CABLE TRAFFIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00499R000600040066-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: October 16, 1958
• Content Type: MF

ved For Release 2002/05/ E I gP84-00
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
: Deputy Director (Support)
This memorandum contains recommendations submitted for your
approval. Such recommendations are contained in Paragraph ii.
How to reduce the volume of Agency cable traffic?
a. The volume of Agency cable traffic has reached an all time
high. (See Tab A) Some of this increase in traffic is
the direct result of the present international situation,
and it is necessary that steps be taken to reduce as much
traffic as possible by the strict adherence to the controls
provided in existing regulations, and by the development
and application of more precise standards for determining
the proper use of cable media.
b. Our interviews with officials in the Cable Secretariat,
the Signal Center, and the DD/P brought out general agree-
ment that cable writers in the Agency are at this time
doing a "good job in eliminating unnecessary wordage".
However, there is also agreement that review of the cables
by experienced individuals indicates that there are, never-
theless, sizable improvements which appear to be possible,
such as, the use of dispatches rather than cables, the use
of the proper priority for cables, the wider use of book
dispatches rather than multiple addressee messages, and a
more extensive use of the rocedure. This area,
however, involves considera e judgment. For example,
under some conditions in the FE Division, it may be wise
to send a cable where the same information should be sent
by dispatch in the EE Division. Present regulations do
not cover this use of cables vs. dispatches under such
circumstances. (See Tab B for list of restrictions on
the use of cables)
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c. The problem of reducing cable traffic is not a new one.
The subject periodically recurs and becomes the object of
a study. However, it would appear to be more economical
and more efficient over a long period to provide a means
for a perpetual inventory of the situation and for the
immediate installation of priority procedures when the
traffic reached specified points. The additional controls
established in these instances should be determined by
the number and type of abuses existing at the time; care-
lessness in the use of priorities; in excessive wordage;
and in failures to use dispatches. These conditions should
result in corresponding corrective action as they are ob-
served.
d. There are several alternative communication systems to the
use of cables. They are:
(1)
Greater reliance upon the dispatch and pouch. This
is possible when the lapsed time from desk to desk
for dispatches compares more favorably with that of
cables. The Management Staff studied the time re-
quired at headquarters for each step in the process-
ing of incoming and outgoing dispatches. This study
(Tab C) disclosed that there is a wide variation in
the time that it takes the RI Division and the area
divisions to process their dispatches. With a view
to reducing this time lag, each organization where
unusual delays occurred was contacted and provided
assistance in the elimination of unnecessary time
lag.
(a) An analysis was also made of pouched informa-
tion reports (including priority pouched in-
formation reports), and a new procedure was
designed to speed up the delivery of incoming
information reports to the area divisions.
This procedure, which provides for immediate
delivery of the multilith master and copies of
the reports to the area division, while simul-
taneous indexing and analysis takes place in
the RI Division, will result in a savings of
from one to three days in the headquarters
processing time for information reports. This
new ublished in the form
of al 25X1
II
and is designed to make the pouch chan-
nels more acceptable in lieu of cables.
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e. As part of the overall problem, the Cable Secretariat made
a content analysis of cables and reported this information
within the DD/P to the area divisions. (See Tab E) Manage-
ment Staff further analyzed this in terms of its significance
to each area division. There were wide variations between
the divisions in the percentage of total division cables
used in the various operational, intelligence, and support
categories, as well as the average number of words per
cable in each category. Each division was provided with
separate statistical data reporting the characteristics
of their cable traffic and they were assisted in an exam-
ination of the significance of the variant factors. (See
Tab F)
3. DISCUSSION:
a. The controls now in effect to limit the use of cables to
priority information and to further control the priority,
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the number of words, and number of informational addressees
on the cables are to a large degree for optional application.
Although the Cable Secretariat does return some cables for
minor adjustments, there is no responsibility for discipline
located within that organization. Discipline, to be respected
and most effective, should come from outside the organization
being disciplined. It must be distinctly separated organiza-
tionally from any service element where the application of
discipline could delay the transmission of the cable.
b. A more difficult area to control is that in which there may
or may not be conditions peculiar to the originator or the
sender which require the cable medium. However, it is
generally agreed that there are instances in which the cable
medium has been selected as an attention- etg ting device
rather than as a method of speedy transit. It is believed
that an individual armed with authority and responsibility
could well determine, by a post-mortem examination of cables,
guide lines with which to judge such abuses. After first
advising the offenders of the new regulations, he could
police such activity.
c. The Cable Writing Course, now provided by the Office of
Training in conjunction with the Signal Center, provides
instruction in cable format and cable writing techniques
with greater emphasis placed on conciseness and clarity.
OTR also offers cable writing instructions in the Operations
Support Course, the Operations Course, and the Operations
Familiarization Course. The training in cable writing must
be geared to remove the actual current abuses and must pro-
vide for emphasis in its content on the type and number of
infractions. This information could be provided to 0Th,
to further improve the Cable Writing Course content, by an
individual responsible for monitoring all cable writing.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS:
a. It is recommended that there be established on the T/O of
the Executive Officer of the DCI, and physically located in
the Office of the Cable Secretariat, a position to be known
as the Cable Control Officer. This position should be es-
tablished for a six month trial period and it will be the
duty of the individual assigned to:
(1) Examine daily, on a post-mortem basis, incoming and
outgoing cables disseminated by the Cable Secretariat
to determine the nature, extent, and frequency of in-
fractions of existing cable regulations.
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(2) Prepare more precise regulations regarding the use and
preparation of cables where present regulations fail
to provide clear, understandable prohibitions to the
originating offices.
(3) Record and report to the Deputy Directors concerned
all instances in which there are clear cut violations
of regulations covering the use and preparation of
cables.
(1k) Advise the Office of Training of those areas wherein
it appears most profit could occur from training
emphasis.
(5) Keep informed as to the trends in cable traffic
through close liaison with the Signal Center, Office
of Communications, and the Cable Secretariat in order
to assist in the imposition of temporary restrictions
wherever necessary. (Further details regarding this
position are provided in Tab G.)
`he individual selected should be fully cleared and should
be acceptable to the DD/P, DDS and DD/I.
b. The Management Staff shall review the activities of this
position six months from the date of the acceptance of this
report and shall report as to the advisability of the con-
tinuance, and as to the need for further improvements in
the duties of the position.
c. An announcement that this function is to be performed should
be provided in advance of the filling of this position. A
draft of such an announcement is included as Tab H,.
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Ch iefj, Management Staff
Attachments:
Tab A - Cable Volume
Tab B - List of Restrictions
on Use of Cables
Tab C - Dispatch Processing Time
Tab E - Cable Sec. Analysis of
Cable Content
Tab F - Sample Comparison of Cable
Content for an Area Div.
of Position of
Tab G - Details
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Tab H - Proposed Agency Notice
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Deputy Director Support
7
Date
The recommendations it $aragr
above are approved.
N W. DULLES
Director 6f Central Intelligence
w/1 set atts.,.-~a EO
- OC.t fr/1 set with all
bs except Tab E
3 - DD/S, w/l set atts.
1 - Commo.
1 - Cable Secretary
1 - DD/P, with all Tabs
except Tab E
1 - Mgmt. Staff, w/l set
attn.
.0 /P.W4 L-) o alti, .
- E R w-/o
- .DD CZ L-r/O ,
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