LETTER TO THE HONORABLE ELMER B. STAATS FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001000070058-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 2, 2004
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: December 28, 1977
• Content Type: LETTER

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Legislative Counsel
Washin ton, D. C. 20505
Telephone: II (Code 143-6121)
anuary 978
Per our conversation.
Deputy Legislative Counsel.
Mr. Michael O'Neil
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
House of Representatives
FORM 1533 OBSOLETE
6-68 rREVI DUS
EDITIONS
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2 8 DEG 1977.
Honorable Elmer B. Staats
Comptroller. General of the United States
General Accounting Office
Washington, D. G. ?0548 =
Dear Mr. Staats:
I have your recent letters relating to our previous correspondence
on the subject of the handling of 'sensitive intelligence information as well
as your interest in further information on and 13,xave gwem these
letters careful consideration.
As I have indicated in my previous letters, I fully appreciate your
responsibilities and, to the extent feasible, I have authorized cooperation
with representatives of the General Accounting Office in an effort to assist
them in meeting these responsibilities. I believe I have made it clear,
however, that I do not feel I can extend that cooperation to the point: of
including highly sensitive intelligence information in corpartrnented . . '
categories. This is particularly true of additional documentary data that
we continue to locate as we search our files.
expressing a desire for access to information on this subject.
that additional committees or subcommittees of the Congress are also
information to your representatives ono In addition, we have ,
cooperated directly with a number of committees and members of Congress
who have-an interest in this subject. This includes the Energy Subcamrnitt:ees
of the House Committees on Commerce and Interior, the Intelligence and.
Military Application of Nuclear Energy of the House Armed Services V - '
Committee, as well as several individual representatives, and the Energy ' -
Subcommittee of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee." I understand
- As you point out, we have provided a substantial amount of
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I would appreciate your forbearance and understanding Of the, need for the.
Therefore, in recognition of the statutory responsibility imposed upon.. me,
mater, except to Me four committees of Congress specifically responsible'
.for intelligence oversight, is not in the best interests of our national security.
in view of these recent. developments, f.}.save concludes that further
proliferation of sensitive intelligence information r late 'to the
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TRANSMITTAL SLIP
DATE
TO:
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
REMARKS:
FROM:
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
EXTENSION
'M NREPLACES FORM 36-8
111`61-241 - WHICH MAY BE USED.
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