Now, they feel that material prior to that date is becoming rather
old and a good deal of that material has been exhausted. They
would like to go into current materials -- primarily Soviet.
3. I pointed out to Col. Brannon that for the "Treasure Island"
Project to do current Soviet newspapers and periodicals would be
shelr duplication of work done by FDD; however, there remained a
good deal of work to be done on Russian books and that there -would
be little duplication if the "Treasure Island" Project were to work
on current books. Col. Brannon, however, feels that the "Treasure
Island" Project may, despite duplication with work being done by
FDD, work on current press and periodicals with the aim of extracting
purely and specific target information and, of course, coincidental
withdrawing Air Force requirements from FDD. I indicated that from
an overall intelligence efficiency standpoint I could not agree with
him.
4. He proposes to study the problem and give his recommendations
to General Ackerman who will then probably discuss it with the
Assistant Director for Operations.
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AFOIR-00-8
DEPAMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
BEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
17ASBINGTON
3 November 1948
7.1DTRANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
SUBJECT: Project Treasure Island
1. The comments in your memorandum, dated 12 October 1948,
subject as above, have formed the basis for a complete overhauling
on the Treasure Island Project.
2. Supplemented by discussions with your representatives,
these comments have pointed out the advisability of basing the
extracting effort on the needs of the Air Intelligence Division
to meet the deadlines set for the completion of the air objective
folder and bombing encyclopedia programs, taking into account the
existing and past efforts made in the field of Slavic publications;
particularly the work of the Foreign Documents Branch since August
1947.
3. Accordingly, it is intended to use the Treasure Island
Project as an auxiliary service for the Air Intelligence Division
and to concentrate on those gaps in the exploitation ooverage of
Russian and Ukranian publications now existent. The project will
be set up with a minimum number of personnel consistent with its
limited mission and the library of Congress will be requested to
Coordinate its procurement of translators with other agencies
concerned. The results of this extracting effort will, of course,
be made available to the other intelligence agencies.
4. As a corollary, discussion with your representatives has
Also disclosed the need for a restatement of our requirements in
the Slavic field for use by-the Foreign Documents and Foreign
Broadcast Information Branches. These will be furnished in a
subsequent memorandum.
5. Your conments on this project are appreciated in that
they have served as excellent guidance material to shape the
program properly.
0 t:
?-?t? -
2.
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/8/ C. P. Cabeil
C. P. CABELL
rajor General, USF
Director of Intelligence, Office
of Deputy Mier of Staff,
Operations
CO
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Intelligenee
Heedeuarters, United States Air Faroe
SUBJNCT: Project Treasure Leland
1. Tour memorandum, same subject, dated 3 Noveiber 19148, indi-
cating certain revisions in the Treasure Island plan use of interest
to this agency. /fa more detailed outline of the revised project is
prepared for the Air Intelligence Division, we should appreciate a
copy of it, in order to avoid unnecessary duplioation in exploitation
and coverage of Russian publication.
2. The recent discussions on the above subject between our re-
ppective representatives are thought to have been most useful, and
it is suggested that they be continued as the need wiser.
3. It is hoped that, after formal restatement at your require.-
meets, the Fvreign Documents Branch and the Foreign Broadoest Informa-
tion Branch ei21 be able to provide as relevant and usable informeo.
tics in this field. /t at be pointed out, however, that they are
prevented by severe personnel and budgetary limitations from offering
either an extensive or a specialised semis, in connection with any
one departmental project.
LADsbac
Distribution
cc: Signer's Copy
Central Records
060 Please return to 2 4 116, Yards & Docks
FDB
,
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Executive for A & M
Assistant Director for Operations
6 October 1948
1. Attached hereto are:
(a) Draft of proposed reply to Gen. Cabell's -memo of
20 Sept. to the DCI, prepared by this Office.
(b) Memo from 00 to DCI setting forth comments on
"Treasure Island".
(0) Original memo from Gen. Gabel]. to DCI.
(d) Brief of "Treasure Island" Project.
2. Regardless of the final form of the Director's reply
tg Gen. Gabel', it is recommended that item 1, (b) above be
Included as a tab as it is believed that the comments
therein will be helpful to the Air Force in reaching a
decision.
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The day before the Director office received 00's
memo, the Director received a letter (ER 020-17)
from the Director of Intelligence, USAF (Confidential)
giving a statement of Air Force requirements. Hence,
our memo received the following natation from the
Executive for A&M: "Believe no reply is necessary.
Route (letter frollii Air Force) through OCD to Central ,ac.,
Records for file Or Air Force letter was dated 15 Nov 48.
This is the information I received from
today ? 18 Mar 49.
mek
Pia ttst.
STAT
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