INTRA-AGENCY SECURITY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF SIXTH MEETING ROOM 4E64, CIA HEADQUARTERS BUILDING FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1972, 1000 HOURS (Sanitized) ACTING CHAIRMAN PRESIDING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01022R000100250006-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 2001
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 4, 1972
• Content Type: MIN

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IASEC-M-6 (Draft)
4 February 1972
Sixth Meeting
Room 4 E 64, CIA Headquarters Building
Friday, 4 February 1972, 1000 Hours
Acting Chairman
Presiding
25X1A9a
National Intelligence Programs
Evaluation 25X1A9a
Deputy Director for Support
Office of General Counsel
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Plans
Deputy Director for Science
and Technology
Secretary
GROUP I
Excluded from automatic
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ALSO PRESENT:
25X1A9a
Office of Security
FI Staff
CIA Top Secret Control Officer
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The Intra-Agency Security Committee was convened by the
Acting Chairman, Mr. at 1000 hours on 4 February
1972 in the Office of Security conference room, 4E64.
Mr. 'xplained that the reason for the instant meeting was
the concern of Mr. W. E. Colby, Executive Director-Comptroller;
Mr. John W. Coffey, Deputy Director for Support; and the Director of
Security over the general problem of over classification of information
which exists in Government today and in CIA as well. Reviewing this
subject was also especially timely because of the interest taken by the
President and the members of Congress in the overall classification
field. The Acting Chairman solicited the comments of those present
and was thus informed:
The DD/P Member said that the Clandestine Service basically
has no areas in which overclassification exists and that the DD/P is
feeling special pressure at this time as a result of its acquired
information appearing recently in the press. He also noted the
problem of liaison in that foreign liaison contacts are becoming
reluctant to furnish CIA with sensitive material for fear that it will
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later be disclosed in the news media. Overall, Mr.
felt that the Clandestine Service should continue to maintain a strict
system of classification because of its unique role in the Agency.
The NIPE Member pointed out that there are two factors at
odds in looking at the problem of overclassification. On the one hand,
the thrust of the study on the new Executive Order 10501 is to cut down
on overclassification; on the other hand, there is the concern expressed
by the President in his Directive of 21 December 1970 in which he asked
for a tightening up in the security handling of sensitive information. Mr.
25X1A9a elt that it was essential to maintain a strict security posture
with respect to protecting the Agency's intelligence sources and methods.
He indicated that the thrust of his letter to the President showed how the
CIA had tightened and would continue to tighten the protection of sensitive
information. However, he believed the Agency should take a hard look
at much of its material which is classified Secret that is essentially
administrative in nature and could carry a non-security caveat.
The DD/I Member pointed out much can be done in cutting down
on overclassification within the Agency, citing several flagrant examples
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which included a Secret cable on frozen orange juice, a published
magazine article which later was classified Confidential, and a
Confidential report from another agency which highlighted the
particular language fluency of a Latin American country. Mr.
believed that the problem of overclassification was
essentially judgmental and that re-emphasis of the Agency's good
Headquarters Regulation on the subject of classification was needed
in the form of a Headquarters Notice.
The DD/S&T representative stated that the various forms of
the Agency should be reviewed since many of them are classified
Secret with the caveat "When Filled In" and contain information
essentially non-sensitive in nature. He cited several examples,
including insurance data on medical claims and payroll change
forms.
The NIPE Member suggested that this may be the opportune
moment to institute a new classification entitled "Medical Confidential"
in order to protect personal information which is sensitive rather than
security-type data.
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Much discussion ensued relative to drafting a Headquarters
Notice on the general subject of the classification of CIA information.
All representatives agreed that the draft should incorporate the
following items, alluding to:
1. The President's memorandum of 21 December
1970 expressing his concern over public disclosures
and directing that immediate steps be taken to ensure
that existing regulations and procedures to safeguard
classified information be strengthened where necessary.
2. The DCI's statutory responsibility for the
protection of intelligence sources and methods.
3. The classification process as one which
requires sound judgment and must not be taken
lightly.
4. The categories of Top Secret, Secret, and
Confidential and their definitions as they apply to the
National Security.
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5. The markings, Administrative-Internal Use
Only and For Official Use Only, explaining when such
markings are applicable for use by Agency employees.
6. Each document to be classified on the basis of
information it contains or reveals with full consideration
given to the DCI's responsibility for the protection of
intelligence sources and methods.
7. Documents received from other agencies or
foreign governments as retaining the same classification
or the lowest comparable classification,
8. Administrative material which is often over-
classified. Formal notices as well as intra-agency
memoranda often can be issued without classification
or dissemination control.
9. In order to ensure an effective classification
program Deputy Directors and Operating Officials
should periodically check to determine whether
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documents originating with their components are
properly classified.
10. The notice with the suggested guidelines
being readily available to all employees.
25X1A9a
Secretary
Adjournment: 1150 hours
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