PROPOSED TRANSMISSION OF OXCART SURFACING BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO U. S. AMBASSADORS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP81B00879R001000130066-9
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 13, 2002
Sequence Number: 
66
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 29, 1964
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP81B00879R001000130066-9.pdf122.73 KB
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Approved Release 2003/02/27 09 OQWR001000130066-9 J T0: TS S C old- ~tl NI 702 OXC-6402-64 Copy..,,-of 2 29 February 1964 fEMORANTDUM FOR: Deputy -lirector (Science and Technology) Proposed Transmission of OXCART Surfacing Background information to U. S. Ambassadors 1. This memorandum contains a recommendation for your approval. Such recornmendation is contained in paragraph 4. 2. We learned late on 20 February that the Department of State (U. Alexis Johnson) had proposed to the Director the following actions to be undertaken by the Department: a. Transmit the tef:t of the announcement to be made by the President to each of the Ambassadors. b. Transmit to each c_ the Ambassadors the list of questions and answers prepared for Mr. Salingers s background information. c. Acknowledge to each of the Ambassadors that CIA in fact has been the manager of the program. 3. We understand chat the Director approved a and b above ;ut disapproved c on the strength of our recommendation against doing so. Upon further reflection we would take strong exception to the proposal that the Ambassadors be provided the questions and answers. The reasons for our objection follow. 25X1 25X1A Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP81 B00879R0010001300664ai i vfa Approved WRelease 2003/02/27- BOR001000130066-9 OXC-6402-64 We could not possibly expect each and every Ambassador to properly interpret and reflect the intent of the questions and answers, 1. e. protection of the OXCART progrram. b. It is most im .o'ra'cle tl: t forelon governments would exyDact a given Ambassador to be prepared to respond factually or otherwise beyond the context of an announcement concerning a new weapons systerr_. c. ~,Vithout such background inforrnation, the Ambassadors are L_a a better position to respond truthfully that they know nothing beyond the content o the release. Othervvi se a variety of conflicting views could be surfaced in the world forum. An intelligent review of the ouestions and answers could lead to the conclucion that CIA is in fact the behind-the-scene ma ager. e. We are concerned over the lack of complete and effective communications security throughout the entire De '- ur_t cc_rnr~_~zicatio 1s network, _ r;___1thereby raising 'Oh-,_- possibility of intercept by the .CivVief,S. 4. t is recommender that the Director be approached %uit 1 a strong plea that the Dec~ar-;mer t not transmit the background :1uestions and answers to the Ambassadors. If however the Director is still of the view that the Ambassadors should have this background information, :.:yen a minimum they should be instructed not to comment beyond the actual content of the announcement. ,Signed) ?`N'"JACK C. LEDFORD Colonel USAF Assistant Director (Special Activities) 25X1A Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP81 B00879R001000130066-9 Approves r Release 2003/02/27 AAfB6W9R001000130066-9 The recor mendation contained in paragraph 4 is approved: Deputy Director (Science and Technology) EO/OSA jn (29 Yeb 6Q Distribution: Cy #1 -- PS/OSA #2 - RB/OSA Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RD~P81 B00879R001?000130066-9 SECRET